The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1864-08-04
From the 9th Army Corps.
GSoReKrows HErerHs, d. C.3
July Goth, 1864.
DEAR TRInrNrr

GBoReErowE HEferBs, d. CD
July 26th, 1864.
DEAR TRIBUNE.
The Sixth Corps, the fighting Corps
of the Army Of the Potomac, with which
we have the honor to be connected, has
just returned from seven days excur-
sion to the Shenandoah, aflcr the retiring
eolums OF the late great rebel raid, and
now rests near Tcnallytown, within the
dcfences Of Washington. We drove the
enemy through Smokers Gap, into the
Valley, with some loss on both sides and
captured about three hundred wagons
and large portion Of the booty with
which they were trying to make Of.
Thus the great raid is al an end, and the
big scare has passed away - the fog has
lifted, and we can take a clearer survey
Of the field, It will be seen that the
danger was more apparent than imminent
and that there was, at no time, any real
intention Of the enemy to capture either
Baltimore or Washington. Their demon
strations on these places were mere feints
to conceal their purpose, which was to pill.
lage the country, aud replenish the emp
ty commssariat Of the Confedcracy. In
this they have succeeded tclorobly well.
Without sufficient force Of dscip lined
troops at hand to penetrate the illusion,
the Government was left wholly in the
dark, as 10 the numbers or intention Of
the raiders, and was compelled to &C,
wholly on the defensive, until the oppor-
tune arrival Of tue old 9th Corps, when
the offensive was assumed, with the re.
suits have before named The enemy,
finding that the battle-scarred 9th was
after them, turned tail and quickly re.
treated across tho river. We now look
with chagrin to the fact that few
marnuling dragoons, under the notorious
Harry Gilmore, should be allowed to
penetrate to the Philadelphia and Bat.
more Railroad, capture two trains and
destroy an important bridge. l hope, FOR
the credit Of the Government, this will
not occur again. Raids are necessary
accompaniment of this war. and are
sometimes unavoidable. They are come
tic fragments, which break off from the
main body. wonder sbout for q time in a
very eccentric, and TO us, awkward cir.
cles. and then are spont. They teach
an important and sometimes very ex.
pensivc lesson. They urc ephcmcrsl--
have no lasting eject upon tho cause
either way, and are forgotten, except by
the heaviest sufferers, to whom oil this
moralizing Of ours is poor consolation for
the loss Of nurses, cattle, hay, grain and
produce. To such il may seem that their
ruin is the ruin Of the Government, but
such is not the case. Thank God she
still lives, brearhes and moves onward,
"a thing of life" Notwithstanding the
predictions of her enemies, aud the fears
Of her timid friends. Whatever frail
little barks 90 down in the tempest, the
old ship Of state outrides the storm, and
leaves danger and darkness behind.
The man en,eloped in cloud thinks
that the whole world is dark and
gloomy, but such is not the case. Outside
Of his narrow circle, all is sunshine.
brightness and joy. If we only had
faith as grain of mustard seed, we could
see through these misis to the end,
bright aud glo-ious beyond. To the dis
corning and thoughtful patriot there can
be but one issue TO the present struggle
the complete unity and restoration OF
the Union. Beyond this "vale Of tears"
md" Red Sea Of b lood" there Is pro.
missed land' of pence and plenty. LIT
us not fuint by the way and get into the
(" Slorgh of Dcspond," or into the grasp
of the "Gian; of Despair"
hope the readers of the TRIBUNE will
excuse me for indulging in this train Of
thought. 7 had not intended to pursue il
g far when commcnced; but it seems
there are too many Faint-Hearts aud
aud Judases in the camp, at this critical
junciure. There are political Peters,
who would deny their country in presence
of danger, and political Judascs, who
would betray it for thirty peices. Let
the true friends of the Union, upon the
battlements of Freedom, be wary, with
fixed bayonets and steady purpose and
all will be we'll.
I have met some Of the boys Of the
I64th o. V. l., and was glad to know
that they are doing well, and bear lightly
the glorious martyrdom to which they
are subjected Temporarily for their
country's sake. They are as brave as the
brovest, but feur they will not be able
to tell of such heavy marches, hungry
b.vouacs, empty haversacks aud thrilling
dangers as the boys who have lain in the
sand and watched the stars, in the
trenches before Petersbugh. Pardon
this erratic letter, Mr. Editor, aud |
promise to give you something more in
teresting at future time. Nc.