The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1863-01-07
ARMY CORRESPONDENCE.
CAMP BANKS, CAMP PAROLE, NEAR
ALEXANDRIA, Va, Dec. Is, 1862.


Ny DEAR FRIEND: Yours Of the 9TH
was very gladly received. 1t is SO unu-
sual for me to receive letter that / mark
letter day with Ohite mark. Per-
haps all this comes from my writing so
litile-for, since have been here, my
health has been very poor. If was to
tell you all you would not be astonished:
How we were ordered from here (unoffi-
cially), on the Sd Of November, to 60 to
our Regiment, on the supposition that
we were exchanged-how we took the
cars for Harpers Ferry, and slept on the
cold, hard rocks Of Loudon Heights, on
the night of the 4th (my sisters birth
day., marched TO near Smiths Gap, on
The 9th, passed there after the rear guard
Of the army, on the 6th-and how some
four hundred of our number were recap
tured by the enemy land some hung), as
we chased the army Of the Potomac,
which, you will remember, was then NOV
ing southwark, toward the Rappahannoc,
and then the snow storm in the noun
tains on the 7th-yes! how we went six
days, continually on the move, and had
only one days rations dealt out to us
1--WE filed up the vacuum within by eat
ing raw corn), and then after all this USE
less aud l trust unauthorized suffering we
found that we were not get exchanged!
Just think of it. Rushing thousands of
men through an enemy's country soho are
not released from their parole! This
kind of usage to US veterans may be all
right, but l can't see it. It certainly has
had this tendency, to break many man
down-myself for one. TO fetch n pail
of water from the we'll is tho most that
/ accomplish in days time. All that
were fit for duty were sent TO their regi-
ments, but the M. D. classed me unfit, so
I remain here and make the best of it..
If / was able to be with my Regiment
you can bet I'd be there. l furnished a
list of the Michigan men, forty-one in
number, in this camp, to Judge Edmunds,
President Of the Michigan Soldiers Re-
lief Association, of which z. Moses, for
merly of Grand Haven, is Treasurer, and
urging some action on their part with our
Representatives toward relieving the
Michigan men in this camp. And for
these reasons: Because many wounded
and sick are here who are forever disabled
from military service and would be dis
charged by Medical Board if favored
with an xamination-some who have
been sent out of Hospitals with their
wounds unhealed and running. Again,
because most have not received cent
from Uncle Sam for six, eight, and some
ten months and more, and whose families
are suffering in consequence.
Now, all who remain here are pro-
nounced by tho M. DIS Excused on ac-
count of disability" To remain here is
but an aggravation, and making bad
thing worse. This is not the place that
I should select to recruit my health in, by
no means. Togo 10 my Regiment I'm not
able. To get out here honorably as a
soldier I don't see the way at present.
To ask for furlough is presumption. So
the blasted thing goes.
The honorable gentlemen now assem-
led in Washington have something else
to do than attend to the wants of those
who have fed ON JEFF. Davis bounty.
They've got niger in hand, and the
wool so thoroughly drawn over their OPP
tics that they can't see soldier-a schite
soldier! He may suffer and be =, but
the " Niger" he's political capital and
can't be strapped" Let them hug him.
I'm for the Union first, last and forever,
and by all or any means to show to the
world that democratic form of govern
ment is government Of broad and deep
foundation, and lasting as the hills-that
factions can not rend it, or parties shake
it from its throne in the hearts of the
people. have my idea about this war.
l kept my eyes and ears open when in
Rebellion, and am satisfied that this war
will never be ended by fighting alone
never! would like to chat with you
an hour or two, about conversation
had with the Captain of Company I,
Georgia Regiment, and the Captain Of
the 4th North Carolina, after i was made
prisoner. Are the interests of the North
.nI Co,tI - .oxQ.u....- L