Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-10-06
An italian Witness,
To the Editor of The Inder:

To the Editor of The Inder:
TURIN, August ID, 1864
Sir,-One Of the few Italians who, seduced by the
rosecooured visions of glory and GAIN left their peace
ul homes to Offer their swords 10 the Federal Govern
men has recently written to his friends here arG the
letter, coming as it does from impartial source, and
from of considerable military capacity, cannot,
think fail to interest your readers The writer who is
from small provincial townof Piedmont went to the
Federal States about two years ago, and through his
intrcductions and abilities speedily obtained the
mard of O cavalry regiment: He fought with III Clel-
Ian in his Vrginan campaign, and was made prisoner
By the Confederaes in OF the bloody battles round
Richmond in which condition, owing to the cruel OBJ
snac7 of the Federal Government, he remained elgh
teen months When at length exchanged he returned
to his command and has been through the whole of
Grants frghtful campain. The letter has been pub
Iished in the Vcsso Ealeano of Vevieti, ard send
you literal translation of the most Interesting portion
of it:
CAMP NEAR PETERTBURG, July IA, 1864.
Our prospcc!sb Gore Petersburg are not promising,
and do not believe that General sGrant is the man
whose sword will cut the Gordian knot. We are as
far from taking Richmond now as Mcclellan was in
1861 nay even farther, for in our present po-
sion south OF the James River it is necessary to cap
ture Petersburg before caDeYen commence ne siege
of Richmond. l think Mcclellan mast sooh be re-
ca led to the supreme command He is the only gene
raj worthy of the name in the F2deral armies. Since
the opening Of the present campaign Grant has list
above I43 600 men. / hove myself lost 700 out of
5OOO and of COURSE tie principal work has been in
sorming en-renched camps the cavalry has been CON-
paralvely little engaged The Confederates have great
advantages u.s. and their losses ore far below ours
The reason is obvious, They acting the deen-
sve and We on the offensive. They are everywhere.
protected ~ brsastworks, and we have to storm them
Usually we lose &c per cent than they in our eff
forts dslodge them from their positions AID many
time We compelled at SpottsJlvania, to giVeup
tie idea of socming and have recourse to ankfDg op-
eratiols
Meantime the American horizon becomes more threat
enng every day, aud Lincoln has appointed August
day of general fasting and prayer throughout the
Republic. not aware whether we shall fast here
in camp, but know there is not good citizen who
tails to eend up eryid prayer to GCd every day that
this horrible scourge may cease at once Itappears to
that the most mertorous work that each of US for
eigner5 could PERFORM and the most acceptable to the
Almighty would be to quit the army and return to his
own country. Let all the torei ign element now serving
under the stars and stripes abandon the contest and
one will remain 10 carry on Lincon's pegging away
system but few officers and Northern niggers. 80.
L. P.
The italian press, with few exceptions, believes that
the South cannot be conquered, and that she has
ed her indepence from Yankee thraldom as no other
people the face of the earth before earned its
freedom.
Yours, Sc. F.M.