Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1865-03-23

with. III thought that you were {
rebel at heart, / would not, no ]
could not sit this night, while the
rest of the family are asleep, and
write. No. / hope you have beer
led to see the error of your ways
anf if You have not seen the error, ]
pray you may, efore it is too late
You said you remained my friend
How can yoa be friend, and re
main on the other side Is it friend
that stands .arrayed against my
brothers ready to shoot them down.
However, l don't think you would
, like to shoot either of them But
you have helped to>strengthen an
army that will glory over the dead
bodies of the North. Alexander, il
you have any respect for me, or youI
kind friends at home, you will imme
diately take the oath. and return to
your fathers house, if not there, to
some place where you can aid the
Union cause, for / think it is every
mans duty to help put down this
unholy war. If you cannot fight for
the Union, you can leave The rebels,
and persuade Others to do the same,
and now is your chance, for If YOU
are exchanged, you will never have
another opportunity, so, try and do
good whilst you can. will be your
friend, if you viii acknowledge that
you have done wrong, and prove hy
your actions that you are sorry II
you can't do that, then l suppose we
will be enemies, but / want YOU TO
write, and he as plain with me, as l
have been with YOU, for l have less
respect for the copperheads here than
the armed r. bells It drawing on 10
late hour, and l must hurry and
close.
Both of my brothers belonSto the
National Guards, and are to leave
next week for hundred days, George
saws that he will write to you soon.
G,ye my best tUishes to those Union men
that stand guard ocsr you IF yoH sO0nt
take the oath, | pray that you may
be kept then until treason goes down,
and then dealt with according to
law allow to write to your father,
and tell him where you are, for they
have written several times to know
If l knew anything Of you, but |
could never tell until the present,
and am sorry to tell them that their
son belon g to a hand of traitors i
trust if / write any more, that l can
sympathize with YOU. for you were
pressed in; end are willing TO leave
them, then | can have some sympa-
thy. | will now have 20 bring my
letter to close, for | want to write
one to your parents, 1t is task l
dread. but feel it my duty TO do so.
Alexander, just think of that kind
hearted mother when she thinks that
her olG est son, is confined in Union
prison. II is but few years since
YOU was little prattler running
round tire old hearth stone Oh! it
is enough to break that mothers heart,
when she thinks oi her sun, who was
once her pride, and knows that he
stands arrayed against his brothers.
| feel for those loving sisters, that
could but lisp your name, when you
left the parental roof And that poor
father and motheril l know that they
have spent many a sleepless night
thinking OF yOa. many have been the
prayers they have offered up in -FOUR
behalf, and l sincerely trust they may
live to see those prayers answered,
Yes! l trust they may Ue answered,
ere those loving parents are laid in
the silent tomb / trust this NAV
reach, and find you in good health,
and on your knees, asking COD to
forgive you, that you may become
right, before you are entirely lost, I
believe 1 shall have to close re-
main as l began, that hive or die, l
an for the Union;
MARGARET KELCH.
You ask me, when I'd rend the scroll,
Our fathers names are written Ger,
: When would see our Flag unrol,
Its mingled Stars and Stripes mo mure," F"
When with worse than felon hand,
Or felon counsel, | would sever
The Union of this Glorious Land,
answer, Never! Never!I Never!m
Think We! could look TO see
The Banner have loved so long;
Borne pireemeal DER the dis ant SEA.
Torn, trafrpied by frienzied throng;
Divided, measured, parceled cut,
Tamely surr pdered up .or ever,
To crafty soulless uand OF traitOrs7
] answer, Never! Neyer!! NeverM
P. S. If you wish to be friend
ami correspondent of mine you must
leave the ungodly cause that brought
you to, and confined You within the
walls of. a Union Prison If you
were in Rebel Prison, then / would
feel for you, but ! do feel for you get,
and pray that you may not stay at
Rock Island long, but be at home
enjoying the pleasures of the freside
hearth. o4-i.-
Good BY
MAG