Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-04-06
Letter from the 18th Ohio.
Nav MARKET, TENN, |
March OJ IxGS


EDITOR CHRONICLE; wish to say few
words to the friends ofthe soldiers at home.
know that you are interested in these no
BILE mou,-I know that you are deeply in
torested in them-I know that you are es.
pecially interested 10 the moral and religious
welfare OF these men You know that they
are suffering very many privations and
hardships. You know that they are stand
ing as wall of fire between you and your
enemies. And, while they are thus stand
ing between you and the effects Of this
"cruol war;" suffering and exposing their
lives, you are enjoying peace and prosperity.
We know that you owe these men debt OF
gratitude. We know, too, that you feel
this obligation. We know that you are
willing to do almost anything in your power
for their comfort and spiritual welfare. We
know that we have only to let you know
their wants and what you can do for the al
deviation oftheir wants, and to advance their
interests, and it will DO done.
Much OF the reckessness and vice of the
camp is the result of the men having a
large amount OF unemployed time while 10
camp or on the march. Had they always a,
supply of fresh reading matter, much of the
Iecklessness of the camp and march would
be avoidable. / have frequently seen men
lay aside the cards and thankfully receive
papers telling me that they we're glad had
obtained papers fer them, for they would
rather read them than play cards, but that
they must do something to pass the time.
Men read more here than they do at home,
because they have mere time here to read;
and, had they always the proper kind of
reading matter most ofthem would 20 home
much more intelligent, and hope much
better men than when they left their homes.
But when they cannot get proper reading
matter, they will either resort to the cards,
or to the reading Of the light and filthy
stuff that Satan always succeeds in some way
or other in getting ward to the very
front, or seek diversion In something worse.
We can not too highly appreciate the as
sistance afforded us by the Christian Com
mission. But often when we most need
reading matter, it is not in their power to
do the good they would. They have to be
dependant upon Government for transpor-
tation, and when we are on an active cam
paign, such as we are doubtless now start
ing upon, it is often as much as Govern
ment can do to get supplies forward to tho
! ,,,t tha Al &c
the Christian Commission can not get for
ward to the front till their reading matter is
somewhat old and has to some extent lost
its interest to the men. These are the times
we need reading matter worst, and that the
men become most reckless. Could we,
however, have the home papers of the men,
and some OF the leading religious papers,
and some of the leading Magazines sent to
US by mail directly from the office of publ
cation, this difficulty would be to a great
extent ebviated, and would have very ben
efcial effect upon the men.
In behalf, therefore, Of the men of the
18th Regiment O. V. V. L., wish to ask
some Of the friends of the men of this Reg
iment at home, to send US few copies of
the CHRONICLE. Who will get up
club Of ten copies, and have them sent to us
by mail? And if there are any of your
readers who feel disposed to pay for and
have forwarded to us by mail from the
Office of publication the Eclectic, "Atlan-
tic," "U. s. Army Service Magazine" or
'Harpers Monthly" or Weekly" for one
year, they will be thankfully received. and
carefully and profitably read. Direct to
chaplain 18th y. v. V. l., via Knoxville,
Tennessee.
Very respectfully, yours, &C.,
RANDALL Ross,