Year: 1864

I


Sept 2lst, 1864.


DEAR INQUIRER. Although have nothing oi
great interest to Communicate, yet wish to occu-
py a small space in your columns. A few days
since Bedford Gazette made its appearance in
our midst, and in it I see communication writ
ten over the letter II, from the 10Th Pa Vols and
for the sake of simple truth L wish to correct one
of the frequent misrepresentation contained
therein


In the first place he states that he wrote on a
day of great rejoicing among the troops of this
command over the announcement that Mcclellan
was nominated, as candidate on the Democratic
ticket for President at the coming election.


Now do not wish to dictate to any man, who
elects to do as he pleases, in exercising his right
of suffrage, but to say that the army is rejoiced
over the nomination of Mcclellan, is, ..as far as
public rejoicing is concerned utterly FALSE, |, and
I can call four ifths of this brigade to witness,
have never heard any rejoicing, not even single
man, as far as I know, and if any cheering was
done it was done within the rebel entertainments.
in our front.


Now in the name of good sense, can it be possible
that soldier who has served in the army for three
years. and borne all the dire privations and suffer
ing, run the risks of score of battles win sup
port man or cause that is willing, yes begging
his enemies, traitors in arms, who have fought
him in score of battles, to come back into the
Union, and win compound with his most deadly
enemies, in treason, and would place the htmi1id-
ting spectacle before the world of an army, the
mightiest in arms, and numbers, and of late the
y 4I,o4 4In -
ter shedding rivers of blood coming down to
beg It's enemies to come back and all the blood,
shed, and the gallant dead, be sold them in mis-
cradle compromise, for peace, and they to pre-
scribe their own terms. It is the most ignomini-
Gus and hunliliating thought that could be enter
tanned We all espoused the cause of the govern
ment in the day when it was attacked by traitors
and believing, as we do now, that he who stood a
loofa would not support it, was and is traitor,
and if there is any man insane enough, or who is
now convinced thr government is wrong, and to
take plea with its enemies, why in all reason don
he go into their lines and take up arms in acoor-
dance with his convictions That is my opinion,
and think every sane mans S also.


/ speak generally, but that Lincoln is played
out is a fact that I never knew, and / am a
member of thelOth Army Corps near Peters
burg Va" Mcclellan may, speaking with all al
lowance. get a small vote with the army, but LIN
coin is the man for the Army and Navy of the
United States, and we want no better commander,
and to say that the Army before Petersburg is ju-
bilant at McClellans nomination, is libel the
most dishonorabe, and for one would feel out
ragged in having my people believe 1t, for hold
that as a soldier we want war man, and if We
are following our own conviction in sustaining the
government, we don want to be defeated, and IN
view of all the suffering, bloodshed, desolated
homes, sorrowing families, murdered comrades,
and above all the justice of our cause. What man
could say compromise but a cravaD, co'card, or
an avowed enemy Of his country.


All is quiet, and we have beautiful weather.


Very Respectfully,


T. Ell. RAWLINS.


Sergt. Major,