Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1865-02-17
LETTER rRonr REV, =. BUsHNELl.

MEAnk STATION, Va, Feb. 7, 1865.
ENRON JouRNAL:-As walked this morning
heard at intervals sleet pelting the canvass
that the ground was covered and white About
eight o'clock the sleet became ram, and at the
saue time became continuous. Now we are
having pitiless storm from the north heast, and
it promises to continue indefinitely No out
door work to-day. unless absolutely necessary.
We sit around our stove and very frequently
mention is made most sympathizingly Of the
soldiers. several regiments of whom left us here
day before yesterday to participate in some
movement on the left, or farther south. News
of this operation you will receive through other
sources before this can reach yOu. We get
more rumors than reliable information. But
we are now fearing the effects of the storm up
on the men who two days ago left US in light
matching order and are therefore now without
shelter It cannot fail TO iniure their health
They are not very far off, and we hear good re-
ports of their work, although portion of them
have never done any fighting before
AS far as i can Judge the soldiers of the 9th
army corps are desirous, very desirous, TO have
the war close. They hope it will close soon.-
One with whom l talked yesterday as they
were halting on their march, expressed good
deal of disappointment that nothing had come
of the recent peace conference. But, though an
xious for peace, the soldiers want it only on the
basis of our complete success Johnny Reb.
must give in. Such is their feeling. This feel
ing is frequently manifested in great strength
by the Christian soldiers, who speak pray in
religious meetings. Only last evening one of
them said with great emphass-"W hen l en-
listed, enlisted not for one year, or two, or
three but fol. the war" They are not tired of
the war in any such sense as the rebel deserters
say they are tired of it. They are willing to
finish their work before they quit it.
1t is very easy now for citizen who has prop
er passes, to examine the front line of our works.
1t is only necessary to show who you are, and
that von have a right to be here, and you re-
ceive from officers and men the most courteous
treatment, and can see all that any citizen ought
to desire TO see. On some portions of the line
there is by common consent, 40 picket firing
for large portion of the time. On almost any
day one can go down even 10 the picket line
This have not as yet done, simply because it
would be to walk for nothing. But from the
breastworks and from various forts | have look
ed down upon the picket lines of both armies,
seeing even more than one could see ON either
line Occasionally some cause or other will set
the batteries to shelling, and then one has to
look for himself. No citizens have been injured
that | know of. Three or four soldiers were
killed last week. There is considerable excite
ment in watching an artillery duel by night,
when one can see the shells as they describe
their fiery circuit through the air. Our boys
usually insist on having the last shot, and when
ever they wish to stop the firing they have on
ly to drop shell or two into the city itself
Yesterday visited few "c0ntrabands," who
still live in their old homes upon farm on the
bottom lands of the river. Their masters and
mstresses-they belonged to large family
have all fled. The old family mansion is en-
tirely demolished-even the cellar walls are
gone, all carried off by soldiers to make quar-
ters. But the negro houses are left untouched.
Among these negroes is a young man, apparent
ly about thirty years of age who was within
the rebel lines till some three weeks since. He
told me that he had delayed making his escape
because he did not know for long time in
what direction home lay. Said he, "If l got
lost wanted to get lost for my own benefit,
not other peoples" When he ascertained the
way home, he made his escape.
This young man said he WAS ID Petersburg
at the time of the first fast day appointed by
churches in Petersburg, but the authorities
would not allow them to be opened, not one of
them The blacks were told that they could
go to the white churches. The reason of this
was as follows The blacks were accustomed
to pray that "the will of God might be done'' in
this war. That style of praying did not suit
the rebels They wanted prayer for their cause,
and this they could not get from the blacks
So they kept the colored churches closed In
telling his story the young negro said-',I do
not believe in any mans praying and leaving
the will OF God out. So wouldn fast ate all
l could get. Aud we could pray in our hearts.
1t struck me as fact to be noticed, that the
rebels were, at the outset, Gtraidof the prayers
OF their otoa seTvo1S. 1t is certain that the bur-
den of those prayers has been against them.-
And as our armies march along the master is
obliged TO flee to save themselves from death or
capture while the slave remains behind in COM
plete safety. Ah, indeed-"Iealpora mutan-
ttr." Yours truly, E.B.