American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-11-16
VOLUME |
Army correspondence.
CAMP IN THE FIELD.
Virginia, Oct. p, 1851.

flTPlnld, wv -; ioOf'
MEssRs EDITORS A few copies OF
your interesting and valuable paper, find
their way to our camp each week, and
they are always eagerly sought after and
perused with pleasure and interest, and
with an especial interest have we peru
sed the open fearless and candid criti-
cisms you have made through the col
umns of your paper, upon the course pur-
sued by Major Thos. Mclaughlin, since
his return from the army, to his native
county; and furthermore, we believe that
your criticisms and opinions, coincide ex-
actly with those of the loyal people of
Butler county. But while such is the
case perhaps it would not be uninteres-
ting to you and your readers, to know what
soldiers who are yet in the service, expo
sed to all the trials, hardships and dan
gers which soldiers are called upon to en-
dure, think of the conduct of the man,
who will 90 out and fight for season in
defense of certain cause, and then re-
turn home and array himself with par
ty who have been and are, upon their
own acknowledgement the direct oppo-
nents and enemies of that cause. And
Just the long and short way of telling it
is, that we think it a very unmanly, un
generous and unpatriotic deed Soldiers
frequently find much time for thought
and reflection, and it is with the closest
scrutiny they look upon the conduct of
all men in public life, but more especial
ly is such the case in regard to those men
who b We at one time arrayed themselves
to defend the honor Of their country
As you have traced the Majors military
career it will be unnecessary for us to
do so at any great length. We so back
a little more than three years. Treason
had reared its head traitors were in arms
our flag insulted and our country endan-
gered. Thousands of our brave country
men sprang to arms to defend their homes
their flag and their country, and amongst
these, the Major at the head of a Com
pany lie served his country then, for
period of about three years But wheth-
er his heart was in that service or not,
God and himself alone can tell Thus
far we can perhaps say all right. He
then retires from the service, pleading as
an excuse, advanced age. Well even
stis we could pass over. But now comes
the place where the shoe pinchesx The
Major had always been Democrat at
home ; but the Democratic party occupi- |
ed a very different position then than it
did at his return home. 1t had not then
laid itself down to grovcl in the dust and
click" the feet of its country's enemies.
The old beguiling serpent silly slips up
and plants himself at the Majors ear and
whispers, 'now Major, you have always
been Democrat, you have been out in
the service OF your country for consId-
cradle time, and have made pretty nice
thing oft. You have become quite popu-
lar with the people. You have got nice
handle to your name, and more than that
you have received considerable benefit in !
a peeuniary point of view, and now when
you have returned home, having gained
so much, you will certainly not leave your
old party even if it has fallen far below
the position it held when you last met
with us, and is arrayed in direct opposi-
tion to the cause for which you have been
battling" The temple prevails, and in a
fatal moment, the Major yields. But alas
Major that moment sealed your DOOM
Think you that your fellow soldiers from
Butler county, can ever for get it, never,
no never aye cannot serve God and
mammon," and "he that is not for us is
against u.s.
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