Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-10-10
MOrtester daily spy.
THE DAILY spy.


Correspondence of the n. y Evf ming Post.
In THE FIELD, Oct. 1.-The army is now
i'll fine condition. The men are veterans, with
frames Of iron; with soldierly habits; with
spirit which is dauntesS. and a devotion to
their flag which is the promise of many glo-
rious deeds. The country has reason to be
proud OF the army of the Potomac. Its COM
posed in great part OF the best blood of the
eastern and middle states and the New
England regiments particularly are full of
historic names. The outdoor life of the past
two years has given these men a magnificent
hardness Of body; they can march their
twenty-five and thirty miles per day without
groanng; they sleep contentedly upon the
ground; and no toll or hardship can break
Their spirits. They have acquired the art of
making themselves comfortable in the field
and thus the soldier life is robbed of half its
hardship.
ITS CONFIDENCE IN MIR. LINCOLN
This army is no longer political machine.
McClellanism, never very strong in it has
died out 1t was kept alive for some time,
mostly from spirit of opposition; it mas now
no existence. The army is Tor the country.
and for no individual 1t fights and lives tor
the flag ut its head; for the Union, which it
means to see re-established Perhaps the
most popular man with us to day is the presi-
dent The men have perfect confidence in
his integrity, IN his determination to maintain
their rights, and in his superior wisdom.
They say, "Uncle Abe is honest; he's got no
axes to grind and he looks after us. He
sees that we're paid off when we need shoes
he works and fuses round till we get them;
he thinks of us, and looks out for u.s." He Is
their great man.
Partly they have this impression from the
numerous evidences they have had Of the
presidents genuine kindness of heart. But
partly, too, their confidence in the president
arises from different cause. They are con-
vcrts TO his policy. They have found that
events have proved his wisdom, and they have
come to believe that whatever he does, al.
though they may not at once see the wisdom
OF the step, is sure to prove all right. They
say, ''When Uncle Abe removed Gen. Nc.
Clellan we thought it was a mistake, but we
have done more and better fighting under the
other generals, and less digging. When the
president issued his emancipation proclama-
ton we were down on him, but everybody
knows now that he did just right when lie
began to arm the blacks, we were very mad
but now we say the more black troops the
better"
THE RELIGIOUS ELEMENT.
The morals of the army are much higher
than many think. There are rough fellows in
plenty, to be sure; swearing and drinking Of
ti0erS are to be found without searching far
but, also, there is no lack Of praying officers
and men. If you walk through the camp at
night You may hear soldiers praying. not
merely tor themselves or those at home from
whom they have been SO long absent, hut for
their country, for the Union, for the flag
which is SO dear TO them. have heard them
often. There is a deep feeling among the
men that the hand OF providence is leading
them on; that God is their great general, and
that he watches over the country, aud means,
in his good time, to restore it to II higher and
nobler life, to peace which shall be lasting
and honorable.
Strange feelings come over the men when
they have been 50 long away from home, in
the midst Of dangers and privations, as this
army has. Their hearts are softened; they
have seen, how often the hand of providence
stretched out to save them from death; they
have suffered in many ways, but most of all
they have suffered through their absence from
home and kindred. They are like seamen,
long storm tossed on tedious voyage. |
heard some time ago touching story, which
may find place here. On the night before
the battle of Charlottesville ii general officer
who had business with General Hooker was
walking through his own camp, on his way to
headquarters, when he heard one of bis own
soldiers, IN the darkness, praying earnestly
for the commanding general. He prayed that
God would make Gen. Hooker circumspect,
wise, capsbe Tor the great work he had to do
lie asked that the general might have power
to guide his great army, to lead them to victo-
ry over the enemies of the Union; and then
he prayed that God would give Gen. Hooker
command over himself-that he might be
good and God-tearing man, and that in all
things he might acknowledge the will and the
power OF God.
Much touched at this prayer of the poor
soldier, the general officer walked on. In the
course of the evening he had an opportunity
to mention what he had heard to Gen. Hooker.
Hooker is frank, noble-hearted fellow, essily
moved, and this touched him to the quick.
He covered his face with his hands and silent
ly wept