Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1864-11-04
"rhe WAY soldier, are DISCOURAGED.

EDI1ORs APPEAL You will please permit me to
use small space of your paper to give the public
few items of the quickest and best method Of dis
heartening those who are still willing to fight for
the redemption of our beloved country.
On the 9th Of the present month, our little band
was relieved from duty with the army Of Teunes-
see, and ordered to report to General Forrest All
through the campaign Of North Georgia "high
spirits, hope, determination prevailed, and when
we bid farewell to old comrades in arms, three rous:
log cheers we're given again and again, to indicate
the hearty determination to stand by each other to
the last" We had confidence in each other, and
everything looked bright and easy.
"On the cars the whistle blows" and off we 60,
the old battle flag with seventeen fields Of carnage
engraved upon Its folds floating in the breeze: All
are cheerful; We not whipped, though Atlanta
has fallen. So much for the army, where all are
hopeful Soon arrived at Griffin, where evidences
of confusion begin to appear. On to Macon, and
arriving there you know nothing until you get
away. The confusion of Babel was a mere cypher.
No one having the interest of the country at heart
can be found "Extortioners of every description
throng the. houses and streets" Atlanta would
have blushed for them at the zenith of her extor-
tions. A soldier seems to be the only animal that
receives no attention.
Hundreds af the white linen gentry are hOcking
the streets. What they are attending TO, God only
knows 1t has from the beginning of the war been
constant source Of wonder to the simple minded
patriot twhose whole soul has been engaged in our
revolution how these men avoid the draft
We left Macon as soon rs possible, with the con.
viction gradually creeping US that we were
hazarding our lives for agreat many worthless men,
Passed through Columbus; the only attractive fea-
ture about this city is the number Of young men
about the railroad depots- They are hardened GUS
toners. With cheeks like BRASS. you may halloo
conscript, Browns pet, &C., but it Is no go. He
whrls his fob chain, twists his moustache, puts on
look Of dazzling courage, as much as to say, JEFF
Davis regards this an important postinn, and he
knew his man when he selected me to hold It"
citizen at Cheraw, wishing to encourage our droOP-
ing spirits, walks up and down the side track tell
ing to our boys, be of good cheer, Mcclellan will be
elected sure, and that he can raise million of men
to where Abe can one hundred thousand, and that
we gone up, sure. This man wears blue pants
and white hat, has brown whskers, and supposed
to be, from his general appearance, "a doctor"
Arrived at the famous city of Montgomery, in
dirty and wearied condition, we felt that we had
arrived at the birth place of the Confederacy, and
that no croakers stragglers or men exempt could be
found within her walls Alas for human hopes
Things have gone from bad to worse. stood upon
the streets, and, 10! a sea Of human beings pass
before me- Where are they from, and whiV.rer are
they going! To the frontH mo" replied bright.
eyed little fellow, (who will some day make gene-
ral,) "they are not That big fellow you see tend
ing to that store is exempt because he superntends
the Wayside Home; that other one has q contract
for hauling wood to government shops; that one Is
the Governors aid that one driving the fine bay is
quartermaster and that one," &c, &c, continued
the boy, giving descriptions Of their business as
each passed before US, until more than double the
number of our entire company had passed.
turned away disheartened and disguised The
little boy interrupted me-"say Mister, you
that old grey headed man with the linen coat
Well he told some soldiers in the train the other
day that if he one of them on that train and it
going right into he'll that he would not jump off,
for the Yankees would send them all there, any
how, before the over>" l left inStanter,
and in passing the provost marshas office, saw two
young men sitting at the desk, examining the papers
OF an old man (who had served in the war of 1879
to see why he was not in the army.
l: is such influences these that operate upon
the minds Of the soldier. He leaves the army hope
full and returns disheartened Let me say 70 you,
in the rear, that who do the fighting are not
whipped, and If you will have confidence iE u.s. we
will whip the fight Be cheerful, be hopeful, and
with all, let each man be determined, whatever his
position may be- to do all he can for the cause. We
will win. NapOleOn's veterans never waded through
fields of greater carnage than have DONE Qn pro-
portion to numbers and which we willing to
do again. Then, in the name of all you hold sacred
whether in money, love or life. conure you to act
like men.
To the old men l would say speak in the presence
OF soldiers hopefully and encOuragingly. Let no
croaking be heard in our land whether from males
or females To the ladies, God bless them, smile
not on the young man who thinks the PreSden: has
selected him TO hold, at all hazards, bomb prUof
position in the They are not your protectors,
and would run and leave you to the tender mercies
ofour common foes, at their approach on your city.
Your protectors in the front. Save your smiles
for us, for | think We have earned them. 1 know
We need them. BOON.