Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-04-08
OUR ARMY CORRESPONDENTS.


March "a, 1868.
Mn Ep1roR: The life of soldier is any thing
hut an easy and pleasant one. There has ofter-
times. however, great complaint been made of an
imaginary character but as general thing our
nobie soldery have endured every hardship, and
borne every privation without murmur, and with
apparent cheerfulness. In this way, as much as in
any other, they have shown their patriotism and
devotion to our common cause
respectfully ask space in your paper to speak
a few words in behalf of the soldier He should
have more and truer friends than he has. The gov
eminent should do more for him, and do it speedily.
The soldier has to look for his own protection in
all the rights, privileges, and allowances, granted
him by the regulations, to his commanding officer
He stands as his legal representative and if faithful
to the trust confided to HIM, he has but little time
to spend in idleness. There is always something
to look after, something to be done.
Ny company at present numbers eghtyshVe. IN
the past six months, out of nineteen who have died
and been killed, twelve of them were married men.
They have left behind widows and children many
of whom are thrown entirely upon the worlds cold
charities. Po,r creatures how l pity them l
now have about ftrty-fve men who have families.
The families of these cannot look to their husbands
in the army for maintenance and protection and
goodIy number of them have no means of support
and are entirely helpless Let me ask all who are
out of the army, particularly those who ought to be
in it. what they are doing for their country? lap
peal specially to the people of Chatham to know
what they are doing for the poor and needy wives,
widows and children of the noble men who have
left their homes and all that is dear to them earth
and gone forth in response to their countrys call
These men are now standing where many of yon
should stand. Some who are here with me to-day,
should be at home, while some of you should b,
made to come and stand in their places.
have every reason to believe that there are now,
while write these lines, some families Of soldiers
who are not provided and cared for as they should
he. Is it not fact that soldiers wife has to pay
the market price for every thing she has to buy
!, it not fact that she has to buy nearly every
Thing she getsI Without money and without
friends, how is she and her poor helpless children
10 live withou. great suffering?
Those who are at home have great Responsibilities
resting upon them. 1t is as much their duty to
lake CAFE of the families Of soldiers it is ours to
offer up our lives as free sacrifice to our country,
when the occasion requires.
Those who are doing nothing in this way, are our
enemies They are fighting against US, and if we
are ever whipped, they will share large part Of
the honor of whipping us.
Nearly all the necessaries of life have now run up
to almost famine prices. If SPECTATORS and extor
TONERS are not promptly and speedily checked in
their operations there will be no possible remedy
to from utter ruin. Should the war continue
agar longer, and these hyenas are allowed to con
troll the money value Of every thing, corn will BIZ
fifty dollars bushel and bacon five dollars pound
and soldiers wives and children will be allowed to
starve to death, without exciting their pity in the
least degree. Some of the soldiers are daily expires
sing fears that their families are not provided for
A few instances have come to my knowledge re
Gently of families of soldiers under nv command
who are suffering for the common necessares of life
Little did ever suppose that a case of this sor
would ever occur in Chatham county. 1t is cry
ing Shame, and disgrace upon those responsible
for it. that will stick to them and their children for
ever may have been misnformed. trust
may be SO. Is there not plenty of every thing i,
Chatham to supply all the necessary wants of al
the families Of soldiers entrusted to her keeping p
THERE'S. And appeal most earnestly to her to sec Il
it that she faithfully executes the trust confided
her, Let nothing be left undone 10 render comfor
table and happy the families of your faithful son
who are now in the army, especially Of those wh
have already given their lives in defence Of our l;i
critics. The soldier needs more and truer friend,
He needs friends tfat will watch the interest
and administer to the necessities of his vifa an
children. He can do nothing for them in the arm,
His pay as contemplate in amount as it is he can
,.ges whenever he wants it Not one of my men ha,
drawn one cont since the 31st Of last October.
is nes,smy fault My. pay rolls for November, d
..cember JaHuary aud February are all made on
rseeipted and witnessed, ana nothing remains to
done but for tie ssgmas:er % pay over the none
Why this gross and yIlful neglect Is it the fat
Of the government or Of the government official
=, Il the Iaborer net worthy Of SHIRE, although
= = j. paid but pen sy.a day? y
The government Should do more fer tn. sold
and do itRithout delay. How far will e.eEs,, d
!a's per month go.te the support of soldier,
though his rstions ndclothing are furnished By i
govesnMeht? What we get 70 eat is none Of Il
- pest We sometimes get worse than nothing.
Iesterday my company threw away their entire
aons q beef for two days, because it was SO mi!
. rasy p9or my could not eat it. They are nj
az ga.noae any s. peat tai Suppose they were p,
caassed here for every thing. scarcely feed then
s.n z q strange y it may seem 70 some iE
n a ens shss soldier seastnoes likes aIittIs rar
r.y t,r wiy o. something to eat Some try sxm
s ss .arn'p At fttfsn cents. Anotks, tries bat
aS''s p9sstes at t'ssnty.a,e eeatss A third N
:: y. -