The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1863-04-22
Correspondence Of the Perrysburs Journal
A Soldiers Views.
TrSsrssrE. April 10, 1858.

TENSsssEE, April 10, 1868.
Eps, JOURNAL. In a late issue Of your excellent
paper, saw some communications from the army,
and trusting you will be sufficiently partial to q
nc,c correspondent, to publish few lines, permit
me to address you.
For the purpose Of aiding in the preservation OF
the Government from destruction by its insane enc
mics, | am willing exile from the banks OF the
beautiful and historical Maumee. may not now
repeat any Of its historic reeollectons, nor dwell
upon its points Of interest but allow me to say
there is a locality not generally knewn, where
deed of valor was performed which, for daring and
successful execution, has never been excslled.
refer to the feat of Csptaia Wells and his scouts
in an Indian camp, during General Wayne's
campaign.
The rebels were not satisfied to " let well enough
alone" but must have better Government. and we
are determined that God willing, they shall have
better one or none. BY "none" mean their ex-
termination, rather than allow their demand. Some
of the rebel leaders have inadvertently admitted
that slave property was never more secure than at
the time the rebellion was inaugurated; but with
the "hue and cry" that the peculiar institution "
was endangered by "Blaek Republican" rule,
they humbugged and forced the masses to engage
in this fratricidal war.
We will not again submit to fugitive law"
nor allow guarantees for the security of slave
property. The rebels not willing that two par
ties shall be interested in making bargain con-
cernng the adjustment of existing difficulties, but
must have it all their own way-we will be as con-
trary as they are, and if we cannot settle these diff
cutes to suit our fancy, they shall not be settled
nj of tha
rebes--and it is "ruin" they must have, cost
what it may
When we look at the sufferings of our ancestors
at Valley Forge and other places, and the bravery
with which they met danger and death, in order to
establish the Government, certainly we should
gladly endure little suffering to retain the boon
of Freedom. All who now labor and suffer to sus
tain this Government, will win name beside those
immortazed patriots who established it with their
fortunes and their blood. But we are not fighting
barely to sustain and preserve this Government
we fighting for the interest and welfare Of our
common humanity; for the principle that man has
r right to govern himself The eyes Of the world
are upon us, and if our effort at self government
fails, tyranny will have a long if not perpetual
lease of power.
In view Of these things, how much should we
endure before yielding to the "desroyers of our
peace" Rather than this, let every man in the
entire army give up his lfe and if that offering is
not sufficient, let another million be sacrificed on
Lbertys altar, for the benefit of the race, rather
than that these self-styled Cavaliers" " should
triumph If not then successful, should we stop
even at this ? No! As long as . man remains,
our motto should be, Conquer or die"
But have we the means for prosecuting the war
Certainly we have Our excellent Enrolment
law is the grand desderatum. This will furnish
all needfu men, and, moreover its justice isappa-
rent by placing the burden equally on all classes.
1t is especially popular with the soldiers, because
it forces the disoyal into the ranks instead of al
| lowing them to remain ut home to do the voting
If, some contend, "it will be resisted" and
soldiers have to return to compel its enforcement,
| unto those ,0ho cause them to return They will
show no more mercy to the Copperheads than they
wonld to their proteges of the serpent tribe. Men
| who have periled their lives in the field and camp
and faced death on bate-felds are not the ones to
treat atsneaking traitors very kindly. Furthermore,
it can not be expected that soldiers will have any
| sympathy with class for whose rights and inter
ests they have been fighting, when these very men
!
times as much sympathy for the rebels of the
| South they have for the traitors at the North.
Should the enrolment fail to furnish sufficient
number of men to meet the necessary demand, is
there any other source af supply? Most assuredly,
| yes! To those not dangerously i'll with "negro-
phobia," the colored population of the country fur
nshes basis from which not few efficient soldiers
can be obtained. Without stopping to show that
they have been and be efficient soldiers let us
say their employment will not exasperate the South
against us more than they already; but even if
it should, what would be the difference? This
contest will not admit of an amicabe adjustment
| The rebels have used the bones of " Yankees 1"
to make spurs, rings, &c., and have boiled the
| flesh from " Yankee skulls, in order to use them
for soap dishes. They can not treat the negro
worse than this; and who would not be willing that
| the negro should share these chances with the
white man. This war was not commenced to vim
dictate the rights of the negro but the fact is patent
to all intelligent observers that the negro will re-
ceive vast benefit in this fight, and why not let
him lend helping hand-as well as for us to do
all the labor, while he sits still and receives the
benefit.
Again, life is somewhat endangered in war, and
are not the lives of our own race and kindred
worth as much to the country as are the lives of
Africans? The Southerners profess to despse US,
| calling us "mudsills," and all other opprobrous
| epthets. We think we somewhat humbed by
being "ptted" against them, for we would like
foemen worthy OF our Steel" To show our ap-
probation of the "chivalry," let us "pt" against
them the "nigger." They commenced the war
for the "nigger let us give them proper salts
| faction of their sweet morsel OTH0.
What Soldier i'll the 11lth Says.
We are permitted to transfer to our columns the
following extract from private letter written by
! soldier Of the l1lth Regiment Ohio Volunteers,