Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1864-01-06
Letter from Philipsburg.
PHILIPSBURG IAN 4th |

PHILIPsBURG. JAN. 4th, 1864
t DEAR Journal We have now entered
upon a new pariod of time, and already our
! ship is four days on its voyage New ear
! day is one OF the most solemn. to mankind 5
/ thoughts, of any other day of the year.
! Christmas brings to us merry times-good
cheer prevails, all seems joyous, and full OF
| bright promises But when the hour ar
rives for the departure of the old year, we
are more solemniy impressed with medIta-
ton and thoughts Of the past and future.
The shadows of the departing year hover
around us as we sit in our warm and cOzy
room, ere we have lighted the luminary of
our nocturnal abode A bright fire burning
| in the iron clad fire place, the-damper Is
partly open, silently, all alone, we watch the
glimmering reflection of the fire ON the wall
and old arm chair,-li8ten to the wall of old
BOreas round the corner OF our dOmlcIi, the
clash Of shutters, swinging of shingles
hurried footsteps, and wonder where we will
be q wear hence. Look back over the past,
see where we made some mistakes, resolve
to make none this year-that we will truly
honorably and earnestly do our whole d0ty
to the Great ArbIter Of Destiny, to our
country, and to all man and woman kind.
There comes rap at my door, take a long
sigh. reach for small piece Of pine wood,
ufdW II dCiOSS tlit liOu tlGl'i' II CiillbS q
sulphlirous smell suggestive Of the late treat
the copperheads enjoyed, give the iron
clad some fuel, and away we 90 down the
tide, remarks, whew my dear
friend, | congratulate you for having such
comfortable base OF operations, Tor | do as
sure you this is a cold New ear. Business
follows, the thoughts Of few moments have
fed, and mans inhumanity to man COM
mences. Such is man.
Welcome, welcome. to the brave survivors
of Company D, SD 2. V. This brave and
War-Worn regiment Of veterans have came
home on thirty day furlough to reorganize.
They have all re-enllsted, and are now en-
rolled among the veterans Of the Union Ar
my Brave boys! loyal hearts beat IN your
breasts, and firm determination to stand by
that flag that you have followed for more
than two years, and seen It's proud folds float
triumphantly o er many a hard fought field,
dwells on your brow. Company ID, 53d p.
v, entered the army Of the Potomac In
November 1861. The members were partly
from this place and partly from GAINESVILLE
and Glen Hope. There was some forty
members from our toWn-thcy were a fine
body Of material for soldiers. and well have
they proved their look But their number
is sadly decreased, only six or seven of the
number that left here have returned This
decrease is not owing to loss of life 50 much
as that Ofmembers discharged for disability,
resigned, and, | am sorry to say, deserted,
They were all through the PeniDsuIar cam
paign and never lost a man. though aiWays
IN the advance, until the battle of Antictlm.
On that heroic field the brave and noble
youth, Andrew J. White yielded up his life
III the cause Of that flag beloved with all the
ardor of Il true American. His comrades
,.. & =. ?
that bloody field, and he sleeps the sleep
that knows no waking. They then went
through al! the battles, and hardShips that
the army OF the Potomac encountered with
out having any killed in battle until they
met the rebels on the soil Of their native
State, at the ever memorable and victorious
field OF Gettysburg Here again one Of
their comrades lost his life, John Il. White,
brother Of the Andrew J White mentioned
above John was Il brave, noble and true
SoldieT-hc was at home when his Younger
brother was killed at Antietam They were
the only sons Of Mr.. John q. White oHe
of our Oldest residents The Younger broth
er went when the company did. John had
a wife and family Of children to care for,
which'was the only obstacle that kept him
from gong at that time, But when be
heard the sad news of his brother being kill
i
his father say that John told him, he was
going TO fight for his country, and if posi-
bic would get Jackson's 5 this brother ; mus
Ret, and ayenee his death. Whether he
succeeded in getting his brother musket
never learned; but | have no doubt he |
made good the eye for an eye, and tooth for
a tooth. Poor John he has left a wife and
five small children to mourn his loss. His
are inferred in the National Gene
try and there let him rest-he fell in gio- !
rious cause, he sleeps among the bravest of |
the brave When the second corps was or
dered to pursue the rebels after the Gettys- |
burg battle there was but one man, Sergt. !
Robert VI. Musser, Of Co. ID, to follow the |
battle flag of the sd =. v The survivors |
look well and hearty. somewhat bronzed but |
none the worse Of that They are Americans
Of the genuine ring, they are determin- |
ed to see things through. Again | say, well |
come to the veterans. And may you all live
TO see the Stars and Stripes float trium-
phantly over a restored Union,
The mercury has gone INTO winter quar-
-ers, for the last few days. Boreas has as
sumed command of the entire winter opera
ions Brig-a-dier Gen. Eroze Up made a
flank movement and has CONCEALED the slush
md water that held unlimited sway few
lays ago, and issued an order for things to
'emain so. How long it is to continue | am
rot able to say. But | think some Of the
Cops might apply for a writ of Habeas
Corpus or call Horatio & Glenn to raise the
spell OH for a sleigh ride however
It's little rough, but 2.40, plenty of robes
veil tucked in, and fair one by our side
would make smooth road, and then away
We would glide All swell, SO says LERoL
MARRIED: