Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1865-08-18
"LYNcHBURe, Va, July 8, 1866.
Dear Sir.

Dear S1r:
Your letter. of the 18th of June has
just reached me, and it occasiOned me no
little thought as to who the writer was y
Going from the Post Office to my room, I
began to think who there could be in that
far off country who was likely to write to
me after four years of silence and suffer
ing. | could recall no one, and therefore
opened your letter, never believing for
one moment that it was from one who had
been battling against me for so long But
alter reading 1t, and seeing so much sym
pathy expressed therein, / am inclined to
think that perhaps our fate as rebels will
not be so unjust if left to those who have
been fighting against us.
The incident referred to by you at the
bloody battle of -- and for which you
thank me, is scarcely remembered by me-
1t was ever my custom through the whole
of the bloody war which has just closed
SO disastfeasly for us, to render any as
sistance | could to a fellow man though
he were an enemy. For this | claim no
thanks. A common humanity, which is
supposed to exist in the breast of all men,
dictates such course, and he is indeed a
brute who would not do as / have done.
You, dear friend, entirely over estimate
the kindness was privileged to do for
you. If, on the battle field, [ gave you
one moments cheer or comfort, by one
kind word or look, or relieved you of suf-
terlng in any manner, | am happy for it.
It is indeed pleasant to know that a deed
of the past is remembered by stranger
with pleasant reflections, yet it will have
accomplished more if it shall have taught
one who no doubt regarded US as negro
drivers and savages. that feelings of the
tenderest humanity exist In Southern
hearts,
The war, as you say, is now over-that
is, the fighting part of it-and the Stars
and Stripes, that proud emblem of Ameri-
can Liberty, which has always hoated so
triumphantly, is again hoisted on South
ern soil and floats by Southern breezes,
while our once proud and defiant stars
and bars is now trailing in the dust, never
to be reclaimed, 1 hope, for as long as we
are back under the old flag there let us
remain until driven away by meanness and
cruelty.
Although this war ended very different
ly from what [ desired, yet can join you.
since there is no longer any hope of
Southern independence, and nothing left
me but the noble steed which bore me to
your rescue I escaped uninjured. It is
sad indeed to think of the thousands who
are lying yet in misery all over our land.
A great many homes have been desolated
and ruined by the ruthless hand of war
Well, my friend, there is nothing else
to write but to say, with all my heart, God
bless you. | shall always be ready to re-
ply to any communication from you, and
although we have fought each other with
right good will for four long, bloody
years, there is no reason why we should
not now shake hands, and with the Con-
stitntion and the laws begin anew the
battle for freedom
I am very respectfully.
JAMES o. MARKS"
O. And why may not all, now that the war
clouds have rolled away, join each other
as freemen under the banner of the Re-
public? Why may not all, sharing equal
ly the privileges of our free Constitution,
unite in common brotherhood and fight
together against the world the great bat
tie for freedom ?" The fighting part" of
the war being over, let the war of preju-
dice cease also. Let the bitter feelings
and passions of the past be buried let all
men be elevated to the same broad plat
form of equal rights, let all earnestly re-
new their devotion to the great cause of
liberty and justice, and the time will soon
come when the great magnanimous North
will not receive the unjust accusation of
''meanness and cruelty" and when the
valorous South will not provoke such cpl
thets as "negro-driyers and savages.
ssOn years. blossomi1g graves. with calm
Loud in his happy taugle huns the bee
Nature fergets her hurt and finds her balm,
Alas and why not we ?
tl s-=H ~ SFcuAND