Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1863-04-09
Army Correspondence

The following letter. from soldier.
was sent to us for publication by the gen.
tleman to whom it is addressed:
Sn camp asar MUnFREEsBoRo. Tenn,
.a Feb. 18th. 1868.
WonTHY FRIEND JOHN BERoER:
Your letter of the I'd inst. came to
hand, through which l am pleased to learn
your health is improving. and 1 sincerely
hope it may speedily be thoroughly reor-
ganised. d.-restored. 1t is also very graft
flying to me t0 heu that we. the soldiers,
are still held in such high repute by the
citizens of Bremen and vicinity. But. in
regard to the proceedings Of the Peace and
Compromise Meetings in Northern Indi-
ana. to which you direct my attention and
ask my opinion. allow me to say. they are
regarded with great apprehension and dis
trustfulnsss among us soldiers. This is
not merely my own feeling in regard to
them, but the universal sentiment even Of
those who on political questions are antag-
onists of mine. The pretended object of
those who participate in those meetings is
to bring about peace. but we, the soldiers.
think the only effect of them will be to
prolong the war. The people Of the North.
it seems to us. ought to know By this
; time that the Union can never be restored
by Compounds. for the Lords of the
South are still universally declaring that
upon no conditions will they compromise
or again unite with the North. Therefore.
not hing remains for us to do but either to
support the Government with all our en-
ergy in its efforts to conquer the rebels. or
else acknowledge the Independence Of the
Southern Confedersey. whereby we shall
not only loose the States that have form
ally seceded. but Missouri. Kentucky and
Maryland likewise. Will the people. or
rather. l shoulI say. will the Democrats OF
the North agree to this? Shall we. for the
sake Of peace. after so much blood and
treasure has been expended to preserve the
Union, agree to its disiniegralion? Have
we who are yet allie to fight greater rea-
sons TO save ourselves than those who have
been wounded or have fallen on the field
OF battle? think not. Or shall the ex-
penses flighten us? hope not. for. with
out stopping to talk about the incslcula-
BILE value Of the Union. surely the North
:
can. But should we grant Mr. jeff Davis
and his fellow rebels all they demand,
wonld that secure us a steady and perma
nent peace? doubt it very much. But
Will not stop nov to give my reasons.
But says some. we cannot conquer the
South; better give it up now. as nothing
can be accomplished by prosecuting the
war longer. beg to be allowed to differ
with all who talk thus: for it is my firm
conviction that with a united North, con-
dition which sooner or later will occur.
either willingly or nnwillingly. as all en-
emies Of the Union in the North will have
to yield or be ground to powder. the re-
bellion can be speedily crushed. Because
we have not conquered them in two years
time is no reason that we cannot do it in
four. II we take as mach territory from
them in the next two years as we have IN
the, two preceding how much will they
have left? History teaches us that a re-
bcllien of the magnitude of this cannot al
ways be suppressed in month or year.
Then let MS exercise patience. The Gov
ernment is worth all it will cost TO pre-
serve it. even II the war lasts twenty years.
But il. through the opposition Of North
ern peace men, the Government is forced
to yield to the demands of the rebels. we
soldiers can return to our homes, If not as
conquerors and the saviors Of our beloved
Union, conscious at least, of having done
all in our power to save it.
! We have read in the Plymouth Demo-
craf the proceedings Of the Bremen peace
meeting. held Dec. 81. which. together
with the sentiments expressed in some let
tiers lately received. is the causc Of the
above remarks. in part. 1t appears that
some among you are depressed in spirit.
1 1t is to be regretted, certainly. that there
| is so much opposition to the measures OF
! the administration for the prosecution OF
/ the war and suppressing the rebellion. as
it only serves to prolong the war. which
is not reIished very heartily by the SOLDIERS.
I assure you. As to the President's Proc
lamatiop. let me say what is true. it is al
most universally approved by the soldiers
l regard it myself as . good and righteous
act. calculated. If properly managed. To
cripple the rebels immensely. whstever
msy be its bad effects in the North in di-
viding the people, This division. howev-
er. cannot last long. for whenever your
peace men offer to compromise with the
rebels they will be so rudely repulsed that
their sympathy for them will speedily die
ont. and they will then turn round and
clamor louder for . more vigorous prose
cution Of the war than any Other class
why sho0Id the Presidents emancipation
Proclamation nsIe this war for the ben,
e. ~f A. -:--~o yIyl-~x - 49, :,