The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1864-08-17
Communicated.

AnOtncf name uAS U DC auueu 10 Tue long llSJ OF
braves who have sealed their devotion to country
with their blood.
ALEXANDER p. Donaldson, Of Gilead, member
Of Co II, 10th Regiment, o. V. v l., was killed in
stautly on eth May, 1864, while stormng fortif-
cation at Alaoona Mountain, Georgia. He had
served out nearly all his first term of service, hav-
ing enlisted in August, 1861. For some time lac
was detailed as nurse in the Nashville hospitals !;
afterwar he reioinod his regiment, taking Part in
the battles of Chickamauga, storming Of Mission
Ridge, Bussard's Roost-indeed in all the engage
meuts in which his regiment shared, until his DEATH
lie was a true hero, for dangers could turn
him from the path of duty. Nature had given him
a determined wil-he was a Chrstian-so he al
ways willed to do right. He lived as "seeing Him
that is invisbe;' realizing that He that was for
him was far more than all that could be against
him." and would make "all things work for the
good of his children" This enabled him to meet
death without fear.
The Chaplain of the Regiment thus briefly, but
cnmprehensrely writes about him. " lie was de-
voted Christian, true patriot, and fearless aith-
full soldier. His loss was was deeply felt in the
Regiment"
The accompanying letter to his parents-the last
he ever wrote-and the poem, by one of the soldiers
will speak for him as Christian soldier ana patriot
Gilead Wood Co., o., August, 1864.
last Letter OF Alex. II. DOnaIdsOn.
Is TIE FIELD NEAR KINGSTON, GA.
May %, 1864.
DEAR PARENTS II sent you a few pencil marks
on the 20th and as we are yet in camp concluded
to write you again, for when we start again may
not be able to write for some time; and il don't
lao gt 4
The 4th A. G. has been in the advance nearly all
the time since we commenced marching, and | sup
pose are stopping here to allow scma other
troops to get in position ahead of us, and if they do
drive the rebels some we can overtake them in one
or two days marching.
Church call has just been sounded
The rebels gave us pretty hard fight here for
an hour or two, and if we had had few hours more
daylight, think could have sent force around
them and captured those that were fighting Il
was Clabourn's division that fought us here, and
rebel d7seFers say that this division is the only
troops that are truly loyal to the South-the only
troops thatthe rebel officers can trust without
guard to watch them. Atlanta is nearly go miles
from here and the rebels will not be likely to make
much of stand this side of that place and they
may not there bItthe probability is that they will
believe this retreat is having bad effect on their
courage, and their daily loss is considerable. l
know of $50 that came into our lines yesterday.
The deserters who have come into our lines and
the prisoners we have taken since this campaign
commenced, amount to upward of 5000; this does
not include their loss of killed and wounded. This
time the rebs have not been abo to mass a larger
army than we have they have three corps and we
seven. Sherman has at least 10000 men under
his command, and believe his force is hut little if
any short Of 100000 We have good evidence for
believing the rebel force does not exceed 80, 900
and we don't think il amounts to that but they
represent it as consisting of 10000 or so 600. If
they make n stand we have sufficient force to meet
them in front and flank them at the same time, and
with the blessing Of God can certainly whip
JOhnsons army. The rebel officers tell all soIts of
stories in order to induce them TO fight but the men
have learned that many Of their stories are false
hoods and consequently all do not believe their
yarns. A few evenings since dispatch was read
to them purporting to come from Gen. Lees Adiu-
tant stating that Lee had whipped Grant badly, had
taken 40 600 prisoners captured 81 general officer
and demoralized his army so badly that he would
hardly be able to make another stlnd. You will
realize that under these circumstances there is not
much sympathy between the men and their officers,
and according to the statement of deserters such
is the case. they say they are sorry t0 see their
comrades allbut to them the loss of officers is no
cause of grief. Our marching has been easy, not
! hard enough to make us tired; indeed we would be
/ healthier marching AS we have done than would
be in camp vet it is pleasant to stop two or three
| days and have an opportunity to wash and mend
our clothes write letters &c. We expect to star
| again Tomorrow morning, but don't know where
we shall go to, Col. Gibson thinks we may 90 Il
| Iynchburg Va, and il we do we will not probably
| lind It as hot weather there as we have here.
am as fat as bear and hearty as buffalo; I'M
| when clad in all the panopy ofw war, climbing these
Georgia hills makes me feel wheezy. Wheat il
| out in head in this country, and the inhabitants
have been farming quite largely, but guess the
crops wont dothem as much good as they desired
| | do feel that l am an heir Of God and a join
heir with Christ, and that if the master shall call
suddenly | am prepared to go.
Your Son,