, 1863-02-28
Z. n. IAHHANCht
9Sth Reg. III. Vol.


YOURS respectfully
R. n. LAWHANCK,
3Sth Reg. III. Vol
Letter from the 50 Hoard OF Trade
Regiment
CANT DurIEn's D1rcu,l
Opposite TIcKsuuRc Feb. 1o' 1858.
Since nv last to you from Arkansas Post,
our regiment, the Sd Board Of Trade, has had
rathcr hard and dull life Tor at least the FIVE
companies remaining In Grants army. We
haye been doing fatigue duty, on the canal
picket duty, &c. The river Is over Its banks
and is still rising slowly. Our camps arc in
vast mud hole, and everywhere it is mud,
mud, mud. Our blankets came to hand yes-
tcrday, and just in lime TO save our boys,
standing on guard from the disagfeeable ef.
fects of one Of the hardest rain storms VIC
have had since NC left Chicago. Many thanks
TO the kind and patriotic donors. The health
Of the boys OF our regiment, as well rs Of the
whole army is somewhat improving And
yet there is a great deal Of sickness and suffer-
ing among US, and tho need Of sanitary sup
plies, especially of anti-scorbutics is great.
Tile canal or rather canals flor there are
two Of them, one here and one above at Lake
Proyidence) are progressing rather slowly.
On Buffers ditch there are now about 500
contrabands at work and some 1000 soldiers
working by relicfs. It is the design now to
dig it sixty feet wide and Of sufficient depth
to let through our gunboat fleet and trans
ports,
The water In the river Is, however, So high
that but little progress can be made in cxca-
vatiug By hand labor. Steam dredges are ex
pected down soon, when the work will be
pushed forward With yigor.
Of the designs Of our Generals cannot
speak, but suffice it to say that on the com
pletion Of the canals, the rebels will very soon
find themselves in the same unpleasant fix Of
those ut Arkansas Post on the morning Of
the day Of their surrender, completely hem
med in.
II is thought that the first attack will be
made On Port Hudson; and if that post falls
into our hands, which it must .soou do after
We are able to pass through the'cana1, Vicks-
burg will fall an easy prey to our combined
army and fleet. At all events, wn are bound
to strike at the rebels until they lay down
their arms and the old Stars ::l:s: Stripes shall
wave oyer all the nights and il, I'LL the towns
from Cairo to New Orleans, unless we are
obliged to cone home to hang the trlitorous
Copperhead legislators at Springfield, and
clean out that vile secession sheet, the C1ica-
60 Times, which assure yon we would con-
slider pleasant pastimc: We hate and spurn
and detcet them more than the open armed
enemies in our front. Just let them visit
the army and mike themselves known,
and we n i'll hang them for spies and traitors.
understand that they claim to speak the
sentiments ot the private soldier Of the Vest
crn army, when they represent them as tired
Of The war and willing to submit to peace.
The private soldier Is true to his country, and
equally jealous Of his country's honor, with
the most exalted General. And if he mur-
murs at all, rs sometimes he does, it Is only
because hi6 family arc left to suffer for want
Of the pay which the country justly owes
him. Yet our greatest source Of discourage
ment arises from the fact that in the North,
where all ought to be patriotic, you who re-
main at home allow to breed aud grow in your
very midst nest Of yiper5 who propose and
bid fair to destroy oil the hard-earaed
fruit Of our sutierings and our toll
by ignominious compromises and offer
armed foes Of our country. 1t is also repre-
serted that wc would all like to quit the war
and return home leaving the enemy still In
possession Of the river and the country adj
joining. We are not dough men or babies,
ard VIC hnrl back the bascimputation on those
WHO make il, and it is well for them that it is
mol true, and that VIC are not Therefor then
| their power and influence would vanish to-
| gether.
We are anxious, deeply and earnestly aux
! ions, for the war to end, and peace, sweet
peace, once more be and abide with us, and
| ones at home. But we think the quickest
| way to accomplish all this is for you to be
| united at home, and prompt in sending It's
every needed supply, and faithfully to uphold
our hands, while we strike swift, and strong
and certain blows at the very heart Of this re-
and drops it's proud and defiant head and
comes back a peniteut, chastcncd and uladt
better by the voc, into ills nothcr1y arms
Then shall NC, the soldiers, be pleased to have
the war cease and 4 peace declared, and moi
until then. Then will our peace be 4 pernla
nenr one, and our children aud our children:
children have q country, strong and benificcn
| ut homo and honored abroad.
With much respect.
GEO. r. CLARKE
EXTRACT OF coL.GEo. D. noaE's LETTER u3rI
ILLINOIS.
ssThcre is tremendous feeling among til
Illinois soldiers here. They think that it i
bad enough To- fight n desperate enemy il
front, but when they are attacked by a COW
ardly enemy in the rear they naturally be
come furious. do not believe there is
single regiment here from Illinois but tha
would be glad to have the chance to return Il
1lliucis, lsiEg lot Of those infamous traitors
wing Of thc rebellion; and there is 10 tellin
but such Il thirg may take place."
George Currtu.
CHICAGO, Feb. Sd, 1868.
Editors Of tho Chicago Tribune:
About tie 12th cf this month, while In sic
hospital, No. aS, at Nashville, Tenn, mad
the acquaintance Of air. Il. <. Swami, gcr
tlelhun from Meliue, H., who bore the remain
Of Lieut. Woods to Ills friends, aud was othe
wise engaged In comforting many Of the sic
and wounded Of the 18th Illinois. he wa
amongst lis day and night, and went even t
i the front, some thirty miles distant, to gai
intelligence Of those who bad fallen, or wa
wounded in the battle Of Il Stones Riyer,' b.
longing to our regiment, with whom be ha