Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1863-09-12

continuing the contest. Why should we
fight any longer Since came into your
lines, | heard an idea advanced which
appeals so strongly to my own common
sense, that accepted it at once rs the exact
truth"
"And what is that Z" | asked.
"Why," rcjoined he, sit is this the rebel
leaders have themselves no longerany hopes
of success, and now they only desire to use
our bodies to shield them as long us possible
from the righteous wrath of the Govern
ment."
"Are there many Mississippians in the
army who entertain your sentiments 2"
~ don't know how it may be with Others"
said be, "but in my regiment there are not
score of men who would not gladly throw
down their arms to-day and agree to spend
the rest of their lives in wondering how
they could have been such fools as ever to
take them up"
But" l suggested, "they would lose
their rights in the Territories"
AT this he burst into hearty laugh
"Iou need only repeat some such phrase as
that to u.s. said he, ITO make the depth of
our folly open like gulf before U.S."
BY this time | had become deeply inter
ested in this sensible and candid young
man, and resolved to learn if possible, a
little more of his private history
II do not wish to ilattcr you" | remarked
to him, "but you seem to be much more
intelligent than men of your class usually
are. Are you native of Mississippi 2"
''Ycs sir" he answered, 81 was born and
raised near Holly Springs"
where were you educated Z"
My only education" said he, "was OBJ
tanned at common school in my neighbor-
hood. 1t was taught for three years by
man from Cleveland, Ohio, by the name of
Sanders, and most excellent teacher and
estimable gentleman he was. Some of the
rich families in our vicinity preferred to send
their children to him, rather than employ
private tutors; and so, with what he got
from them, and what was obtained from
the State. he made handsome wages"
May ask how it came,' said |, 'that
you with so much better abilities, both
natural and acquired, that the mass OF
soldiers in the rebel army, failed to obtain
office amongst them 3"
/ He smiled at this. "My parents were
pour,' said he, land of all the Offices in our
regiment | cannot think of one that has
ever bc,a held by poor mans SON."
"Werc your parents shareholders q
Not at all. They owned and cultivated
a
the city, the value of which was scarcely
equal to that of single slave"
"You would doubtless have obtained
promot On at lastl" | suggested.
"No'," he bitterly replied ''aHtd ecfry
rich Shareholder or rich Shareholders son IN
my company lad been promoted 6cfore me-"
did your company contain many such
as yourself?'
Yes" said he "thrce-fourths of them
were poor men,"
And in your army it is the business OF
the poor to obey and not to command 2
"'rhats it !" he answered energetically,
''that's it and cursed be tie men tct0 dIugged
the p0or into Mis ,cretched ,car !"
do you know" said l, what became
of Sanders 2"
"lIc was warned by Vigilance Commit
tee to leave the State before the war broke
out. He did so or at least left our neigh
borhood, and have never heard from him
since"
What are your plans for the future ?"
inquired.
Il have none," was the reply, except
to take the oath of allegiance, and go some
place where, for a time at least, can enjoy
peace"
"You don't want to go to Mississippi at
present ~
NO he said with earnestness. although
my parents and relatives are there, if alive
would not venture back into that Stat,
before the war is over, for the finest planta
ton in Holly Springs"
"Would You not be willing to assist in
restoring peace to the whole country, by
fighting in the Union armies Z"
Yes" said he, after while, but not
now--not now. | am, oh, so sick OF wal
now but let me rest Il while, and then
shall he ready to aid in bringing to justice
those scoundrely leaders who have betrayed
and ruined the South
my friend" said |, perhaps your frank
and cordial manner has encouraged me tC
be too inquisitiyc, but should like to ask
you one more question. What are your
views upon the subject OF Slavery =
The vehement earnestness OF his reply
absolutely startled me:
~ am an Abolitionist-aE Aboltlonist
know that Slavero has been the cause o.
our ruin, and, as God hears me. shall, foI
the Lest of my life, fight against 1t ! ARd
tro-hirds eft tie members Of my regiment fec
about Il Just as Ido"
have recorded this conversation from
, my memory, and the language used botl
by myself and the young man, was dllicren
in many respects from that here set down
but have, in every case, faithfully giveI
the substance of his remarks, and the reade
may rely upon this as an exact representa-
ton of the ideas presented 10y the Mississip
plan during the half hour l was i'll hi
company.
During the past week have converset
with various other deserters from Bragg
army, sonic of them from Alabama ant
some from Louisiana.
Said an Alabamian: Would to God tn
war would close before it has desolated ou
State us it has Mississippi" Said another
IL was tired of the war long ago, and oltei
told our fellers we'd best get out OF 1t II VI
could Said third II didn't know wha
made the war in the first place, aud don
know much about it nowi but speet !
wasn't right on our side, or we'd git aioni
bettern We do"
| asked this last il there were man
Alabamians in the army that thought as b
did
80 vest" said he, "most all OF them thinl
there's something wrong, and want TO qni
, mighty bad"
"Do all you Aiabamians who desert com
TO our lines I"
20, bless you, no !" he answered; "the
would n they could. They run anywha
!. they think they can hide up into hills, Int
! swsmps. Why, the Texas cavalry don't d
nothin' else any more but hunt em up, an
~. -. IA