Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-12-10

kg fef..r f
CorIespondenee Of the state journal = :
HrADe,as 5rz RIG. WIS. Vols,
NELz wrcHEsrrR, Vas New. 20, 1854
LErIrRs ZOE rEE BoTsl -
The mail has Just srrived, and It's contents
received By the eager, waiting ones, how
varied the emotions depicted on the coun-
tenances of eachi How multiplied the re-
Elections thus excited? Those who ENJOY the
sweets of home association have but very
feeble. idea of the wide place in soldiers
life hIled up BY good news from home Inc
shsance of these tokens of love leaves void
that naugnt else can FILL / am postmaster OF
the regiment, that is, I receive the boys
letters and send them away; and how often
have thought, as / have carried away near
II a bushel of letters, that it was very doubt
full whs4hef anything like the same amount
would be sent two months hence, even if the
number of men remained unchanged.
The bows are Just from home they still
have vivid remembrance of home associa-
tions and home faces Their thoughts and
hearts are still with loved ones, and hence
the frequency Of their writing. 81 intend to
keen all the while a letter on the road to my
wife, says one, and his is the common feel
ing of our new men. Some, many / doubt
not, will retain this spirit; and why? They
will be remembered by the dear ones of life,
and through this remembrance viii be bound
to home, to virtue and to God.
Let me give you touching example in
illustration of this. 1t is an extract from a
letter of the mother of private JAS NJ
Croach, who was then sick in hospital at Al
exandrfa, and has since died. After assuring
him of her having written several letters,
and her intention to write at every opportu-
- .,o,,noaIliuO him N his diSaa
She thus concludes:
. would be glad if could have the privilege of
kins care Of you but that privilege is denied me.
n il we're possible would come to you i can do
NO mere than to hope and pray for the best James
want you TO put your trust in the Lord, who
rsrsth for all his creatures. james, tear that we
shall never meet here in this world, but let US SO
i've that We may meet where parting Will De no
Ts.r. where tears never shed. Dear child, how
can think OF never seeing you again III you are
tsken hence to be here no more--if eau only
snas that your peace is made with Christ, aud
YOU die happy in His love, that Will be great com
fort to me. Goodbye, James If never see you
more N this troublesome world, may We meet IN
b-aven wAere there is no trouble nor wars"
Aud this was the last missive of mothers
affection. How touching! How could one
but feel the holy and elevating influence of a
mothers love as thus manifested?
The faithful ministry of love, of a wife, a
rn5ther. a sister-What can there be more
halIowed, more divine? 1t is almost an i'm
feasibility to break over the barrier thus
fa-ed and plunge into the fearful depths of
etup vice. Home is the center of the heart
# every virtuous soldier. Often when temp
latlou would conquer is their power broken
by such words as these. By such loving eOm-
puIsion but make the soldier feel like inquir-
Ins at every step, "What will my companion
III life say ? my much-lOved mother my dear
sister sn-make him thus 70 feel that he is
son, a husband, brother, still, and he will hon
or those relations, he is safe. One class OF
these bows will be thus sayed-I would could
sav al; for / shudder as l think of the chill
linz influence of neglect. If in the future
these bows become sunken and debased, the
broken wreck of manhood only remaining, let
those who bear to them the endearing rela-
lions that woman fills, know that TO an almost
Unlimited extent, theirs is the fearful respOn-
sIHlitv. o wives, and mothers, sisters, all !!
IN your hands is committed the moral destiny
of these soldier BOYS Acquit yourselves
well of so sacred trust!
TIE HEALTH OF THE SOLDIERS
is not as good as we could wish. This it
would seen is but the common lot of all our
regiments until they become acclimated
Still our sick list is no doubt greatly increased
~ being camped closely together IN the
body of the army, and poorly supplied with
that great Indispensable, good water. Our
sick list for the past week was considerably
over one hundred. There are no types of
disease, however, except OF simple form,
and which readily yield to proper remedies.
may add We are highly favored IN the char
acter of our surgeons, as men OF skill and ex-
perience.
THE SOLDIER PHRASES, =
In common use are not the least amusing
things of soldier life. "Thats what's the
matter" is appended to almost every asser-
ton of interest. "HOw are you &c, Is in
freauent use, when one wishes to give ex-
preston to fun-making spirit or derlsion.
stOId ALe's platforms /" is one of the express
i've cOgnomens given to our pieces OF hard
bread, or "hard tack, in common use.
THE ARMY SITUATION
Remains in statI quo. Your readers are no
dOubtaware that our army recently made
retrOgade movement ten miles from their po-
sition at Cedar Greek. The object OF this, as
nearly as we who are not possessed of mili-
tary seeretscan judge, was twO-told to pre-
vent a surprise or a flank movement on the
mart Of The rebel army, and if possible in
duce them to fight, and also draw them far
Their from their base OF supplies, while we
approached our own. While at Cedar
Creek a fight at almost any time was a
Iooked-for event, and for some days in
succession our army was kept in constant
readiness. For two or three days after reach
ing our present camp our cavalry was con-
stantIy skirmishing with the rebels, and we
thought they might attack us. That they
would do so has been and is our strongest
wish for, with but ordinary success, we
would well-nigh anRihilate the rebel army
The Nation may rest assured that If Early's
successor attempts to gain possession of this
Valley. he will meet with a terrible over
throw. It is the settled destiny of the army,
let by{the glorious Phil. Sheridan, to win -
The 9th corps even, with Sheridan for lead
er. believes itself sufficient to cope with any
force the rebels can here send against US
The spirit of our army is buoyant and hope
fll beyond the most far-reaching conception
Of any friend who may hesitate.
Il is not probable all of the troops now
here will remain in the Valley during the
present winter One corps may remain here,
Isueh is the general impression to garrison
Winchester and protect the Winchester and
Harper's Ferry railroad, which is rapidly be-
ing repaired, and on which they will receive
supplies, while the other corps are sent where
there is more active work. Many seem to
think that the other corps will be sent, one
to Petersburg and one to Wilmington, n. Y.
But this is little more than guess-work. vi
this, however, our friends may rest assured,
.tersuersre 90, zoe 90 to victory!
Yours &c b. C.. HAMMOND,
as Chaplain 18th Regiment.