Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-02-10
DAILY LEADER.
LETTER FROM In FRONT OF
. PETERSBURG.
The Wlalher---The Peace MisSiOD--'
Personal Matters.
NEAR PETERsBURG, VAL
February 4 1865. Z

The weather has moderated very mate
rally since wrote you last, and the pros
pect of moist time is now making itself
manifest TO the weather-wise.
There has not been the usual quiet in
camp, the past few days, that has so long
been the order, nor do the rumors that are
abroad, seem to indicate that the peace
mission of the Senior Blair has been a
complete success. After all the quieting
gossip thst has gone the rounds the fact
still exists that we are in an enemy's
country, and hsve need to govern our
selves accordingly.
Lieutenant Marsh, Qasrtermsster Of the
5th United States Colored Troops, gave US
call that is worthy of note, as he brought
Us living account of the capture of Fort
Fisher and of the status of affairs there at
present, which is very satisfactory indeed.
He speaks of the climate in high terms
and eommissersted US who had to suffer
the inclemencies of this frigid latitude.
Lieutenant Marsh seems to have high
notions concerning the Department of the
South, to which his regiment is now as
signed and to which it is his present busi-
ness to transfer their effects that we're left
In the Army of the James. The Fifth
we're not personally engaged, but were in
the division that held the rebel Hoke in
check, during the hombardment and cap
ture. He reports the boys and officers in
fine spirits and we'll pleased with their
transfer.
They are all ofthe war and knife creed
down there and 'don't believe in Blsirs
peace missions, but do in the Sherman and
Terry sort"
Mr.. Smith, of the Ohio Relief, came up
with Lieutenant Marsh, and as we had.
spare afternoon before US, we went out in
quest of buckeyes, found nothing to inter
est US especially till we got to, the head
quarters of the lst division of the 9th corps,
where we found Captain Fironey, the quar-
termaster of the division had Just left on
leave of absence for twenty days. The
Captain has had hard season of it, has
been in the valley with his department,
He has the representation of being the
most efficient quRrtermaster in his eOrIs.
We next sought and found the Captains
Ordnance Sergeant, Frank Peace, ofwhom
We propose to say 3 word. Many of your
readers may remember the firemen's tour
nament of 1858, that came off in your city.
Those who do, will not forget the little
boy that the Oberlin Company raised on
their ladder, in time to "take the trumpet"
Well, that boy is now the Ordnance
Sergeant, but I think it doubtful if there
are many who saw the 1.-the, active boy,
skipping up the ladder then, that would
recognize, under the grey hairs-for, young
as be is, his head Is brilliant of the veteran
many of his features, He has fought on
fourteen terribly contested fields; wss in
the first Fredericksburg, and was in the
advance columns of his regiment, the 9th
Wisconsin, when it charged and took the
heights of Frederickburg the second time.
He was a stranger in his regiment, and
sought not for position or promotion, but
served as private till he fell on the let OF
June, at Cold Harbor, where he wGs car
ried off the field with minnie in his head.
However the wound did not prove fatal,
and he is able TO be around again, but ii
will be long before he will be sound man
or fit for duty. He was just recovering
from shock of epilepsy, which lie has
been subject to since he received his
wound, Whtn we joined him in his tent.
1t was worth going long ways 10 see the
Joy kindle in Lis manly eyes as he looked
on the faces of his old friends, Marsh and
Smith.
hs friends in his regiment are trying to
gel bis discharge. 1t is to be hoped that
red tape will not be too strong for them, for
he deserves and has frlly carr ed both
discharge and pension.
But am going beyond my limit for a
letter and must conclude for the present.
Yours occasionally.
MAO