Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1864-07-13
Aaftsman's Jhtirnat.
CLEARFIELD, PA, JULY Is, 1864.
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE JOURNAL
Letter from Portsmouth, Va.
HEADQUARTERS, BAT. A, lsT Pa. AR,
Portsmouth, Va, June "a, 1864.

DEAR Row After long silence | am
! tempted, by your permission, to renew my
acquaintance with the Journal, which, on
my part, has grown somewhat occasional
but on Its part, the familiarity has been con-
| stantly Kept up; and, with but only one or
| two exceptions, it has proved weekly to be
very. welcome intruder upon my time and
attention. My objectln writing at this time,
is not with any hope of communicating any
thing that would be likely to interest you,
or your readers for the circumstances in
which we find ourselves, viii not admit of
obtaining any news which could POSSIBLY
reach you in advance of that which finds
its way to you through the regularly pre-
| scrlbed channels. You are doubtless aware,
ere this that when the new order Of things
took place IN our armies, and they began to
move forward in quest Of the foe, our bat
terry was assigned position on the ertrene
| lett, so that, necessarily, notwithstanding
the great iink movement by the left, we
have failed to get nearer than four days
| march OF the scene OF conflict; consequent
ly my opportunities for obtaining items have
been exceedingly limited.
In the absence Of all news Of an exciting
character | shall content myself this time
with congratulating you upon the uDparal-
lelied success that has, with only one or two
exceptions attended every move Of our ar
mics, In their onward and trium phant march
towards the citadel of treason, and which
has already drawn aside the curtain which
concealed the end from view, and we can
now look forward with expectation to
speedy termination of the war.
While all eyes are turned towards the op-
eratIons of our armies another subject, second
only in Importance to their success, presents
itself Tor the consideration of the people,
and that is, whether it would be wise or ex-
pedient to swap horses while crossing
stream?" | welcome the Journal to the
camp this week, with the honored names of
Abraham Lincoln and Andrew johnson,
flung to the breeze at its. masthead, as the
names just now, of all others, for the two
first places in the gift of the American peo-
pie To say that the action Of the Bslti
more Convention gives satisfaction to nine
tenths OF the soldiers III the army, am sat
isfied would come short Of the truth, and if
| were to judge the whole, by the unanimi-
ty of sentiment expressed by tie soldiers in
this section, [ would not hesitate to assert,
that nineteen-twentieths of them, should
| they have the opportunity, would cast their
vote for the reelection of the man, who, by
his practical wisdom, unselfsh patriotism,
and answering fidelity to the Constitution
and the principles of american Liberty, un-
der circumstances OF the most unparalleled
difficulty, has entwined himself around the
affections Of their hearts.
The name of President Lincoln has be
come synonym of all that Is grand and no
| bic IN the human character and he has 10y
his magnanlmity and forbearance elected the
admiration OF every friend Of the Union,
| and built up for himself q fame that viii
| continue 20 grow bright as long as the name
Of Liberty has hold upon the affections Of
/ the people, and the name Of treason Is a bye
| word AMI reproach He has made himself
| fame which is destined to fill u large place,
and shed bright halo upon the future his
| tony Of this countQy, which will not be con-
| fined to it alone, but will illumine the dark
ness Of the despotisms Of the old world for
| succeeding ages. His name Is eminently fit
! to be associated with that of the immortal
! Washington-ilustrating the sublime truth,
that, as the Father of his country with his
compatriots hurled back from our shores an
arrogant power which sought tasten upon
them the chains of tyrany, and afterwards
| dug deep down to the eternal rock of truth
for q foundation upon which to rear model
| Republic which should endure for ages so
| the other, raised up, as it were, to be the
| .Sociottr of his country has, by his straight
! forwardness, his singleness of purpose, and
sound, practical wisdom, aided by the pop
ular voice of the people, SO controlled the
| tide of events, as to preserve the noble
structure firm upon its immovable base, in
| spite of the surging and foaming waves of
| treason and fanatacism which have lashed
themselves into fury, and spent their strength
in vain against the immovable walls
Though the structure has been shoyn of
some of its fair proportions, with here and
| there column totterlng, the edltce stands
firm, and the vital spirit Of Liberty which
| is still enshrined there is soon destined to
| rise, with unequalled brilliancy, from the
din of war and clash Of arms, to shine till
the Nation is purified, redeemed and olsen
| thralled Anything that can contribute to
such result, and perpetuate the fame and
| grandeur of the institutions of the country
at home. and abroad, Is necessarily of inter-
est; enlists the warmest sympathies, and
awakens the noblest aspirations in the breast
of every patriot of the land-not the least
among which is the American soldier. He
! is keenly alive to everything that has the
integrity of his country and the honor OF It's
flag in view, and by the performance OF his
arduous duties in the field, is giving practl-
cal force to his profession. He has, IN a
measure, taken his life in his hands, and
hastened to interpose it between the enemies
of his country, and the dearest object OF his
earthly affections. Let it not be imputed
to him, that he is insensible of the require
ments of the noblest duty that has ever de-
volved upon any man, but is now discharg-
ing them in a manner which elicits the COM
mepdation of all who value the priceless leg