Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1865-01-20
For the indicator.
Head QA's PEGRAM's BRIGADE
January 4th. 1865.

January 9TH. 1865.
Ladies of the ChnrthyiVo soldiers Aid
Society,
The collation. prepared by you for this
Brigade, after some delay, reached us,
and was I assure you, enjoyed not less on
account of those from whom it came, than
for it's own sake. 1t was certainly an en-
larged quantity which prompted the ladies
of single neighborhood to attempt the
preparation of feast for whole Brigade;
and the success with which it was accom-
plished is highly gratifying to philanthro-
pic observers, but was especially so to the
hardy soldiers whc participated in the re
past.
At the commencement Of the war when
means were abundant, an exuberant liber-
atty toward the devoted men " no SO prompt
ly went forth to battle for their country.
was thing of course. But now, when
supplies are difficult of attainment, the
sustained effort to bestow when the veter-
ans still in the field, something Of the COM
forts that before the war they were wont
to enjoy, is worthy ever of the incompara-
BILE women of our own country. Nor is
such worthy example without its parallel
in the army-where, even when the foe
presses most pertinaciously, true soldiers
resolve the more stubornly never to yield,
and strike the more vigorously for their
honor and their freedom.
From the plains that border the ~Poto-
mac from the mountain bound Valley
where the Cacapon winds its way-and
from the green hills far away beyond the
Alleghanies, come patriotic and gallant
men of this Brigade, who for long years,
and in countless conflicts, have battled side
by side with patriotic and gallant men from
Augusta Their mothers sit sadly at the
door where they do not come; their wives
60 about their domestic duties with dis
tracted air and their little children, when
the day is done and they gather around tbs
domestic hearthstone, with earnest words
enquire when their father will return-and
ever lone heart echoes mournfully-
"When Oh when will their father re-
turn These are encompassed by watcLful
and implacable enemies. No carefully
prepared delicacy, no fondly wrought
Cokeu, uOG eFou al encouraging message,
may find it's way from them to the heroic
men who in the Camp and in the feld-du-
ring the weary toll Of the day and in the
lone watch of the night, think of those at
home whom they love. But the women OF
Augusta have ever generously divided THEN
provident offerings between their own cher
ished friends and the strangers whom they
know only as soldiers battling for com
mon cause.
The brave and faithful soldiers in our
service will not always DO separated from
their mothers, their wives, and the maid
ems they love. This protractcd war must
one day have an end-and it can have but
one termination He who controls the
Universe, yet watches the sparro VS. fight,
does not intend that the delic .te daughter S
OF Virginia shall be the bond women, or
far worse, the wives Of arrogant puritans Of
of New England. And when each brave
soldier shall have fought the fght-and
finished the work before him, and the hand
of dissolution shall be lifted from his house,
and his own fig tree shall again bear fruit
and his vine pour ont it's juice, and the
trials and perils of the great war shall be
told to loving listeners the patriotic kind
nesseof the noble danes and beautiful dam
sells Of Augusta shall not be forgotten.
Most Respectfully.
j. S. HOFFMAN CeM'DG BR1GAnE