Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-11-24
From the Thirty-Eighth Regiment.
ndence of the State Journal.

rresponuence or the State Journal.
HEADQUARTERS Co. G, 39rH Wis. VoLs.,l
"Peeble's House." Tuesday Eve, Nov. s. {
The sun has calmly set upon the camps and
trenches of the army before Petersburg 1t
has closed the memorable eighth of Novem-
Der, 1864, another great landmark in the sea
Of human progression, every moment of
| which seemed big with converging streams of
the labor and struggle of past centuries and
fraught with mighty consequences for the
future. To-day we have fought and won a
bloodless battle for our country, more crush
ing to the enemy and their traitorous brother
copperhead Little Macs" at the North. than
all the sanguine battles of the war that have
swallowed up such multitude Of great and
loyal hearts. As soldiers who have thrown
their lives and all that is dear to them into
the scale for our country, we have uttered our
solemn protest against the peace propositions
of the little grave digger's" traitorous as
sociates.
Last evening and to-day was gala time
to the 3Sth. Colonel Bintliff in an eloquent
appeal to the regiment had promised the men
that to-day they should throw off The soldier
and exercise the imperial right of the citi-
zen. For this treat his quarters were besieg-
ed in the evening. We appointed Lieuten-
amt Nichols, Co. 3, President, who made a
few pithy remarks, after which Leutenant-
Colonel Pier was loudly called for His elo-
quence was that of the true and tried patriot
soldier, but did not partake of that bitter
partizan spirit so often manifested. 1t called
forth torrents Of applause. Colonel Bintliff
next gave US, as he said, "lecture on intel
lectual philosophy" which unclaimed the at
tention and convinced the Judgment of his
hearers, waking up their drowsy patriotism
The lusty cheers that followed him to his seat
told how firmly he can take hold of the
hearts of men. Chaplain Walker then kept
US laughing, over his original ways of pre-
senting truth, for half hour. Lieut. MaXson.
Co. q, then being called on spoke earnestly
OF the great interests involved in the present
struggle, but laid himself liable to court
martial for disrespectful language of NcClel-
Ian, a superior officer, under whom he said
seemed to think the loyal private in the ranks
superior to the "Grave Digger of the Chicka-
hominy." Sergeants Benham of Co. @, and
Hyatt Of Co. D, spoke earnestly and we'll
Lieut.. Pierce, Co. K, closed with a concise
historical statement of our successes for the
the last four years.
In short, this family gathering of loyal
hearts is a bitter rebuke to those cowardly
Copperheads who at home are doing all they
dare to destroy the country for which so many
have laid down their lives.
To-day we administered the rebuke above
spoken of, and with nary drop of commits
sary to invite a Mcclellan riot. 1t has been
calm, quiet day. Hardly a gun has been
fred on the line. This plainly shows that
the Johnny Rebs wished to give their friends,
Of whom they supposed they had many in our
ranks, chance to vote for them and against
our country.
As soldiers we shall wait with feverish
anxiety the result of to-day's contest. Yet
we cannot doubt. The army still has con-
fdence in the integrity and support of the
people. But it cuts to the red to know that,
while we are fighting the foe in the front, so
many cowardly Copperhead villains in our
rear are allowed to ply the assassins knife.
Truly yours, E.