, 1863-02-07
THE VOICE OF THE ARMY.
a Sharp Letter from Colonel True.


HEADQUARTERS 6aD RE0'T I'll. VoLa,
JACKSON, Tenn., Feb. 2. 1868. {
Editors Chicago Tribune:
In August, 1861, left my quiet cottage In
Mattoon, Ill.,, and offered my services to my
once peaceful but now Distracted country.
When left home with my company {Co. E,
3sth Ill, } vent out with determination to
use every lawful mems within my power in
trying to conquer q. peace. and seeing the
greatest but most iniquitous Of all rebellions
suppressed, or sacrificing my lile In the effort.
hare thought Of nothing but how to dis
charge my duty Us an officer, and have lcftthe
wircworking and letter writing to Others, and
steadily studied the interest Of those whom l.
have had tue honor to command. But re-
Gently have been tempted to use the pen rs
we'll as the sword, for os nm situated can
probably do as much in that way towards
Furnishing some Copperheads az oy inc SWORD.
I have been closely observing the enemy in
front. aud hayc concluded there is more nc
ceseity for watching the enemy in the rear
than in front; for We can occasionally get 4
shot at those in front and often dispose Of
them; but those at home can be reached only
by public sentiment and civil process. /
hope we will soon be done with the more hon
orable portion Of treason, aud be able to turn
our attention to JEFF. DaYis' pimps in tile
North. II is unnecessary tor me to say, that
having been an almost constant reader Of the
THlBrsE, I hare heartily endorsed its war
policy from the beginning, only desire to
notice some OF the proceedings Of Northern
traitors
The Legislature Of our OWL noble
State slamcfully misrcpresents the no.
bic dead, the gallant soldiers who have
| severed the sacred ties Of social life and
| gone forth to cliastise the wicked and
debased enemy Of our Government. Many Of
the noble sons Of Illinois have given their
| lives IS sacrifice OH the altar Of our com
| mon country; and from the Legislature of
their State-the very body that ought to pro-
| tect and defend thcm-thcy receive nothing
but the yilest ca1umny. From my OWN county
| (Coles} there is ono who has n seat in that de-
lectab1c body-a Copperhead, who said during
Government, and who would do moro to pro-
| mote The interest Of JEFF. Davis and his Con-
federacy than the Government that gave him
birth. We who are in the army, claim that
such traitors should be put down. The SOL
diers who hare gone from illinois hare the
happy reflection, however, that our Governor,
"Br;tve Dick" will hold them level, and thai
our friends will sustain him; and when nc
return home, after this rebellion is put down,
such rebels will be scarce in our Legislative
halls.
nm happy to know that the Chicago Times,
and ul1 other rebel sheets North or South,
| meet with no favor in my regiment, md
presume VIC meet with as little in its filthy
columns, but it matters not. nm for my ;oy.
eFrment against all its enemies. ALL such
papers should be suppressed, and the traitors
who dare advocate such reasonable scnti
nscnts should be made to work Mt hard labor
for the public good during the continuance Of
the war
While We suffer men 10 talk rs they do in
Illinois, md not clastisc thcm,yye arc recreant
to our duty. We should make war in reality,
4 Tar that will hurt any who dare oppose the
Government, North or Sonth, aud give every
facility to loyal citizens, white and black
wherever we find them.
I have hope that the beginning Of the end
is near. The keen scytAe Of the Government
has commenced good work in the right
place. Fitz John Portcr's head is in The
basket, and hope that others in high places
may soon follow. Justice would have dc
nlandcd it sooner, but perhapsall is we'll. The
sooner VIC get rid Of such men The sooner wt
will hare glorious and triumphant peace.
believe this war will purify onr Government
and we will come out Of it stronger, pnrcl
and more united people. THUS believing,
ann content to 20 on, and if fall victim te
the rebellion, have the satisfaction to know
that I am only doing my duty in a just ant
noble cause, that Is worth many such lires.
| JAS. N. TRUE,
| Col. G2d III. Vol. Infantry.