Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1864-07-13
To our Soldiers.

ten you letter. In the meanwhile however, wo
have hcen thinking oc you all the time, and amid
all crcumstances--hy day and by night, in veal
and in woe. This latter ,rc is not an egotistical
editorial nee, but means all the cold folks" and
{" loved ones" at home. Is il mot So all yc cold
folks" and "lovod ones 2" And not only do VIC
think of you, but we see you; we arc many, u,any
miles apart It's true, but, Us Cowper so beautifully
sings: How fleet is glance Of the mind!'
Since we wrote you last, naay, yes, very many,
of YOUR comrades have fallen in the day of battle
and gone to sleep on Donors bed /; they performed
their hero parts vel and hays passed away from
earth. They blcd forall thatis dear to man
for God and native land and their names go to
mako up the immortal martyr roll of Freedom.
Peace be to. their ashes, and may grateful coun-
try remember their noble deeds. Their blood
has bcon sprinkled upon the!altar of their cOun-
t.y and their noblo ivos offered up for their coun-
try's good. April, May June-thrce months of
prcpatatisn-nay of hard fghting-thrce months
of expectation So lively that each week has been
sure the following week would bring on the crisis
and yet no great and decisive battle. Yes,
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trial for the freedom Of tho South is still to be
made in Virginia aud Georgia. The sooner this
grand trial comes, the better. A great battle is
certainly thing to be dreaded, and avoided if
consistent with hsuor, duty and il crest especial
ly when we picture to ourselves the inevitable
results-tbe manly forms PROSTATE and forever
dead on ploughed up folds Of mud and gore, their
bright patriot souls winging'an untimcly flight;
tho lerions Of wounded and their weeks and
months Of untold agony within the hospital
walls; and, saddest perhaps of all, the mourning
that must fill the once happy and late hopeful
homes, for tho loved manly faces that shall never
DO scen more. Yet, much as those things may
oppress our scnsiblities, both resscn and feeling
tell us that when the issue is unavoidable, must
sooner or later be met, procrastnaton is not only
wearying and enervating, but actually unendura-
be., The people ut home feel this, as we'll as the
soldiers whose blood is to seal the issue.
But when say NOT decisive, We do not say it
complainingly our successes during 1864 have
been too signal and triumphant for any feeling CT
doubt or complaint. We are Lcsa with no fears
or misgi7ings as to the end Of the struggle. His
tory records no example of5a people like us-so
numerous, so unitod, SO dotsrmned-Abeing SUBJ
jugated; and we feel that the people of the South
ure not reserved by fate to form this sad prccc-
dent.
But we.are talking too much of the war to you,
who live and move and have; your being in it.
Now were We little bird, tc wouldlight among
the leafy boughs above you, and pipe and trll
into your cars an airy song concerning old Edge
6eld-and those you love. But alas-worse luck
to tive are not little bird; SO ne must cen be
satisfied to chant you very prosy prose poem
on. tho above inspiring subject. Bah as old
EdseGeld now finds tsolf, prose is decidedly the
style to suit it. Lonely streets, closed doors,
fathomess dust, and implscablo heat are its pres
ent characteristics. One-armod and one-legged
soldiers mhorribly stuffed With epihets ST war, "
are often to be seen on the deserted walks; these
always serve the good purpose of arousins the
half dozen torpid haLituss Of the public square,
whe generally beckon them to q cool seat, and
there Listen to their tales Of perils, dangers, and
battloa. In the meantime the stray chickens and
itincrant pigs wapdor about almost too much i'm
bued with tho general llstlcssness to illustrate
their family mottoes of "scrntch chicken" and
"ropi hog or die" .rhA a;ts sa<hers fz04uAnt the
park very much, and refresh themselves often
with Adams ale from the public pump, which
has for twelve months been broken and useless,
but is nowiu state Of integrity. 'Tis nell it
has been placed in this state, for guzzling cool
watcr s now our chief amusement; the heat has
reached its Ultima Thule-that is in this world
and every body drinks as much water daily AZ
Jobs bchemoth. Soon however the public epigas-
trum is to be agtonished and delighted With the
taste of watermelon; of This heavenly luxury wc
are told there will soon 10 an abundant supply.
Abundant or not though, we may safely predict
that one will have to pay fearfuly in Confederate
fodder for the enjoyment.
AS to our streets and roads, they are in state
which would cause community Of Choctaws to
blush and hide their faces. Thero is literally no
describing our lamentabfe condition in this re-
gard. That the Town Council cannot better this,
is all bs,h-mere want of vim and energy. bon
dieu If they canno. sc. the necessary lumber
from the mills-and why can they notl:-rh /;
then let thom have 1t hewn. There are these in
our midst still who remember when all lumber
Was hewn, or fashioned with the hand saw. And
certainly there is among US no want of spades,
shosels and niggers. For tho streets and roads
to be in their present condition is simply bur-
ming disgrace to tho Council, and gross want Of
respect, cour!esy, and consideration towards ths
ladies Of the community. Wcre our pen cudgel
and We were as much at liberty to use.a 1jgel
as pen--we would rap the offenders over their
unworthy heads from this day forth seunalJ and
roundly until ne hsard no r,crc from fair women
of daily and hourly peril to life and limb. WO
hare heard it suggested lately that the charter be
taken away from this wrstOhed Council, and the
powers vested in it referred back to the commis-
sioncrs of Roads. Is such a thing possible? If
so, let it be done Immediately.
But you must not imagine, soldiers, that Edge
Geld is without its agremens. For instance, we
have charming dramatic entertainments nov and
then, for the benefit OF solliers, on which occa-
sions our people may see beautiful plays as well