Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1864-03-12
Letter from a Soldier in the Army.

Letter from Soldier in the Army.
Read these noble words-part of a'private
letfer-from soldier in the West to one Of
his countrymen in tho East. Will they not
kindle the hearts even Of the lukswarn and
repining? and shall they not make us ashamed
of those small jealousis and ungenerous boast.
ings, which, next to the doctrines of secession,
do most to keep us from feeling that all we
citizens of the United States are ono people,
and really members one of another?
What you state your feelings t, be towards
all those actively engaged, describes what
mine are towards all, every where, partici-
pants or non participants, who say of our
cause, " God speed it |" who strive to have
us realize the momentousness and glory of
that cause, and who, by their good wishes and
kind words, encourage our hearts, and strength
en- our arms for its prosecution. While We
have seen elements of character recently de-
velopcd among our people Of which We may
we'll be proud, yet that human nature ia weak
and selfish, and petulant, and treacl,erous, has
perhaps never been moro fully shone than in
this same struggle. confess it almost stag
gers my confidence in man, to see so many,
not only Indifferent, but actually opposed to
what is palpably for not only our own nation
al and individual good, but also for the ameli-
oration of humanity. My dear Sir, my con-
ception of this issue is such that l deem him
who has lived but to die in this conflict not to
have lived in vain; and that he who spends
three years thus, doing God and man service,
has lived to an infinitely better purpose than
he who has spent mhole life in self-aggran-
dizcment-in plodding avaricc.
want to mention one thing which paius
me less only than the open and persistent op-
position of many who, both from their nativity
and intelligence, should be with us. Our
principal paper here (and / see the same
thing elsewhcre) never omits m opportunity
to boast of what Illinois has done, and to
draw invidious comparison between her and
some of her sister states. Now this l am
grievcd to see, because, first it tends to bcgct
dissatisfaction to some extent; because it
leads many probably to think that such feel
ings exist among our soldiery. and because it
unnecessarily wounds the feeling of our dear
compatriots on the Eastern field Now, after
service of oftwenty-two months, can say that
any reference rs to what particular district
has done more or less is earnestly deprecated
among the troops. We know that each regi-
ment here in the West represents the East as
well. We know that this is not state but
national fight, and we execrate that course
which would make loyal, true boys responsi.
ble for the non- performance of their towns.
men. Would it not be better for each one to
do his part and look for his reward in the con-
sciousness of having done his duty, and not
in Pharisaical comparisons!
should like to see this contest ended, il
it can be properly, this year, and l hope
President Lincoln and Mr. Chase will use
their carte blanche with that view. We have
plenty of men who have refused to volunteer,
aud they should now be drafted.
1t is saddsning to reflect how many fine fel-
lows have died in our army this winter.
When saw with what uncomplaining hero
ism our boys bear everything, could not
help feeling proud and thankful that was IN
American. On the boat which brought us up,
after tho attack on Vicksburg. there were
over four hundred badly wounded men. and
in my ward in the hospital lay sixty; and
although some were dying each day, never
heard one regret his having enlisted. "The
blood of the martyrs is the seed of the
church y and surely good Providence will
so order it that the noble ones who have gone
down in this conflict, and the precious blood
which has crimsoned its fields, may not have
been useless sacrifice, but may be product
i've of propo,ionately great good. May He
whose right it is to rule eventually ordain
that liberty, peace, aud equality may cover
deep"