The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1865-07-08

We publish the following from the Louis.
sills Journal, Al de request Of . citizeA Of
this county who:has friends in the camp here
described, aud who assures as the picture is
no. rserarawn. There is certainly grievous
faux somewhere in the matter:
To the Editors ofthe Louisuille Journal:
The portion Of the army the writer belongs
to ia camped upon an ''island," some Ave
miles from Louisville, and one from the Ohio
river. Not knowing the name of the islaud
the soldiers call it Mosquito island" Great
praise is due to some scientific explorer for
plotting this portion of the "boys in blue"
through mud and water, (minus .pentoons1
safe to Mosquito Island. We have nothing
to cheer US but the sweet songs of the MOS
quitos and frogs and The pleasant sensations
caused BY scratching those places where the
snipe like insect has inserted It's poisonous
dart. II may be said of them Ten thous.
and thousands are their songs, but all their
joys are one." II, Mr. Editors, you honor
| US with your presence at any time, we would
advise you to come prepared high top'd boots
, are needed, also a mosquito-bar. Be careful
not to partake of the water We make our cot
fee from, which is fit for no one but Sher.
man sareas FRS, who are used to such; and the
waggletairs fill up the cavity which ought
to be filled BY Government ratiOns. But to
more impprtsut matters. A large majority
of the present army are veterans, and are
wishful to have few questions answered
through your Journal. What is going to be
done with the veterans7 Are they going
home? Or are they going to be kept in
ignorance Of their future7 What is the
meaning of the Fourth Of July Barbecue for
the soldiers' benefit? Is the government
to keep US here till the fourth to partake of
this dinner7 Well, Mr.. Editors, we had one
continual barbecue for 500 miles through
the Carolinas, and it is the wish oil the whole
army to have The next one at their homes on
the Fourth Lof July. What did the brave
Sherman mean when he stated in bis con-
gratulatory order at Raleigh, that in a few
DAYS he would lead his soldiers to their homes?
Did he mean those who have already gone
home, hundreds Of whom never had gun in
their hands? A large portion of them did
not know the difference between a "skirmish
line and u clothes line, or fish line, who
have made from 8 900 to $1,000, and done
nothing but ride on cars or steamboats, for
the last eight months, and arrive a, their
regiments only in time TO he mustered oat q:
The service? Did Sherman call those his
brave boys or did be mean those brave,
selfsacrihcing men-the heroes of Forts
Henry and Donelsor, Shiloh, Thompson's,
Hill, Raymond, Jackson, Champion Hill,
Vicksburg, Chattanooga. Lookout Mountain
Missionary Ridge, Stone River, Resaca, Buz.
yards Roost, Alatoona, kenesaw, Chaitahoo-
cEee, Atlanta and Savannah? those men
WHO lad the promise OF the Immortal Nc
Pherson, when they re enlisted, that, iR-
mediately after peace was conquered, they
would be discharged? Those men who wad.
ed the swamps OF South Carolina in line of
battle, and fought the enemy from Cha,tanoo-
ga to Raleigh, North Carolina those men
who, by theI. courage and physical en-
durance, had severed the arteries of the
Southern Coniedracy aud finally caused Tie
return Of Peace? After Sherman's address
We started from Raleigh with bright visions
of home before US. After our review -
Washington. we expected to be paid of and
go home. Vain hope ], is nos ten months
wives have worked AT tie washiub and sew
by night and By day TO &c; the accessories Of
lie.
Who can thank fox this but the sosern-
ment. We were told tia, our families would
be cared for. The patriotic citizens aud the
aid societies would attend to their wants.
But like the man selling charcoal in a street
in Boston, and shouting Charcoal! charcoal!
but when a customer came the endgatc had
dropped out and he charcoal all gone. When
the soldiers families go for bread they find
the endgaie gone and the neccessaries also
Depending upon tie patriotic citizens for
support don't do. We met with numbers of
those patriots during our stay in Washington,
and during ride TO Parkersburg, Va,
they would come to US with 4 smile on their
/ face. and pie tpiice twenty Eve cents) in
one hand, aid q small United States flag in
the other. BY the by, a hungry soldier could
har, him much. tThe Lord deliver US from
such suGar-coa;ed patriots.
The veterana have saved the onion, and
they ought to go home. Here ~e are living
on half rations, and no money to buy those
accessories, &c., and kept in total ignorance
il regard TO our future, half eaten with mo.
| squitos, and deafened By the croakirg OF
frogs. IF the Government only knew the
present feelings of the soldiers We think it
would change its present policy and let the
boys know what they intend to do with them.
| 1t ought to be considered that there are as
bright intellects in the ranks as ever graced
the Senate Chamber or the House Of Repre-
| seLtaiIves, and, now the war is over, they
Intend to go home. and, when needed. will be
ready to defend the old flag again if the Gov
eminent only does what is right with them
now.
1t is the wish Of many veterans to have this
publ shed in your paper. NOSWAL.
lst bridsade, Sd division, 18th corps.
The 4rH AT GErrYsBURG.-Therew was an