Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1864-03-31
Tribute ana Fareweii TO our
Friends at Home.
DEAR FARMER /:


In behalf of the soldiers
of Co. G., 9th Regiment, I shall try to
to give publicity TO few broken thoughts
through the medium of your columns, which
are ever open to the communications Of the
soldier To our friendsand relatives'at home,
who have treated us so welcomely and
kindly during our thirty days furlough,
we desire to return our thanks to assure
them Of our qualification, as we deeply
cherish the good they have displayed toward
us. We all feel that we are under heavy
obligations for the kind and rich donations
you have made for the sake of us soldiers.
Gratefully will we recollect the people of
Berlin and vicinity for the magnificent ban
Duet given in honor ofour arduous services,
in the Hall of Professor Giam's Institute,
where was a bountiful supply of dclicacies
spread before us; as there was u heavy re-
serve still in the rear, we found it impossi-
bic to dispose of the tremendous stock of
supplies in front, and, after we found our
selves completely out-fanked and surroun-
ded by the overwhelming forces of good
things, we made a virtue of necessity, and
surrendered Internationally to General Hos
pitality, after our retreat was entirely cut
off. In the bloody assault of Fort Wagner.
after more than half our comrades had fal-
len, the rebels tried to cut off our retreat
also, but we effected AN honorable retreat by
: fighting our way back; but at Fort Gillian"
| this was an impracticable measure. We
must say that the Berliniens defended their
I position with great bravery and vaor.
! No less did the Weinsberg people give
us IL royal supper the last evening we were
in our old native village with them we
did all that soldiers made hearty with keen
appettes and redolent health possibly could
to ''suuound'' the mighty array of substan-
tials and delccacics drawn up into line to
try the caliber of our digestive organs but
alas! we met with the same fate as in Ber-
lin; and we must consider the ramparts of
Weinsburg as imprcgnable, and the gcner-
Gus hospitality OF the ladies' and gentlemen
i thereof as invincible. Many more such
donations were made in private families,
and to do justice to the ladies Of the Inde-
pendent Ridge, | must mention the Pic
Mic at Mr. Grasley's, which was indeed a
supper king or emperor would not despise.
, Friends Of native Holmes One and all
= We cannot but admire your conduct toward
us during our furlough Be assured you
have warm place in our hearts, that we
! will cherish the memory Of your kindness
to us when far away in sunny cline
!, wherever the fate Of war may carry us
whether on the burning sands Of South
Carolina or Florida, or on the extended prai
rlcs of Texas; many time may we think
and talk Of the suppers you gave lis, when
, we are farlng scantily on "hard tack" and
, coffee.
We are leaving again for the battlefield
where, at best, many prlvations are awaiting
Us. 1t is not because we dislike citizen life
We are certain no one can appreciate the
blessings of home better than soldier who
= has been deprived of the pleasures to be
b enjoyed within the family circle; indeed
l there is nothing like 'home, sweet home!
. Yet we are leaving all these blessings be
hind us, and go on the field of carnage
where at any moment we may be called
from time to eternity. Why do we leave
old parents, dear brothers, sisters and sweet
: hearts, behind us; and 60 into fricndesS
country? 1t is for the sake of our bleeding
, land; the voice of our country calls and We
are going to respond. We all naturally
= love our lives, yet we are ready to sacrifice
= them upon the altar Of liberty, if need be
b Although the horizon Of our country wea
t may be dark and lowering, we must not des
pair, but say like Capt Lawrence said
y Don't give up the ship. We all hope
t there are brighter days in store for oul
5 land. When these troubles are settled
/ when the rebellion is put down, we hop
/ we will meet each other again at home an,
then the JOY will be more perfect. But a
long as 1t lasts we must not despair
We hope that the day is not far diStan
when the Star Spangled Banner shall agai
l. wave from Maine to the gold regions G
;, California, and from the back woods of Oh
II egon to the Peninsula of Florida, when OF
l. ly one flag and one God will be worshippc
= from the Lakes to the Gulf, and from tn
~ Atlantic tO the Pacific