Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1864-02-03


January DIST, 1858.
Entertaining - horc that you might enlcayor
to ronledy nm evil which 1, in common with many
Of my Comrades in arms fromal parts of our
Cvnedcracy, think exists, and IS daily increasing,
have thought it not miss to call your attention
TO what rny observations, as well as my own per-
sanal feelings aud connections, are upon our con-
d,iOns here in this army. IL
In the commencement Of our d i1icultics our
people at home were enthusiastic, energetic ard
patriotic, which was coinmendablc in a people
contcnding for rihc..y. Our soldiers felt that
soldiers were honorsd and respected and conse-
qucntly were stimulated to the faithful discharge
Of their every duty. The Ladies greeted their
every step to and from the ARMY; ample arrange
rlsats were made for the support of oil soldiers
families almost to extent beyond contingencies.
The picture would gladly delinoate much fur
thcr, but the reverse is what now concerns Inc and
my comrades. we are in constant receipt OF let
ters from our fnniliss quoting the exhorbitant-
aye. ertoy4se.atc prices that they have been and
are paying, and what they expect to pay, for the
nccGssarics to sustain life, to say nothing Of
fort or luxuries. What are we here for p Why
have We sacrificed the comforts Of home, family,
and the pursuits Of happinessse7 We felt it to
bo cur duty TO do so, ard wo still think it duty,
and in the discharge of our duty here we have
right to expect the people at home to discharge
that duty whicIF Christianity and their Country
requires Of them.
Lei US SEQ if they do. Some of US live in Town,
City, Village and Country. ! well recollect when
you wealthy planters wood hduicr., corn produ-
ccr', &C., were glad to get stper load for wood,
rs cts for corn 12 els for bacon, Is cts. for lard,
S. per bb! for -four, 81 per busho for potatoes, l2l
cts. per pound for butter eggs 124 cts. per dozen,
&C., sc. Our wives write US those same patriotic
people, our ncighbors, when they oiH par. ,oitk
their supplies, generously accept the prices of SEQ
for wood slO0 per barrel for four SS for corn and
meal, $40 for potatoes, $3.50 for butter, $3.50 for
bacon and lard, and other articles in proportion,
with m almost daily advance. Well, whore are
we to get the money from to pay for these articles?
A large portion of tho army have been in service
a long time, and many havo made nothing but the
wages of soldier, which will not pay one-third
Of any of our unavoidable expenses, much less
sending any part thereof TO our families. The
incvitablc consequence is, that our wives and
g .ldren are suffering, and are doomed te spler
still more.
| Picture to yourself, sir, the poor soldier, when
he receives thesc nnwclcome tidings in q letter
fran his dear wife and children. As he peruses
| 1 IL l;, h., IL
long and ~ almost unconscious walk. And ask
yourself whether that is calculated to dis.
charge his duty. Poor men arc Us susceptible, and
a. often possess tlosc fnoT instincts Of character
which adurn our nature, as those who are more
cultivated end possessed of more of this worlds
poif. What arc the natural conclusions forced
uEon us? That NC have enemies ut home that
arc far-far-worsc than the Yankees. If they arc
not, Good deliver ME from my friends
We believe that large, large majority of our
people at home, outside of our personal friend,
and family relations, being confined respectively
tG their different litilts, have 40 interest l oar
welfare, only In aofar that wo may bo able tokeep
the enemy frgm ovcrrunning them and destroying
their property and otherwise incOnycnicncing
them. Not that they arc particularly anxious
that nc may soon conquer peace, for they arc
doing we'll cnoush-aad are therefore willing to
"let well enough aiolc,'
Our people have dogenerateI, and have lost
sight Of tho object that stimulated our rulers to
! throw of the accurscd yoke that Yankee rule
would fasten upon US. Their whole thought and
sole dcsire is to make money out Of whemsocycr
they can. May God help US. Butwe canno.loo for
help froH Him, when lie casts Affections aul chas-
tizement upon us, and We thus reason Lem. Tie
consequences arc foarfuliy lamcntable. Many Of
our young men have their servants with thcE,
and be it said to the shame Of their parents aud
guardians, that they seem to importune those sons
about tho special care Of the servants and to mani
fest more coaucrn for Lhcnl, than iur tiitr sGns-
aul 1 candiily believe that ii tie secrct depths
of thcir hearts could be fathomed, that the death
of the negro would bs more nelanchuly tLaa tEut
of,tEcir sons.
You may not agree with me, but these are ny
hoaGst and candid convic.ions-always adding
tho rule of exceptions The soldier, In word,
is discouraged and disheartened. He has u facs
enemies every hand. Ienc9, the fs-back,
struggling, desortins, aud I'll those kindred evils.
Taero ID Il fearful dag ahead, of accountability
these ill-gottcn fortunes may have TO be squan.
dored; retribu,ion may oycrtakc some Of the
people who are enrching themselves through the
distress of the poor of our country, who have
sacrificed their all in the cause engaged in.
We once thought to be soldier was to be honored
but now VIC feel degraded, because of the treat
msnt of the people ut homo, who should be our
friends. RJ. DELPHI
For tho Advertiser.
Tribute Of Respect.
At Regular Communication of Friendship
Lodge No. o5, held Jan. Old, A. J.. 5SBj. Il Com