The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1863-11-13
From the Wayne County Democrat.
FROM THE IO7TH REGIMENT.
The Democratic Soldiers Not
Permitted 10 Vote!
Folly ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA, I
October 18th, 1868.

October 18th, 1868.
Editor Wayne County Democrat:
DEAR SIR-Having an opportunity to
write You, will tell you how the elec.
tion went off here on the sea.coast of
South Carolina.
We've had very hot times about poll.
tics. Being soldiers, old enough to
know right from wrong, We thought we
could vote without having stupid and
ignorant stump speakers Of the So-called
Union party to instruct US. But we
found we were quite wrong. About two
weeks before the election an Abolition
agent showed his love for the sciiiers
by bringing them loads of tickets, clrcu.
lars and books, E5 labored faithfully
for Brough. When be began to speak
TO the ooys, they welcomed him by cry.
ing; "Give him gun )" "Give him a
cartridge. box - "Put him in the guard
house !" "Put him out;" 1--WE are for
ValIandigham." He was finally COM
PEELED to leave us. Next Captain Lutz
tried what he could do with us, bv
threatening that every one of his com.
pany who would vote for Vallandigham
he would punish. But that wouldn't do.
Then our officers threatened, that they
would resign if we voted for Vallandig
ham. We said, that they could do, and
welcomly. That ended that trial. Next
they tried 10 frighten US by saying that
they would put us in front of battle if
we wouldn't vote for Brough We an.
swered' That is where we always are,
and want TO be, We are S1ss towards
Our conduct heretofore speaks for us
At ChancellorVille, we were in the front;
at Gettysburg, we were in the 'front.' and
the next place you hear of US we will be
in the front" So, that did not take
Next they told US, that if we voted for
Vallandigham we would break our oaths.
But we knew better than that. So, at
last, they preached up the doctrine of
rebelion-said that they would rebel
against the choice of the people, if Val
landigbam should be elected. That
strengthened us, for it showed US that
they are really worse than the rebels,
and we thought we could fight rebels on
the soil of Ohio just as bravely as we do
on South Carolina soil.
After finding out that they could not
accomplish their designs by persuasion
or intimidation, they resolved that they
would not permit US to vote. And that
they did accomplish. The vote of the
regiment will show this. We were on
duty to build fort on Ciowa Island
A camp guard, some detached men and
the officers ~ere left in camp. They
opened secret poll at the commissary,
aud got all the Brough men to vote that
were present. In the evening it leaked
out, and some Democrats went to vote.
Two or three got their votes in, but as
soon as the Aboitionists saw thar the
Democrats had found out the secret and
were coming to vote, they closed the
polls, before the time provided by law.
We were fairly cheated out of our votes
by our own officers.
1t would be no more than justice il
the vote Of our regiment we're rejected
for it is q great fraud. We hope you
will see to it. We are willing to obey
the law, we respect the Constitution, anC
withhold not justice from any man. 81
do we demand it from the other side.
close with the request that you pub
lsh this. | would like the Union mel
of Wayne and other counties to knGv
what kind of leaders they have.
j W. p,
lst Brigade, GOrdon's Division.