The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1863-04-02
Letter from a Soldier.

The following letter, from lifelong
Democrat, now with Rosecrans' army,
was offered to Mr.. CAN'T for publica-
ton in his paper, by Mr.. Brennan, a
brother of the writer. Mr.. Can't re-
fused to give it place in his columns
unless he was allowed to strike out that
portion relating to the sentiments en-
tertained by our gallant soldiers for the
rebel sympatlisers at the North, who
are endeavoring to embarrass the Gov
eminent and defeat the army. This,
Mr.. Brennan would not consent to, and
requested us to give it place in our
columns, which We cheerfully do; at
the same time calling the attention of
Democrats to the fact that not even this
letter, written by Democrat, and
asked for by the editor, can be pub
lished in his paper, because it contains
a paragraph stating that our soldiers
have no sympathy with Northern trai.
tors. Is Mr.. CAN'T afraid TO let his
readers read these sentiments, that the
soldiers are not merely fighting for pay,
but are laying down their lives to
sustain our Government, and its free
institutions. 1t certainly would seem
so. But here is the letter. Read it,
loyal Democrats, and see if there is
anything in it that any loyal paper
could not cheerfully give publicity to !:
MURFKEEsBoRo, Tenn, March l6.
Dear Brother.-I received your let
ter of the lst on the 9Th, and it gives
me great pleasure to know that you
are both well, as it also found me. All
is quiet here at present, but / expect
the next time / write, it will be from a
different place, as there is some prepa-
rations making for forward move
ment. Last week, pretty near all the
troops left this place, and each divi.
sion took different roads, and re-
manned out for couple of days with
out tents; and the tents were taken
down and put in the wagons. We
took the Shelbyvile road /; it rained all
the time we were out. We came back
in the middle of the night and put up
our tents again. am at loss to
know what the move was for, unless it
was feint to let the rebels get word
of the evacuation, from some of their
sympathisers here.
The Notifications here are nearly
finished, and forage is all consumed,
and the roads in good order, so l think
it will not be long before we shall
make an advance movement.
The troops are in good condition,
with clothes, and money in their peck
cts, and moreover, are determined to
conquer the rebels You mentioned
in your letter, to let you know the
principles of the troops which consti-
tute the Army of the Cumberland. In
the first place, they want, and will
fight, and maintain the flag of their
once happy country; in the second
place, they are not " Abolitiomists," for
they consider them as much rebels
as the other side. They want the
Union preserved, and that they are 60
ing to have, or the last man of them
will fall on the battlefield. This is a
fact, not to be gainsayed, as the vote
of the Northwestern troops proves !;
and / know that the Kentuckians feel
the same way, although they held no
election, as they did not think there
was any use of it.
The paymaster was here last Satur-
day, and paid the troops four months
wages, leaving two months and a.hali
pay still due, and deducting our cloth
ing bill out of the four months pay.
My clothing bill from the first of Octo.
Der, 1861, to the first day of January,
1868, amounted to 81, so; the Govern.
ment allows us s42 per year, or $3.50
per month, and if We were marching
the same as we generally do, it would
nearly take this amount to keep us In
shoes alone; and that, with my suit
ler's bill for tobacco and other neces
saries, use up my pay pretty well but
our Rolls are being made out for two
months more, and We expect to gel
paid that before leaving here.
| You speak in your letter about the
request of an Editor in Dowagiac, tc
publish some ofmy letters, in his sheet
l have nothing to say against it, only
one objection, that there is no elo
quence in my letters, and on the other
hand, he might be one of Vallandig.
hams Democrats, which are hated
more here than Seward or Chase.
Among the officers and privates of this
army, they are more bitter against the