Year: 1864

WRITTEN FOR THE statesman


Sergeant Billings Discourseth on Things.


Fort WALLA WALLA Feb. 1864


How often have heard men-soldiers in
particular that if they were only in
the States they would not mind soldering.
1t all does very well to talk about. Patri-
otism and love of ones country is a great
thing,-most magnificent theme for con-
temptation. But-to talk of the preservation
Of the American Union and to fight for it
are essentially different things |, for one,
profess to love and cherish the institutions
of my country. l admire and appreciate the
magnanimity Of our republican principles,
and the broad basis upon which our Gov
ernment is founded and, for one, am will
ling to make all necessary sacrifices in order
to assist in perpetuating the institutions Of
free government as bequeathed to US by our
forefathers and hand them down to future
generations, unimpaired in all their parts
The question then, naturally presents itself,
How is this all important thing to be accom-
plshed Although but but an humble cit
izen, and a soldier, serving in the ranks Of
the Volunteer Army, my opinion is not, per-
haps, worth so much as that of the hoary-
headed statesman or aged warrior whose locks
have grown white in the service of their
country, yet I venture it, and answer that
the preservation of the American Union can
never be accomplished until perfect system
Of harmony and concord reigns throughout
the entire Northern and Pacific States,-un-
til every American citizen and lover Of free
government shall come boldly up to the work,
I - I = 4 L RI L. Z r.
and with thestrength Of a Hercules and the
valor and bravery ola Ulyssus come manfully
up to the task before US. Never while foul
corruption sits broOding over our council
chambers and high places, never while po-
litical discord and jealousios exist,-neYer
while we have one class Of men in the army
fighting our battles and another at home uu-
doing their work. Not only are the "C0p-
perheads" doing great injury to the Union
cause, but army contractors and men high
in Office, whose love of money is greater than
their love Of country, are doing an equal
ly bad work under the guise Of "CJniOn." No
man feels more pefceptibly and keener
the evils attending this war than the soldier
in the field, who is necessarily exposed to
all the incidents and privations attendant
upon the soldiers life. Shut cut in great
measure from all communication with socie-
ty, debarred from all the pleasures thatmake
life itself sweet, and isolated from society
like an oasis in the desert OF an island in the
the great waste Of dreary waters the soldier
lives unconscious Of the pleasures Of life
drinking the bitter dregs but not tasting Of
its Joys Like an aut0maton, he moves at
the will of others, in assisting to shove along
the great car Of war, rapine and murder,
while thousands Of army contractors are dai-
ty enriching themselves and friends at his
! expense, and hanging around the army ike
teaches, and sucking the very life blood
from the hearts core of the Government
They and others who are out Of harms way
and safely housed from wars howling blasts
cry, God speed the war Better that the
last dollar be expended and the last man die
in the ditch than that this war should
close p


have often thought that could these con-
tractors and men who are so loud in their
protestations Of love of country, yet stay at
home, be transferred to the battle fields, or
compelled to do soldiers duty in any man
ner, that in less time than six months we
would have peace, and an honorable one at
that. Some may think these remarks SAVIOR
Of Copparheadism = but let them do as I
have done,-soldier for two years and re-
ceive greenbacks at par for their services,
and then exchange them at from sixty to
seventy five cents on the dollar for every
thing necessity requires him to buy outside
or the O. M. Department-the he can form
some idea Of the sacrifices that a soldier upon
the Pacific coast is compelled to make-and
possibly may not disagree with me in senti-
ment What must our brother soldiers in
the East endure Thousands Of them who
are to-day so manfully struggling for the
perpetuaton Of our Union have families at
home who are suffering for the want Of a
husbands protection, and pefishing for the
want of fathers care, while hard by lives
the family Of the rich army contractor, lux
uriating in comfort and ease.


Again l say, so long as political discord
exists, so long will this war continue Never
until the 4" Copperheads," " Extreme Radi-
calls " and lovers Of personal aggrandizement
are placed " beyond the pale Of influence"
may we expect this war to close. But l
have too much confidence in the stability,
integrity and general intelligence of the con
servative masses Of the American people to
believe that the present state ofthings will
long continue to exist With bright hopes
look to that time which L believe is not
far distant, when the conservative masses,
both in the army and out of it, will rise up
in the might and majesty of their strength
and demand a speedy and triumphant pros
ecution of the war. [ believe that soon such
will be the case; that the great truths of
genuine Democratic doctrines will prevail
and that under conservative principles, and
only dersuch, will the American Union
be restored to its former greatness: More
anon


Some seventeen passengers left this city