The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1863-03-25
LETTER FROM A SOLDIER TO HIS
opEACEO UVOTTIER.


The soldier who wrote the letter has been
in tho army since the commencement Of the
war has been in many hardiought battles
was once taken prisoner, and for months
suffered the illtrcatnent and starvation
which the robels have almost invariably
given thoir prisoners of war. lie has had
excellent opportunities to learn something
Of the spirit which anrnatcs the rebels,
and ho knows, moreover, what he is fight
ing for We believe the plain talking
to" which this soldier gives his brother,
should have as much weight as the words
Of the y-chance you-can-got sol.
diors, who are now boo-hooing through the
Copperhead press i" | want to so home
at any price :" Read it:
al received letter from my brother in Mis-
souri, some two days previous to the reception Of
yours, and was deeply mortified TO learn that he en-
tanned the same "peace principles " as yourself.
II worries my brain to ascertain how men can be
~ blind TO Honor and Justice, as to allow them
selves to be led by political demsgogues, who, for the
sake of getting into Office, have done all in their
power to dcmoraze the army, which alone is about
the only salvation left the country. For the sake
Of office alone, they would ride into power over the
ruins of this once glorious Union. If they are
afraid to take the muskct and face the rebel hordes
who would make homes dcsolate us their
own had they the power, why try to dcmDralizc
| the men who have faced them for two long years
and are not afraid to face them three more, il it il
necessary to save the Union, am satisfied to day
that had Stephen A. Douglas been elected to the
Presidency, instead Of Abraham Lincoln, he would
have used the same means, and perhaps more Wig
orously than the present Administration has done
II such had been the case you would have thought
it all right, because the Democracy did it, II is
plain fact, that if the Democracy cant rule, the,
are bound to ruim; but allow mo to inform yot
they ca,t do either for time to come, at least
Tncy are doing more To kill the party than they ART
aware of. The soldiers want no politics until thu
Union is savod-thcn it will bO time enough to re
vive political parties.
In speaking of the drat. you say you hope non
will go ifdraitcG. Now allow me to caution yo'
TO Jcoure how you act, and how you talk. You Ger
tainly must know the result Of resisting the law
II you will read the transcription Act,' lael!
passed, YOU will find il to be very lcnicnt
takes none from their homes, that cannot very wei
be spared thcrciiom. should be sorry to hear o
your being drafted but if the law reaches you
which think it will not, hope you will shoul
der your muskct without hesitation for you coult
not pass your time in a better cause. wOul,
much prefer ohear OF your loseng your life in th'
field, battling for your cOuntry's honor, than Il
hear of your loosing it by resisting the draft
which ofitself is treason.
"The soldiers are getting their eve. open to tn
fact that we have traitors to contend aS INST in h
North as well as in the South. 1t is very unplcas
ant to be between two fires, but we feel ourselves
competent for the work. Our tactics" teach US
to fight them wherever we may find them.
"Iou can believe that il the " Conscription act
is resisted, portion OF the army now in the iel,
will be used To cocrcQ tho rcbclluus spirit OF the
North, aud the soldiers would do it willingly io
they look upon every man who is able, and will rc
fuse to come To their assistance, when needed, ~
towards, and afraid To fight for all that is dear t.
w in this wOrld--oW homes and 0ar couatry.
"Thc soldiers are becoming IL unit the all
+ absorbing queston-that of saving the Union an,
all of tho opinion that the only way to save i
is to drive the rebels to the wall which woul,
North kept in the back ground. Ii the rebels hac
not expected assistance from the North. the,
would have given up long ago. They are slim
uatcd by the actions OF peace m,n" to ho',
out iiWe longer and they will obtain thc
independence. Had the North kept united as ont
man to put down this rebellion, it would have bee,
accomplished to-day and looking ut it in this lis sht
look upon every man that is killed in battle ufte
this Us murdered Ii am fortunate enough To fal
T by the unerring aim of perhaps some miSguide,
rebel, shall give as much credit to the pcaC 4
party" Of the North | do to the man VIII,
pulled the trigger for he was stimulated by tia
party to hold out little longer These are m,
feelings and think can safely say they are tn
feelings OF tour-iifths of the army With all tha
y this party has done to demorlliGl the army, it
more united and determined to-day To put dow
this cursed rebellion than it ever has been. W
hold in utter contempt, all such men, AS woul
, induce our comrades to desert have more respeC
for the Buttcmuts" who face us with gun
| hand; and for tho soldier, if such he could |
! called, who would So far forget himself, and IL
solcnm odh he has taken to support the Govern
y ment, AS to desert his h.S and his comrades
= arms We entertain the same feelings. Thank Co
u we have had but few who have deserted Il
>, battle stained flag of the old 5th Ohio and tho.
- who have deserted, did so some tim, ago, an
n W. are better without them; for they were me
!. who had no reputation either at home or in Il
"A regiment. We get both Democratic aud Repul
lcin papers in camp, (which afford us amp
Q means OF ascertaining what is going ON at ~
l. homes, and am sorry to say we have cxpcctC
y betterthngs from those for whom we have unde
II gone many harShips for the past two years, to
= low them to rcNel in luxury at their peaceful home
O where the shrill notes OF the war.horu arc ncv,
heard.
u see there is considerable Quibbliug about III
\ suspension of the writ OF la6cus corl. Now allie
- me to ask you ifcver you have boon put to any il
4 convenience by the suspension otthis law | don
l. think any honest man can say he has. Ii was su
v pended for the benefit OF those who like to asSe
!, their independence by spoutng treason. Eds,
q Il. ODDS, Ohio, was imprisoned for short tin
\ tor speaking reasonable sentiments, and | ii
Il sorry that he was let OIL without b,iug brought
i trial; and ii founl guilty he should still be ser
u ing his time in prison. lrhe had been found inu
cent OF TIL charges for which he WAS arrested, Il
), fact should have bocn published to the worl
y which would have left no stain on his charactr
! sitwas being let oil without trial. aud b1ing
I, politiciau-he knew how tn enlist the sympathics
q the people from the political stump copSequen,
If he WAS made "bltSSed martyr" and rode in
d Office on the hobby OF treason. was detained
/, arebcl prison as long Mr., Ohls WAS mprissone
= aud am satisfied that | received much harIer far
. but whom GOT back among the good people
" Ohio, | was not lnuIsd, Or made martrr @
ON the contrary, had but very little sympatl