Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1863-04-23

hardly know what they are used for
1t is striking fact That wherever
these are not used, there vice and deg.
relation is2prevalens in ell the form,
Imaginable. But these people are moi
altogether to be blamed for this, they
have been kept In ignorant ssbjugstion
by this rebellish sristocrscy Of tbe
South, who wished to bring shout their
own selfish ends BY keeping the poorer
classes Of people in perfect Ignorance.
The country through here is full Of
bushwhsckers, horse-thieves and ma
rauding parties Of every kind. / had
the pleasure of capturing some of these
the other day, while out on scouting
expedition. Among other things found
upon their persons, were some letters.
some of which were Of considerable i'm
portance. send you few of them.
(which / think are fair specimens Of all
the balance, TO show you some of the
penmanship Of the rebels OF this coun-
try; it is not every one, however. that
can do as well, for not one out OF twen-
ty can write bis own name. II this is
the case all over the South, and / think
it is, is it to be wondered at. that these
people are all secesh. and that they
we're led into this rebellion BY those
whom they were taught to obey from
their youth, like slaves9 1t is to be
hoped that the separation of Western
from Eastern Virginia will bring shout
q great changein in this respect. that the
people may become enlightened and
civilized, and Western Virginia may
yet become one Of the foremost States
in the Union.
/ am, &c., yours, respectfully,
JOHN A. MOREHART,
1st Lieut.. Co. /, 9th Y. V. /.
5erH REGIMENT o. VI.
HELENA, ARE. April 9Th. 1863.
Mr.. HARPER-DEAR SIR: Permit
me through your respectable and loyal
sheet, to give the biography of one who
is boy in Uncle Sans service. now
going on two years, end am not par
ticularlY tired yet, but would like very
much to have little recreation for a
few days, such as leave Of absence, long
enough to visit my parents in Centre
vile. Gallis county, and then return to
my Regiment. Mr.. Editor. l volun.
teered in Capt. John H. Evans Com
pany, belonging to the 56th o. v. l.,
and have not regrettedjt yet. l was
8 little over sixteen years old when
embarked in this cause, which was the
18th October. 1861. From that period
to the present, | have experienced some
ups and downs. Since / have been in
the army l have had much afliction Of
my eyes, but l hope they will prove
good and be sustained throughout the
rebellion. for see there is in some OF
the Divisions, dissatisfaction and deser-
tions. but say "balt" to the practice,
for the time is coming when they must
halt. or suffer the penalty.
/ think. Mr.. Harper, when I desert
this great army Of our nation, JEFF.
Davis, Floyd. Letcher. and all Of Davis
disciples, will float UP this grand Mis-
sissippi in log-oven. II this comes to
pass, then l intend to desert and go
home and see my Daddy and Nanny.
I must say that the grandest cause
Of dissatisfaction in our army is that
these Northern Vsllandighamites and
priest riddenites correstjond with such
Of our men, as have not the liberty of
reading or knowing anything about the
practicability Of the Elephant, for we
get any Of the newspaper in
but | am fortunate to get
one from home, and in suc6,
| find some fine addresses, which
buoyes my feelings up sky high. No
more at present. but yours. with re-
spect, ASHLEY R. WILLIAMS.
Co. E, 56th Reg. o. V I.