North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1863-03-25
To Mrs, Susan Pewterbaugh.
Mr.. EDITOR

Mr.. EDITOR:
Since the bloody strife on III
the Rappahannock, at Fredericksburg, II
whole army had been at stand still. Nm|
hardly daring to speculate on cur next move
ment; yet, all are looking forward with psi
full anxiety to the time when the next erptT|
naent is to be tried. Thousands in the NoEa|
say we are dcnoralized and wont fight. d
this true Does our record show it lIi|
Seemingly every effort that could be mad
has been to throw impedinents in our val
The Administration placed at the head 4
the army General Halleck-a sworn enenIl
to our great and able leader General McO%I
Ian. He, with the help of the combined Ii
clifton boards at Washington, succeeded Il
robbng us of one General. We never ri
have been able to see why this was neCessF
HIS enemies claim he was too slow in hI
movement. In the name of God, we &I
what army ever did more service, for:1
harder or oftener than did the army Of d
Potomac during the Peninsula campalgl-
Starting at Yorktown May 5th, until JI
2nd, little less than two months we iogi
eleven dayS-regular pitch battle hghta:l
not saying a word about the skrmIshlns
almost constant picket fighting during ID
whole time. Now we want our enemies
friends to know one fact, (and that is CORE
grated by history that the army under
Clelan during that two months passed in'
more battles than does tha regular soldS'
of Europe in life time. But whSI did ~
accomplish ? Oh! that is the question ~
proudly raise our heads and answer; VI
struck the rebellion the hardest blow 1t ss|
ever received since the first gun was tred \
Sumter. We demonstrated one fact to la|
rebel army that rs 900 veterans led BY 'l
invincible Mcclellan could not be whlpF1
much less subjugated (as they supposedJ "
the whole combined forces of the south, a~
had the reinforcements asked for, few dan
sftcr the seven days battles, teen given, vs.
would have marched back over the S'ut
ground we had covered with their dead a..
taken Richmond before their demorailzea
my could have been re-organlzed. but VI
failed to take Richmond, and lost oar leaU'.
During these dark days to us, the PreSias.
issued his proclamation making the issue \
the war, henceforth, the emancipation Of '"
slave (or in other words) bringing the DISC
race on an equality with our own at the ~
pense of SO many lives. Good God, Was' |
shock this gave us !! 1t seemed as th9u:
our IN uths flew open spontaneously andl@
fore we could control our tongues they cS
out, we wont fight. From this hour VIC y
gan to look for some hole to crawl OUT Oh ',
scrape bat none appeared. Our oa.h " y
enough. Solemnly promising to OBEY ,r y
President of the United States and all onlss.
placed over us. This closed up every a'Tu. n'.
OF hope against us, leaving US the only ~" " |
native of submlssively bowling our beau'
the powers that be. Now you ask, are n
demoralized? If we are, we ask, who cau'
our Decentralization If you would mahs s,sn
the same invincible force we once have O ~.
tell us, as you told us at the time of our T,.a
listment that we are to fight for the e. ..rr,
and the Constitution that the nierns, I've ii
is removed entirely out of the way: WV s,.
back our leader, and We will promise yon
cry man of us, thar we will fight deteF'l..S ,.S i
ly until We are no more, or our co1'T
sQred, .f.- .-. .... ~