Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-05-28
Letter from Belmont Boy in South
Carolina.

Letter from Belmont Boy in South
Carolina.
Folly ISLAND. s. c., May ~, 1863
EDITOR CHRONICLE Sir Here in the
sunny South" we still hear stories Of trcn-
son at home. of murmuiipg discomfort, and
the eternal fault finding in which the cop
perheads" especially delight. The soldiers
are not e ghting to free the negro, not fight
ing merely to get thirteen dollars per month,
bit are sighting TO preserve the Union, to
preserve our blood bought liberties, and the
Integrity aud unity of the nation. Slavery
stood in tho way. The Union could not be
preserved with it, and that barrier to. our
country's progress, was broken dowD, and
the word that proclaimed, the slaves of
rebels free and thus made them our friends
and allies was hailed with Joy by our SOL
diers; If the copperheads Of the North
stand IN the way OF our country salvation,
they, too, will be borne down by the tide Of
public opinion that will sweep over the
The army here could not be in. better
fighting spirits; their only regret is that
they have so many enemies at home, and
would prefer having them in the rebel ranks,
lighting manfully to maintain the principles
they 80 boldly advocate al home. / see by
a rebel paper published in Ohio, that the
soldiers are tired Of the war, and only want
an opportunity, and nearly all would desert.
Now such is not the case. You may go
through this army, and l doubt if you could
lind dozen men who would desert if they
could, and not more than that number but
what would ady that they were in favor of
freedom, coiiscatidn, and conscription, and
xuar 10 nf. t,,n ,.xl C..
Of our difficulties by the unconditional SUBJ
mission Of the South. A conscript myself,
! claim and always have claimed, that the
Government has right to the services of
her citizens.
1t may be interesting to you to know how
we drafted men are getting along. There
was great dissatisfaction among them
about being assigned to old volunteers regi
signed to the cd regiment, of which mum.
ber four deserted the night after we were
sworn into the service, and they are among
the rebels in Noble. One deserted at Co.
lumbus, when on our way to Join regiment,
and thirty five Joined regiment at Suffolk,
Va. Six Of our number have been left in
hospitals, but all Of them, hear, are nearly
we'll Not one of us but what rejoices now
fare better, do not have to drill so much.
learn the drill much quicker and 20 far as
treatment is concerned no one can see any
difference. With what experience have
had, should always prefer going into old
regiments.
l learn by letter that had deserted, and
was skulking around in Belmont, hiding
from police. Well, will here inform my
friends that ! have never been absent from
company without leave, never missed a roll
call, and not trick of duty. l love my
home and friends too well to bring eternal
infamy upon myself and lasting disgrace
upon my friends by deserving the cause OF
my county in her darkest hour of danger.
The Ohio boys all are rejoicing over the
prospect of voting this fall, and intend to
open the polls in Charleston.
Quite a change has come over this Island
since we took possession. 1t has not that
desolate, deserted appearance, and all is
life and activity Heavy seige guns are be.
ing brought up from landing. We have a
Pontoon bridge here, and things wear an
appearance of an advance, and you may
hear of us crossing to James or Morris
Island. A contraband swan across from
Morris Island yesterday and was taken to
Headquarters. There is but little sickness
here, and health appears to be improving
have no doubt there is more sickness
among the same number of men at home.
About twenty will leave this day for home
on furlough. Col. Pond is not well, and il
at Hospital at Hilton Head COL, Steele
is in ommand. Steele is well liked by the
regiment, is q popular officer among the
soldiers. The weather is not oppressively
warm, but is pleasant and nights cool. =
When permitted to wander,N we can 'Jenioy
the luxury Of ripe blackberries.
wonder that SO much good cotton land
| lying so near a large city should be permit
ted to remain wilderness. IF slavery il
the cause of the ruin and desolation of the
South, was there ever better time to re
move that canse2 Why is 1t that so many
Northern men so love oppressionP Is il
because, slavery is, the 4 corner stone, = the
bone and sinew Of the (by them called
Democratic psrty2 Oh how they weeI
over the miseries of their "iSouthern BreM
rem" How they groan and shed larg'
tears at the thought that the barbarism 0
slavery is wiped out, and no longer stand
q barrier to the progress of free and en-
lightened Christianity OIL how the!
lament that their prayers for the coming O
JEFF 8 kingdom is of no avail, when the
'.party" which they love more than thei
country or their God, is rendered power
less by emancipation. Slavery was thu
staff around which the copperhead coiled
and that blighting curse, which has beel
slimed over by their fond caresses, bein,
destroyed, and the slave standing erect il
his returning manhood, the copperhead
spit forth their enyenloned threats an
treason in vain. God will save the republic