The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-08-23
The .Sotoiier's S0iiOquu.

nv sight. For three years wore those
blue buds, and now, thank God thew
ore off, and once more am in command
of myself.
WHAT the devil did 90 to war foro
That's the question. What did | eat
hard tack for-drnk commissary whis.
kev-carry mules lcad-sleep in the
mud-sufier in hospital and lose this
limb for, who knows?
enlisted to save the Union.
went to war to put down the rebel
lion.
fought to punish traitors.
| killed people to restore the harmony
of things.
| went to war because that was in old
tines the way to patriotism.
And what was there gained? | had
thirteen dollars month. rode Shanks'
mare from Bull Run to Red River. al
most for nothing.
| fought to keep this Union whole.
and now, when the war is ended, | am
told that fighting divided, and that leg
islation alone can restore the Union!
Then why in thunder must lose three
wears of time and a limb if all this work
must be done by Congress: Why were
a million Of us killed by drunken, thiey-
ing, demonstrating, silver-ware-hunt-
ing, conceited, upstart, political generals.
who went up like rockets and came
down like sticks, ifCongress can or could
restore the Union by legislation?
went to war in good faith.
| fought Il score Oftimes, and the moro
I fought and the less | stole, the slower
came promotion.
| helped make a dozen generals, fifty
colonies, and IA hundred officers rich.
! have logged many a piano, rosewood
bedstead, marble-top table, cabinet of
Southern homes to be sent North for tbs
use of my superior officer, and the adorn-
ment of his home in the North. This
was the big dart for putting down the
rebellion.
And won't to war for less wages than
could have earned at home. And my
wife was often starving while | was
away. And my children became rag
ged and dirty-my farm ran to weeds
my shop ran doWn-my tools We're sto-
len or lost-my place is filled by another
ease, and am now looked upon by the
same men who wanted me to go to war
much as people look upon some dead
beat who has gone through them for all
their spare change.
And the AbOlitionists who forgot to
take care of the soldiers iamilies-the
Abolitionists who told us that the DEM
oerats wanted the Union dissolved-the
Abolitionists who stayed at home and
dare not fight. except in the form of a
mob, in the attack of some defenceless
Democrat, now tell us that
The late war did not restore the Union.
The war was therefore Il failure.
The white men of the North were no
match for the white men of the South.
The war would have ended in defeat
for the North but for the niggeIs.
This is what the Abolitionists tell us.
Reckon they will have good time get
ting us returned soldiers engaged in an
other crusade for cotton, niggers, mules,
and stolen plumber, taken by force OF the
bayonet from women and children.
1t seems to me as if the late war was
a gag-a humbug-a wicked, treasona-
bic, unconstitutional gag. 1t did not re-
store the Union, but it made pile OF
Abolitionists rich
1t never prevented secession, but lett
this Union in the shape we did not find
it.
1t never benefited any one North or
South, except thieving soldiers, army
chaplains, neutrality-suspicious. drunk.
en- officers, incompetent generals, ana
other such pets of the late administra-
ton.
1t didn't help the white people.
1t didn't help The niggers.
1t impoverished half Of the Union.
1t didn't make the South friendly to
Northern ideas, interests, or people.
IL piled big debt upon us, and took
from us two-thirds of our means to pay
it.
And now l am back from the war to
lind that must pay the most exorDl-
tant taxes, and to find that old Grudg--
lngs, a mean, narrow-minded, stay-at
home coward, is rich, with safe full OF
United States notes or bonds, for which
| must work the balanced my life away
to pay interest on, while he escapes taN-
alton and lives in idleness. l had a hun
dred dollars bounty to go to war. Now,
come home to find the town, county,
city, and State in debt for the money l
had-the wealth of the country is IN
bonds-the school-houses in ruins.the
court houses, &c. in ruins-all these
things to be built up-the bonds ana
their ipfaract n, 40 mid besides ALL the