Year: 1863

who will crush out every vestigs of liberty.
and make Us all the slaves we should de-
serve to be. Such cannot be the fate of
the great principle of Democracy. its course
is ONWARD: and it will yet put all its ene-
mics under its feet, and establish itself on
foundations that can never be shaken. 1t
is for this the army is fighting, and it will
surely accomplish it. if the hypocritical
can't of traitors at home, does not prevent.
The soldiers want peacc-a peace that
shall be perpetual. They rant no sneak
ing truce. that will call them all into the
field again in five years time. They want
to see the old flag floating again over every
rood Of American soil, and then they will
be content to return to their homes.
can assure you that this is the sentiment
of ninety nine hundredths Of the soldiery.
And they have no special love for the man
who thinks otherwise.


/ see that /! am extending this letter
much longer than l intended. / have not
time to write all that l feel on this subject.
Like brave old Parson Brownlow, l am
for my Country until the issue is between
her and the Christian religion. Until then
there is no "Instution" SO "divine," as to
make me forget and betray my native land


Just as l close, a letter has come into
my hands that was written from Marshall
Co. to William Mulligan Of Co. &C" who
is now deserter, and, it may be, har-
bored and protected by the writer. You
are at liberty to use the letter at your
pleasure. 1t serves to confirm what ]
have long believed. that desertions from
the army. are chiefly occasioned by inhu-
ences at home.


Hoping to hear from you often, l am
with mu:h respect,


Truly. Your Friend.


JASPER PACKARD.


z. S. April 10 had Just completed
this letter when an order was received to
go at once on board the Transports, and
move back to Helena, which place we have
just reached. / have not yet learned what
our destination will be. though it is gener-
ally supposed that We are to join the arm
below, somewhere in the neighborhood o.
Vicksburg. You are no doubt better ac
quainted with the reasons for our leaving
the Tallahatchie than / am. News with
US has been a scarce article, and / have
not yet had time to learn anything here
/ commend you to the Telegraph and all
"rcliable gentlemen" for further particu-
lars. J.P.


The following is the letter alluded to in
the above:


Plymouth vicinity Marshall Co


Ind. March llth A d 1868


Dear friend william it is with pleasure |
now sit down TO write you few lines to
let you know that we are all tolerably
we'll at this time and in hopes those
lew lines may find you enjoying the best
of health | received yours bealiHg Date
Feb 1lth and was glad to hear from you
well bill / am sorry TO hear that you sol
diers are not used any better than you are
soldiers life is hard enough any how but
when the government does every thing to
make the white soldier as uncomfortable as
they can to make the niger comfortable il
is still harder 20 bear wendal Philips thinks
therc shonld be no more regiments raised
without haveing them part niger and
part white men but l think they had bet
ter let that lone if they know when they
are well off for the white folks are getting
tired Of the Internal niger busines as it is
carried on by the niger abolition admin.
istratiou they have been haveing some in.
teresting niger riots at Detroit Mich lately
it appears the was niger there caught a
little girl about IL years old and tried to
or did commit rape on her he had his
trial and vas sentenced to the state prison
for life but the people spprehending he
would be pardoncd tried to take him by
force from the sheriff but not succeeding
they went into the nigers in general civil.
ians and soldiers all at them several sol.
diers were arrested for trial for the part
they took in the melee have not yet learn
ed how many nigs were killed we'll bill the
niger administration is going to have us
all in the south pretty son they think they
have got up q conscription act which takes
all from the age of 1S to As that is it places
us ali at the disposal of old darkey al
Washington the enrolment will begun
this month we'll what we want IS peace
now on some terms and peace we ought
to have there is no news of any importance
in the northe now there is some few here
yet who are in for the war but not many
= well bill / wish you were al
home 30 could see you and talk with you


oh yes there is something else
l will tell you there is something in the
wind with the abolitionests here they are
holding secret meetings. here of some kind
or other and our governor has pnt the arms
Of the stat in their hands and they have re-
ceiv ed several boxes of arms from some
place or other for distribution amongst
them they have their constitutions and
by laws which are peferctly Military
so some Of the people say who have seen
them l expect they think abont beginning
. war upon the democrats here in the north
] know you were deceived when you en-