The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1864-11-23
TO THE OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS
OF THE
U Nj O N A r NJ Y
or the Tenth Congressional District.
OF THE


permit tile occa non TO pass without thank.
ing you with lnll heart for the very gen.
erOus support you gave me AT the recent
election, AID to acknowledge on behalf OF
the loyal men Of the District, and many
even beyond the limits of tho District
and State, tho gratitude they feel at the
upann,ity with which you indicated the
Union cause at tho ballot box despite
combinations, the most unnatural. anil OK
| traordinary efforts from a quarter the
most unexpected.
Private letters assure me that most of
you who are in the field under General
Sherman voted while on tho march, and
some of you whilo skirmishing with TIC
enemy.
Many on detached duty, guarding OK.
posed points or on picket, doubtless
thought the hours long while waiting the
coming Of their comrades who should re-
lieve them from duty, in order that they
too might vote, while hundreds who were
sick, MANNED and weary in hospitals did
not forget the day with it's opportunities
and responsibilities, but watched anxious
| " Tor the hour TO come in which they also
should be permitted to unite with their
moro fortuntte brothers who were in the
lield, in voting to maintain. the cause for
which they were suffering and sacrificing so
much. Thus on the second Tuesday OF Oe-
tobcr from the banks of the James, the
| Appomatox and the Potomac; from Nicks.
burg up the Tennessee, and over the noun
tains OF Georgia to Atlanta, from Kentucky
to South Carolina; and in hospitals thou
sands OF miles apart, the Union soldiers Of
Ohio from the Tenth Congressional District
nado up verdict which cannot be forgot
ten. You have thus proven to the world
MI Al 10 Ift,;.,
that you know how to fight the enemy at
hom5 with the ballots as well as fight the
enemy in front with the bullot. The yer-
! lict which you then made up ip fav II of
the Union cause, and its recognized repro.
| scntatives, like your heroic deeds Oh many u
| woll-fonght battlefield, will be recorded by
| the iron pon OF history, on monuments
which will endure forever.
| count it a greater honor to be elected
| by the votes OF the brave men VINO have
faced, as you have, the enemy, and vindi-
Gated thoir devotion to the Union, than to
re1eivo the support of prQfessed Union
mon, who under any pretext, or for any
cause, would form open or secret combinl-
tions with tho leaders Of party known to
| be hostile to tho best interests OF the coun-
| try, and at war with the leading political
ideas which bind the Union party together
| lIOll MulllS 10 OullIOrllla
The day after our State election | went
| to Michigan, and then to the State of New
| York to labor for the success of our cause
and lis chosen representatives.. VIII 10 in
the western part of the latter State, a tele
5ram was put into my hand, just as | was
| going on the stand to speak, advising me
OF tie vote OF the regiments in front and
near Atlanta, aud, although the result was
| not wholly unexpected indeed, may say,
was confidently anticipated by me---I can.
not with pen convey to you tho deep
emotions | felt when the announcement
came thus autoritatiyely, and my expocta.
| tons were moro than realized. | would
that could cothe in language the thoughts
which then camo over me, and weled up
from my heart to my lips in blessings on
tho head OF every soldier in Hospital or
on picket on the march or in camp, in bat
tie or in prison.
Many of you supported me before you
went into the army. You have again en-
trusted me, at most important crisis in
our history, and | am all the more thank.
full Tor th manifestation 9i your conf lonce,
because desire to complete the Congress.
sional record which | have begun, on the
great questions that are yot to be passed
upon by the nation. In addition to this,
vote with your special interests. For
your generous support can only promise
fisiHy TO our cause, and in the future as
III the past continued devotion to your in
terests. Never since the war broko out
has an officer or soldier or soldiers fam
lily, oalod on mo in vain, if in my po ver to
secure what they asked. Whether il Hos
pitfalls, in the field, or in prison; whether fof
promotion, and recognition OF meritorious
services, or to be relieved from trouble, |
have ever been ready and but too glad,
when an opportunity offered, which would
enable me to serve either officers or men,
rs hundreds at home and in the army can
testify. My highest ambition has been, and
shall be, to serve you and aid you in saw
ing the country. Ii | have, or shall contri.
butte anything to that end, either by my
| counsels or my votes, will be amply ro-
warded But, whatever may betide, | must
ever corporate with, and il need be, fall
with the heroic defenders of my country.
Whatever my future, be it prosperous or
adverse, shall ever remember with pride
and gratitude tho vote given me
| by the Union soldiers from the
| Fonth Congressional District of Ohio,
during the great National struggle of 1861
Unable to answer by private letter the
|
received from officers and men, in reference
TO my election, adopt this mode of an
swermg and thanking you for the doep in
terost manifested, and to assure you that !
shall ever cherish, as amDGg the most
| pleasing reeollections Of my life, the hdcti-
y with which you stood by me, and the
very ilattering manner in which many of
you have been pleased to refer to my Con-
gressional record, aud in which all have
conveyed TO me the renewed assur.
anoe of their estcom and regard,
As the Nation and the liberty-loving mon
OF the world cannot forget the wondrous
deeds of heroism and daring which have
marked the triumph OF the Union soldiers
nom every State, on every battlefield, in
defense of the Nations life, so shall all 10y.
at men cherish their memories in grateful
remembrance for the additional victory
they have enabled us to achieve at the bal
lotboN IN the reelection of Abraham lin
coin and all Union candidates, whether Tor
GoVernors, Congress or minor ollicers, whom
their votes have saved from defeat hy the
opponents OF the Government at home.
May God bless all Union soldiers, and
,'While our mwtyrs fall, our heroes bleed,
Keep us n every sweet remembrance trua;
Till trOm this bood-rcd sunset springs, new born
Our nations second morn."
Truly your friend,
J. NJ. ASHLEY.
/, ToLEno, Nov, Ia, 1864,