The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1863-02-27

/ f1rStiy. we are ngitfng, IL Is saId, 10 crstn
i'tlie pockets and wine cellars of u commissions,
aristocracy, whose reign and reveiings mus
end when peace removes their shoulder-straps
/ Gladly would pronounce this a mere slander
| but-lpromised to write IN honest letter. Doubt
7 less there is Just enough truthi it to demand
/ this one remark, namely: That such cause O
! warfare, however agreeable to the privileged
class alluded to, can not at,oays satisfy the rank
and file on whose blood they are supposed to
fattcn. Even glory grows rksome.at last, when
consccratcd by no higher aim than the aggran-
aizcment of tyrants. have heard that bayo.
nets would be turned upon their employers, but
never believed it. e'a oai aAs st.tia a
Secondly. Wearc fighting to c5oiish sLnc,y,
the Union to survive Or perish as emancipation
may direct. This, too, has truth in it for a
large class of New England, and for a few in
the West TO them Caucasian blood is so in
ferior, when compared with African, that we
can afford to drain its richest arteries that POM
pey may call himself Free though notoriously
as incapable of true freedom, (which implies
sclf-government and self-support) as the parrot
is Of true eloquence. Theorists may whitewasll
as they will Our army has seen the black ell
ephant as he is and we are forever cured OF
Uncle Toms Cabin. To fight in such cru
sade is freak worthy alone of idiots and mad
men. rati giIeb feiH I'D
Thirdly. We fight 10 restore tie Union, sla-
very to stand or fall as the interests of the u
nion may demand So we were told, and so we
believed six months ago. Grant that such is
indeed the fact. We shall best succeedby con-
quering ourselves-in other words, by Throw
ing down the sword and fre-brand trusting to
the listening edr, the instructive tongue and the
faithful breast. No Union can be valid or las
ting! until cemented by the Union of hearts {;
ant to say that we can rivet Southern hearts to
us BY hacking them to pieces, is absurd in terms
as wei, as in fact. A nation great as ours
in wealth population, arts, arms and commerce,
can afford to be equally so in magnanimity.
And Christian nation might well set an cx-
ample to the world by dealing with her unruly
children upon Christian principles. Rom. xII,l
1921. 1rm fal'Gsi Oh
Finally, we fight simply 10 hcanbia and ciF-
c,aaScrte the South, whose growing wealth,
power and territory, excite the jealous fears
Of the New England States. This opinion,
though held by very many in the West and
in this am deluded, and such be the real origin
of our troubles then tie union army is sure of
defeat; for crime can not prosper, and war
from such motives is crime OF the most dam
ming type. Better share aniicably the glorywe
can not prevent, than to Play the part and share
the doom Of Haman. ,.,l ,.l,.
will not speak of the deroralizing effects
Of war nor even enlarge upon its physical hor-
rors as O further cause for being sick of the
present struggle. Mercy to the anxious hearts
at home, already couvulsed at the bare suspicion
of the he'll behind the scenes, forbils ,ls all to
unfold The secrets of our prison-house even if
human language could unyeil the gle: .msof Pan
demonium Tor the hollow eyes that are compel
led to bear them daily, or to closa on them
only in the last chill sleep, | confua shis letter
purtly 10 the intellectual prhase OF lie war ques-
tions, where we find enough, to justify the al
most mutnous anxiety for peace that fills, as
have said, the heart of the great Southwest
ern army. You may say we are homesick
must trust in God those of us who ave homes
love them too dearly ever to forget what we
have sacrificed, or to forgive the Adm inistration
that could so needessly, yea, wicked ly, tear us
from their hallowed circle. For me, however,
the taunt is powerless, death having left me no
earthly home to sigh for You may callus cow
ards. Our blood has washed out the foul as
persion upon every field where we have been
brought to the test. Indiana, espec 'lally, has no
indulgence or partialty to crave at the hands
of history. Her record in this war is one blaze
of heroic Deeds only dimmed by tine want of
cause equal in splendor to the con duct of her
sons. The Eighty-Third Regiment, in its brief
but arduous career, has won, abs olutely, the
finest reputation in the service so acknowledge
cd by older regiments, and by Generals in no.
wise predisposed to fatter U.S. Personally, 1 am
not very brave, but my place now is at the
Quartermaster's desk, where, except by sympa-
thy, have no concern about the dangers of
the van. Yet am man with friends in the
ranks and heart in my bosom; man to
whom the mothers, wives, sisters, and children
of those friends look for news from the fray,
and whom they justly hold resp onsibe for at
least the mortal welfare Of ma ny who came
with me to the field Oh God that should
ever have aided, even by breath, to rush into
the shambles SO much good mate rial for so poor
q cause.
If this expiatory offering--for shall make
the confession TO them all-can lessen, even
partially, the guilt of the past, / shall die con-
tent, even though hung for saying what we all
do know. If spared to reach home, however,
l shall devote myself, with wiser and humber
zeal, to the gospel of peace, leaving war to
brute beasts, and striving, in deep contrition,
to Ego and sin no more" \, N f.. 49,,
AS every your true friend, - r,.,..
(NT A MN
sJ-A sailor, who had lately returned from