American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-11-23
Army correspondence.
CAMp NEAR SoUrH SIDE RAILROAD

AOY. 10, 1864
NIEssRs. EDIToRs While sitting in
my little log shaniy, thinking Of the glo-
rious result Of the Sth inst thought
would like to see the Citizen, to learn how
the citizens Of my own native county cast
their votes on that day, but at the same
time, l felt that they would vote as the
soldiers and sailors fght-for the Union,
1t is very encouraging to the soldiers to
know that they are sustained by their lib
erty and Union loving friends at home
But believing the friends at home are al
ways willing to hear something from the
army, and from friends lfsre, | will en-
deavor to write a short letter and let you
know how we are getting along. | would
state that the Butler county boys of my
own regiment, 155th) are all well and
looking well, and in good spirits. | would
mention S. b. Gamble, as looking ex-
ceedingly robust and hearty, and as brave
a boy as treads the soil Of Virginia, and
the Morrison boys, though small in stat
ure, yet every inch soldier, always cheer
full and ever up to the march in line of
duty. ] might name others, but will on
ly add, better soldiers are not to be found
than the Butler boys, and you may know
that they are not demorolized from the
way they cast their votes-ior the Union.
They still love the old flag, and desire the
union of al the States. OF course there
are a few that would be willing to have
peace on any terms, so that they might
get out of this, but they are far and few
between. | would state we are comforta-
bly, located about two miles to the left of
where we cut the Weldon railroad, and
some two miles from South Side road
1t is astonishing to see the Improvements
the army makes wherever it goes; it does
not take long to clear off the woodland
and get it ready for tilling the soil. But
| suppose the Jonnies, as we call them,
would much rather we would leave that
Job undone. Here the hills and rolling
land is covered with Pine, but the ravines
and hollows have quite variety of kinds,
a good deal of Poplar Well, the sold
iers are building good comfortable shan
ties, and | think if the army remains
here all winter, there will not be tree to
be seen. The country here has not been
very thickly settled, although it is so
close to Petersburg. / was going to say
that | hardly knew how to account for it,
but it is very easy to give a reason, that
great evil Slavery, has been the cause
where it'has been, few school houses and
churches are to be seen. Well, | hope
all the Slave States will see the evil of
the institution, and follow the good ex-
ample of My Maryland" When we
left the Weldon railroad, and made left
flank movement to where we are at pres
ent, the country had the appearance of a
wilderness, but now it looks like city.
The wood land cut off, and. the soldiers
with log houses, and also the Military
railroad, has made its appearance, and the
cars come running along, that, with the
regular rotine of military duty, make
times lively, and one almost iorgets he is
soldering, l might multiply words, aud
lengthen out this letter, but | will not
weary your patience; so | will close by
saying, am, as ever,
Yours, with respects, &c,, w.