Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1864-10-06
Letter from a Soldier to his fellow
q Soldiers.

| The following significant letter from ont
who ''has seen service, y will show a sol
dier's view Of the coming issue:
Fellow SOLDIERS. We have been fight
ing the rebellion, until we can see the be
ginning of the end and hope for an early
return to our homes, our efforts crowned
with enduring peace and the majesty of our
government vindicated. 4a s a
Now when favoring winds almost seem
to bring to our ears the victorious shouts
Of our comrades, traitors &C our backs rear
their heads, and try to roll back the tide
against us. Those ever in sympathy with
treason have whispered their poison1in the
ears Of cowardly sneaks, and baser tools,
who would mortgage their souls to the
Devil, to win smile of contempt from
those they fear, until unprincipled political
leaders have fancied that the disafected
had becomea power, and might be used to
further their own ends. Ever true to their
creed, that the end justifes the means, and
willing to sacrifice everything to party gain,
have tried to fan this ember into flame.
and byraising the cry Of peace, appeal to
those whose fears, or fancied interests,
prompt them to join the ranks Of the com
mon enemy. ii sum, 81 ba IT
They have now taken one Of our number,
as their standard bearer, hoping that vanity
or ambition may tempt him to become their
tool, and trusting to the popularity Of his
name, and the hopes held out to all who
have price for honor, to ride into power,
combine with the rebels south, and destroy
the Government for which we have periled
our lives, and seen the blood Of our com
rades flow like water. eH 5 g d II
Is traitor a hard name to apply to these
persons Why not call things by their
proper names? Peace. democrats, or peace
anything. else, may sound more pleasing
to some very eminent individuals, but
the time has come when this delusion should
be discarded. d 4a
Treason must be known by name, and
the individual in high places, above all
others, who deserves the title, should be
branded TRAITOR.
These men insist upon the right to rule
by ballot or bullet. So do their southern
brethren They advocate State rights, and
insist upon the right of secession. The
rebels do no more. They are opposed to
the coercion Of State So are Southern
traitors-they are for peace at any price
knowing at the same time that the lowest
price is disunion.
Jeff. Davis has named his terms, and asks
no more than these men are not only will
ing but anxious to grant. I say then that
these men are traitors, or else we have been
warring against loyal men, and deserve to
be hanged 1t is true there is no special
provision in the law for just such cases, no
punishment provided, as our Fathers did
not consider what to- them seemed an impos-
siBility, that is, man claiming the protec-
ton of our law, while working for, and
aiding our enemies. If they dislike the
names, let them effaee the record. But this
cry of peace is mere sham. They don't
want peace until after election. 1t would
be death to their dearest hopes. No doubt
many honest, weak men, will be deloded,
and believe them honest, but they, the lead
ees, masters, the brains of this crew know
better, and will continue by every means IN