Nebraska advertiser., 1864-08-18
Owe belong TO he Lst Diyisi.

80 ~ IN 80 az -
1--WE belong 10 the Ist Division, 10th
Army Corps, Under command of Maj.
Gen'l Butler, we occupy an entFenched
positionsabout s15i miles from Richmond.
Ours and the Rebel pickets are in many
places not over 100 yards apart, butthey
are quite friendly, donot shoot, our boys
meet them half way and trade newspa-
pers, tobacco and other articles with
Them. The rebsn threw over a note
at the post where I was, saying they
were tired Of the service, and two were
coming, over. TO us the next nighSssand
that we mustonot shoot themg Many of
the rebels areIdeserting along Oar lines
three came over while l was on duty Che
last time. l expect to go on pieket again
tonight, eur duties now are fulIyasmdch
as the most Industrious could wish for
Lieut.. Genl Grants Army-or rather
the Army of the Potomac, is surrounding
Petersburg which lies about Smiles south
west of us. We all have the greatest
confidence in the capablily of Gen'l
Grant, and the soldiers under bis imme-
date command, bear every privation
with a viii to work and do according to
his dIctations. No man ever had the
entire support IF his subordinates with a
better zeal than Lieut.. Gen'l u s.
Grant now has. What is lacking now is
with the people and the Government, the
difference of which Sometimes fear will
be the ruin Of our dear nation: l am
now satisfied that the final rescue or woe
of our much loved country depends on
the present campaign Oh! should not
the heart Of every loyal man woman
and child breathe the prayer of deliver
ance and victory that peace might once
more reign throughout this distracted
nation, and the ungodly and unruiy re.
turn again to their true allegiance, and
be as we once were-"a united and hap
py people" But alas! three or over
three long years of experience in active
service for my country, have fully salts
fed me; that many, too many of our
friends Cor those that should be friepds)
at home, have looked uponahis war in a
trivial light, making it appear a much
less matter to conquer the South, than is
actually the case. People at ~home-are
deceiving themselves, or allowing them.
selves to be deceived by fractions and
captious citizen army correspondents,
who seldom give thestruth Of reality. -
Military men have ever ~besnaccus,
toned to look at the war as a longer and,
harder undertaking than those who tho't
more. of the justice of fhe cause than of
ia difficulty of maintaining it, Popular
impstience, and more especially, ORR
c1ALimpatience, has often wronged many
a gallant officer whose patriotism was
most unquestionable. In the early part
of this rebellion. to urgeU equipment
of one half the forces Eh have already
been los. in the struggle, was accepted.
as a sign of insanity in one case, and of
treason ia others gBut lukewarmness in
the cause of national honor should be
tardily charged against the soldier who.
seals his testimony with his BLOOD Let
it always be remembered that while.
many noisier patriots have measured
their sacrifice by setting this or that year
as the time when our integrity shall be
indicated if at all, thousands of gallant
officers, sless exullantIat the outset less
confident of success, more willing to at
tribute good qualities toaheiE opponents
have fought far beyond the time so fool
ishly prescribed, and are fighting now
with a patriotism which knows no tIlhe
or measurmentdOf time ,dlabor, or suffer:
ing as the offering due TO their country,
AS to the army now in Virginia. it is
difficult tOeonyey an adequate apprscia-
ton of ats determinations its spirit and
its gallantry. 9 It ranks have been riiddled-
and lhinned BY the long campaign. Whole.
companies, whole regiments have been
destroyed. ~
Battallions, ana brigades have lost
their distinctive appellstions. BY the in
fux of new material the character of Di-
and of corps have been changed.
The reckless galIantry CT officers has
swept them off by hundreds, and now
captains command the relics of
regiments Of brigades, and sergssnIs or
COrpOralSs commanding companies or
What is left which amounts 10 a mere