The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-02-06

than that my LOT should be cast anon.
, st.cn scores, surroundings and associations
as II mas been my fortune to enjoy for The
past Two years, during that period of NJ
4iit "neti II IS expected that a man will i.
| ac.iSe. True, a soldier has many ha-d
shll,s, pu' who has not. They endure ay-
puSsuie a,ih iatisue, face danger and have
other trials: but in what capacity cav
man act III which there are 40 dance
NO sorrowso
Il am prepared 70 say. from a t,.o Wow,
experience. that soldier cnioys no.
mental ease, than any one can wher ~
~ ENGAGED IN any other calling.
: soldier IS a child of the Government IA
Government feeds, clothes and Dro.ac.e
hiln. tie performs his routine Of dI,,v 80
taen takes his ease. nothing t-of,h,iny brt
everything conspir;ng to amusa him IT,
novelty oI his calling furnishes amrsaS
Mehl Tor MN, and all his associates con
tribute 10 MS happiness. have more f,,r
IN the common acceptance of the wore :,
the army. in one day, than could have - -
one week, anywhere else. And as r. IN
rough manner of life, the soldier e,,;oT.. ~.
CRACKERS and fitch and his he'd on ~. Is
\ ground, rs much as the retired ,nerchan..,
does ms steak and rolls, and red Of dow
As said before, have aspirations.
nave hoped that by proper use Of tho
ability which has been given me. / 1n',Ss
accomplish more than is by the great ,1as
joiity OF mankind. These expactatio,s
were .ostered By the knowledge that in oI,r
country wealth, position, ancestry. Hc.. ~
We're not necessary IN order to hold places
Of honor and trust, but that true worth
shou!a pc everywhere rewarded, and that
thus, the humble.t citizen in the Land
might become the greatest, if he really was
worthy.
| IN the past. to be distinguished citize.
Q! our great country, 1.-THE land Of the FREQ
ana the home OF the brave, a. we have
been pleased to term it. was no mean he.
nor; but If our fair la nd is to he defacad
~ dlVidlnS line, and the Union DESTROY.
ed-if our once glorious nation is 10 be
sunGered into host OF insignificant pro-
vinces Tor we have every reason to believe
tnat DIVISION. once accomplished, will %
on indefinitely whose history might Re
read N that OF Mexico, what could I-what
couiu any young man hope to arrive att
What security would there be for either
person or property-what inducement
even to reach forth and take the brightest
iaureis they could possess Who would
not rather be a humble American citizen
AS he might have been found few months
ago, than to be ruler OF one OF those petty
ooulh american soyereignties, who to-day
sits upon throne, and to- morrow il hunt.
ed like wild beast, by the leader Of some
intestine broile
II the American Union be DESTROYED
with It will be destroyed all those eIe.
ments OF greatness which have made ~
past one OF the brightest pages in the HIS
tory OF the world; and in the future the
young men OF this country vii. cease to
strive for public honors, for thav viii feel
that such as could be bestowed by This
shattered land, would be at best but tri-
fling and that short-lived.
But aside from any motives Of se.s-i.-
terest which l might have I believe il to
be my duty to remain IN the arnx-. IN
every age and country of which weknow
anything, it has been considered the i'm.
perat-ye duty of all citizens 10 take I'M
arms IN defense Oftheir Government. and in
case they failed TO do this voluntarily. Gov
ernments have taken the responsibility Of
forcing them to Go it. (And here let me
ne nln or lose. And is this principle
not as good IN our age and country as it
ever was? Is it not the plain duty OF
every citizen OF the United States to rush
INTO the army and assis. in uyholdin4
that Government which has protected
MN III his person and in his property,
during his whole life, and by which he
expects to be protected during the re-
mainder of his life. How mean, desp;c-
able and cowardly is any other COURSE
And yet, alas. to what s.rar. is our
country reduced, because all persons do
not do their duty. Suppose that I,
young man, untrammeled by any thing
home and taken my ease, while others
carried to successful termination this
war, IN which our country struggles for
her very existence, could ever feel that
had any right to protection under its
it was its duty to
bad stood by with unaffected indifference
while It was menaced by the greatest
danger! Most certainly not. And here.
after / believe that all those who could
and have not assisted in this great strug-
gle for nationality will deserve and re-
ceive the contempt Of all good citizens for
to come.
/ feel that my own personal sacrifice ia
great. ! have spent the portion Of my
life best adapted to mental improvement
IN the army,-that position in which |
could have improved as in no other. But
how many others are there who have
made sacrifices? Am I alone il this mat
pie. ! make the sacrifice freely, because
know that the result sought. II OBJ
aimed, is well worth it all
Seeing, then, that il is not o1,.- to nav
,elf.interest. but also my duty, to have
been. and remain in the army. would it
Dc proper Tor me- to leave 1t, even if our
,ause was a desperate one, much less
when there is strong prospect tina. with
n few months I might 90 home. know.
nS that the war had Deea ended in our
ayor. and that / had earned whatever
benefits ! might receive from the restora-
ion OF the Union.
Viewing it in this light. sag to thee,
, my country, that SO long as rebellion
Nlsts, 50 long as there il one hill, G. dale
where thy fair banner may not wave in
riumph, l offer thee my humble SER
ices in whatever capacity may be en-
loved.
We are still lying quietly At Uartwood
'hurch. Be sure TO write of-ea.
Your atfectionate son,
;. G. w. DUNLEyY.