The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-10-29
Army Correspondcnce.
LAGRANGE. Tenn. Sent. osth. 1sf

EDITOR CoURrER:--1 have Just returned
to my company and regiment, my brave
comrades, and beloved associates, and [
, now desire to write sh ,rt address to the
readers of the Courier, hoping that all those
that are, and all those that would be, loyal,
Union men, will give heed to what have
to say-that which is right AMI just, and
discard that which Is i,npDltic or unjust.
From rebels AMI traitors, ask no forgive.
ness for any of,n'cs or insults given; for
this class of individuals, I aiI confident, are
past redemption; they are joined to their
idols, and will not be parted asnnier. >
On my arrival here, f,uni the boys OF
Company X in very good health, and enjoy
ing themselves, apparently as we'll as they
ever did since our enlistment into the U
s. service.
| did not arrive here as soon as expect
cd, which was owing to the low wate.' navi.
CATION Of the Mississippi river. At Mem.
phis, got in company with Ermon E. Mas.
tick, Captain Of the company to which I
belong. The Captain looked rem, rkably
we'll lie, too, was en- route for his regi.
ment, having bee home on furlough to visi,
his friends and recruit his health. Mastick
is one Of the best soldiers in the army, and
I sometimes think, that if was woman
| should entertain a secret but hopeless af.
fiction for man 50 pleasing, graceful and
skillful in the discharge Of his several mill.
tary duties.
Lieu enant "Tom" cannot be excelled
as an officer or soldier, for his loyalty
bravery, and generous conduct towards the
men Of his company. ' ~
Before further progress is made in my
address to you, my fellow patriots, wish
to inform all those concerned, that your
humble writer is member of tho "Old
Second" and has been member of that
organization for period of two years and
four months. Therefore, I shall speak
plainly upon the military history of the
regiment and army to which belong also,
of the political condition, principles and
sentiment of all Iowa soldiers that I have
had the honor of associating with.
There appears to be some dispute among
great mony persons residing in the North,
in ragard to the political sentiment Of the
army. I will speak more particularly of the
Iowa second, because am more acquainted
with the members of this regiment than
any other. regiment that has ever bourne
an active part in the suppression of this
cursed rebellion; a regiment whose history
will bloom and blossom like the rose, to be
pluckeI by our children in coming years !;
regiment that never has, in any engage
ment, at any time or place, brought infany
and disgracy upon the heads of any one,
either by cowardice, dsobedience of orders,
insolence or subordination of duty and a
regiment too, that will cast its entire vote,
at the coming election, for William NJ. Stone,
the unconditional Union candidate for the
Office Of Governor of the State of Iowa.
But the "Old Second" is not alone in
the glorious contest, Fifty thosand men
have enlisted in their country's cause, and
have gone forth from the infant State of
Iowa, to battle for their nations pride and
honor; to suppress rebellion; to repel in
aston; to support, sustain and maintain
the principles of freedom and liberty, as
represented in the Declaration of Independ-
ence, written, supported and subscribed to
by the forefathers of our country, and en-
blazoned on our national hag-the starry
emblem of Liberty and Union, one and
inseperable."
Iwish now to go back to review part
of the early history Of the rebellion, by
saying that when the grand army of the
south-west was advancing on Corinth, COM
manded by General Halleck, according to
the famous Oraer No. 8. (Which 50 highly
pleased southern rebels aud northern trait.
ors.) No contraband was allowed to come
inside our lines.
If a negro came to our lines and asked
admittanee, he was told that he could not
be admitted, that it was contrary to orders
issued by the commander of the United
States forces. The negro had then to re.
trace his steys hom.ward, from whence he
came, to receive the kicks, curses and the
lash Of wicked and cruel master. After
he had received punishment of this kind
(which in many cases caused DEATH he was
put to work making clothing, and raising
grain and provisions, thus Supplying the
wants of armed rebels, and allowing one
more white man to be admitted into rebel
ranks. to shoot down Union soldiers; where.
as, If the negro had been admitted into
federal lines, the advantage gained on our
part would have been two-fold; his vacancy
on his masters plantation would had to
have been supplied by an able bodied white
man, while, on our part. he would have fill
ed the place of federal soldier. 1t was at
this time that many of our subordinate Off
GERS, and majority of the rank and file Of
the whole army, debated the question as to
the propriety of adopting a policy for more
vigorous prosecution of the war. A ques.
ton was asked by many. What was the
cause Of the rebellion, and who were the
instigators of the same? The question was
readily answered by all, that African slavery
was the sole cause of the present rebellion,
and that the radical fanatics of the South