From the 6th Regiment

Bell Plain, April 1st, 1863

Editors Republic:- The news contained in the Republic of the 25th ult. is worth more than a passing notice, as it contains so much that is encouraging to the army. In it we see that the friends of the Union at home begin to realize the danger that our proud ship of state has been in during the last two years; that they begin to see that unless there is unity of action amongst the friends of the Union every where, there may be danger yet of that noble ship being driven among the breakers and dashed to pieces. I believe the danger has been very great but that the worst is past for not only are the true friends of the Union stepping forward more boldly, but the northern traitors are beginning to show themselves in their true colors. I would suggest to them that they make another step and at once go over to their friend Jeff Davis be men enough not only to talk for him but take your muskets and go South, and fight for the cause that you have espoused. Such a step may possibly gain you some esteem, for if there is any difference between the traitors of the north and those in the South it is in favor of those in the south who have taken up arms openly and dare risk their health and lives to fight for their supposed rights But appears that Northern traitors lack that sprit of manliness and self esteem that their friends in the South possess. The northern traitor pride himself  on staying at home shooting from his long ranged rifle out of danger of being hurt. Let the friends of the government treat them just as they deserve, if they speak and act against the government,-take care of them, don't waste words in argument with them, that would be treating them with too much respect try them with that a simple test he that is not for me is against me. There is only one feeling in the army concerning all such men and that is great them according to their deserts; they are worthy to live under and enjoy the blessings of the government thy are fighting against. it is encouraging to us here to see Old Sauk alive to her true interests she has many of here sons sleeping in the warriors grave, and many more are still left to strike again for the cause of justice and right when the time comes Be true to us here and you you may be sure that we will be true to you. we know for what we are fighting our Government must be maintained rebellion must and will be put down our erring sister states must be brought back and again take their places among the nations of the earth. Traitors at home must be taught obedience to the powers that be so long as they enjoy their rights guaranteed by the constitution You may think that I am rather severe but I am writing just as I feel and as the army feel.

Why do such men suppose we left our fathers mothers, wives children brothers, sisters and friends?

Do they suppose that we come for the novelty of camp life and to be targets for rebels to shoot at? If so they are very much mistaken We are here to seek to hand down to our children and children children the same blessing that we have received of our fathers and hitherto enjoyed. I would say to the friends of the union at home do all that you can to encourage enlistments. I know that all of you cannot come personally in the army, but you can help those that can enlist but want a little encouragement from others and be assured that if we are all  of one heart and mind this rebellion cannot last another year.

This army was never in a better condition than it is at the present time, the men are will provided with shoes clothing etc. transportation is very much reduced, wagons have been taken away and pack mules substituted in their stead only two being allowed to each regiment to carry the officer's baggage and supplies. this looks as if Gen. Hooker means something. We had a severe snow storm yesterday which will keep the roads in a bad condition for some time. Our regiment is in first rate fighting condition; it is better than at the battle of Antietam. we have 349 men for duty 19 on extra duty and 18 sick, only 4 of whom are in the hospital.

Sergeant Major Huntington is assigned to co. A as acting 2d Lieutenant. The company has 21 men for duty 4 on extra duty and 24 absent sick, wounded and on detached service.

The field officers of our regiment are E. S. Bragg, Col. R. R/  Dawes. Lieut. Col,; and J. F. Houser Major. With such men to lead you may expect to hear something from the old sixth, as well as the old Iron Brigade.

The following is Col. Bragg's address on taking command:

Soldiers:-From your late commandant I receive you I hope that I wed not an unwilling bride. May your laurels never fade, but cluster thicker around your grow. You have been faithful to me in the past. I know that you will be in the future. Where thou goest there will go thy home shall be my home, where tho diest there also will I be buried.

E. S. Bragg
Col. Commanding 6th Wis. Vol.

May he long be spared not only to lead the 6th to victory but to his home and state that can little afford to lose such men in these times that are trying men's souls.

F. K. Jenkins

From the 6th Regiment

Editors Republic:-Out election for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of our State was held to-day and passed off very quietly in the regiment. The vote of the regiment is as follows:

for L. S. Dixon 216
for
Montgomery Cothrey, 32

Majority for Dixon 184

Nearly all of those who voted for Cothrey are Germans who are readers of the See Bote published in Milwaukee and although I do not know which if either of the two candidates the See Bote supported I do not doubt that that paper has blinded them to the rue principle of the administration and their own best interests.

I was sorry to see that some of the officers of the regiment were decidedly opposed to holding an election in the companies and refused to accommodate their men who were desirous of voting by opening the polls. Some of the men apprized Lt. Col. Dawes of the fact who intimated to these officers of the negative order that the men must have an opportunity of voting whereupon the polls in the more tardy companies were opened but some of them not until afternoon.

The law provides that the three ranking officers of a company shall act as inspectors of the election But in care of absence or inability or refusal to act of any of these officers those next in rank will do the duty of Inspectors. Some of the sulky ones as the law is not very obligatory on them refused of course to serve as inspectors; and too with out giving any real reason for their conduct although there is a reason.

Co. "A" polled 26 votes all for Dixon. It is sometime majnaut termed the "abolition" company; but if abolitionism consist in an appreciation of the merits of this contest in a strong desire to have the Union restored and pusillanimous copperheads everywhere rebuked called them abolitionists. This division was reviewed by Gen. Hooker last week. He complimented the Iron Brigade for its fine appearance, &c.

Gen. Cutler was in the regiment and voted for Dixon.

Yours Truly,

H. J. H.

THE OLD FLAG OF THE SIXTH

From the Madison Journal

Major Hanser of the 6th Regiment delivered today at the Executive office the old regimental flag of the gallant Sixth regiment, worn and torn and tattered in the fierce conflicts of Gainesville, Bull Run 2d, South Mountain, Antietam and Fredericksburg. It will be replaced by the Governor with a new flag, under the law passed the late session. The following admirable letter from Col. Bragg, now commanding the regiment, accompanied the flag:

HEADQUARTERS 6TH REGT. WIS. VOLS.,
Near Belle Plain, Va.

April 4th

His Excellency the Governor of Wisconsin

SIR: On behalf of the Regiment I have the honor to command , I return to the State of Wisconsin, the Regimental color presented this regiment in the summer of 1861
We part with it reluctantly, but its condition renders it unserviceable for field service, When we received it its folds like our ranks were ample and full; still emblematical of our condition, we return it tattered and torn in the shock of battle, Many that have defended it, "Sleep the sleep that knows no wakening:" they have met a soldier's death; may they live in their country's memory.

The Regiment boasting not of deeds done, or to be done sends this voiceless witness to be deposited in the archives of our State.

History will tell how Wisconsin honor has been vindicated by her soldiery and what lessons in Northern courage thy have given Southern chivalry.

If the past gives any earnest of the future, the "Iron Brigade " will not be forgotten when Wisconsin makes up her jewels. I have the honor to be.

Very respectively, you ob'serv't,

EDWARD S. BRAGG
Col. Com. 6th Regt. Wis. vols.

JOHN FAY TO THOMAS ADAMS

Camp near Bell Plains, Va.
April 29th 1863

Friends Adams:

Though the kindness of Lieut. Hilton who has just returned from Berlin, I am in the recipe of the Spectator of the 14th, in advance of my own copy, in which is a letter addressed to me which I have to answer You complain because I published letter in the Spectator addressed to you It could be no broach of confidence a no name was given, and for all that the readers of the Spectator knew the initial there given may be purely an imaginary one. The truth is I have been boring the readers of that sheet since I left eh State and having no other subject on hand for that time you letter appeared a peg good enough to hang a few remarks upon.

You speak with great feeling of the few who did not bow the knew to Baal, and yet in several parts of this last and a former letter you exultingly reiterate your old hallucination-that the people who agree with you are in an overwhelming majority in Wisconsin. You call yourself the "arch rebel of Green Lake County," and say you glory in the name-yet you call your party the "Union Peace Democracy" of the north. Now if you are a "rebel," you cannot be a true Democrat, for all true Democrats are for the Union-while you may be a very bad Democrat and a very virulent Copperhead at the same time which is just the truth. A Union Peach Democrat! What does that mean? But are not Vallandingham, Voorhies, Cox, Salsbury, Powell, the Woods of New York and their followers in Indiana and in that part of Illinois called Egypt resisting and counseling resistance to the laws of the land, and forming secret societies where they make poor ignorant dupes sear to prevent even by armed force the execution of the Enrollment Act, and the arrest of deserters?

You make a great glorification about the Northern lights, but you must know before this time what a fizzle the whole traitor programme has ended in.

I need only mention New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut and even Wisconsin, where you counted on 20,000 majority for the Jeff. Davis candidate. You speak of the vast armies raised by the North for the purpose of forcing the states in insurrection to fulfill their federal obligations. The very fact that they have federal obligations which you acknowledge, disposes of the whole argument. but apart from that, the government had to protect public property and guarantee to every man in the land the right to live in peace under the constitution. The constitution itself proclaimed the proper manner in which it could be modified or amended and any other way being illegal it beloved the government to protect the interests of the people form the threatened attacks South and North.- the government did not begin the war nor march vast armies into the states of the South, until the ports and arsenals-the property of the nation-were stolen or wrested from weak garrisons by force of arms in the hands of rebels.

You may be a very laborious student of history but you are very unfortunate in your illustrations from that branch of learning. You are a little confused in that part of you letter, and I hardly understand which you want to prove; the inability of the free states to subdue the South or the exceeding beauty of your peace principles. If the first the cases mentioned Switzerland, Scotland, the American Colonies or Great Britain, and Spain -are totally dissimilar from the present case. Each of those peoples mentioned fought against a foreign tyranny, and for their own freedom a cause in which a true people should be always ready to strike.

As for that very remarkable case, Belgium, it is the most mal-appropo of all your allusions to current History.-Belgium was assisted by France then fresh from her triumph over the king Charles 10th, and by England also-The first by an army and both by diplomacy forced the Dutch to acquiesce at the risk of war, and having their county overrun by the French legions. The whole intrigue was begun and consummated by those who treacherous governments that new kingdom might be created for some of their needy relatives. And now for 32 years there is sitting in Brussels Duke Leopold and uncle to Queen Victoria, and his wife a daughter to Louis Phillip king of the French.

You say Washington and Jefferson held slaves. Undoubtedly they did,-but their published correspondence proves that they were anxious for its peaceable removal. they saw the danger arising from this excrescence on the body politic. They were aware of the anomaly of a hideous system of slavery engrafted on a republic based on universal suffrage and in a country where the treat principle that all men are born free and equal" that all men are born free and equal" was first enunciated and believed. The maxim of Jefferson that "all governments derived their just power from the consent of the governed," was leveled against tyrants when an enslaved people had no legal redress, and therefore the sword was the only arbiter between them and their enemies. This was not the case here.

If the meaning which you give it were the true one the whole world would be an anarchy.

If Prince Sam-bo (Sambo must sit heavy on your stomach,) and the young French Prince, and that "host" of counts, and Barons have cast their swords into the scales of justice they have done themselves an honor that shall be remembered when their rank and titles are forgotten. I would just say here for your information, that the count de Paris is not the son of the deposed king of the French. He is the son of the duke of Orleans and nephew to Prince Joinville. He is quite a brave young fellow too, and had the high honor to serve under Capt. Wm. A. Bugh on the night before the battle of Williamsburg on a dangerous reconnaissance.

You intimate that the Estimate that the English aristocracy, and Louis Napoleon are for the government in this struggle My Dear Adams; what a goose you are (no offence meant, no comparison implied.) Napoleon as you ought to know is for France, and the English aristocracy for their own order; and in this contest they hate both sides equally, and they assist the South to prolong the war, so that when our divisions make us weak they may grasp what they dare not touch while we were strong.
I am very happy to hear that you believe in a god. I notice that Jeff Davis prays now regularly, morning, noon and night. (So the Richmond Enquirer says-and by the way do you know, that John Mitchell is chief cook and bottle washer in that concern now.) I also notice that Gen. McClellan, and "Madam" McClellan as the world, newspaper calls that lady, and all the little Macs, and Marcys have joined the church. I have not heard whether that interesting specimen of a true blue democrat, who announced his intention of voting for the Devil if he wad nominated by Tammany; who swore that he would never split his ticket-I have never heard, I say, whether he has gone to preaching, or not. When I hear all about it I will inform you.
In the mean time I congratulate you dear Tom on having found religion.-I am happy in the reflection that how when your party is politically d---d there are hopes that you will not be eternally d---d with them. Let me also hope that you won't mince your words, nor learn to snuffle and speak through your nose as it is out of fashion and don't pay.
You say that all the living Presidents and their sons, with one exception are opposed to the principles of the party now in power. Now that is nothing extraordinary. the Democratic party with many good men had a lot of the meanest of all political scum hanging to their skirts; and your masters of the south would not allow you (poor devils!) to have a voice in the making of your own Presidents you were obliged to vote for a second rate lawyer, or some treacherous old wryneck, in short whatever political old "fossil" they named to you. Besides slavery was the egg from which this rebellion was hatched, and they are the old cackling hens whom their southern owners forced to go through the process of incubation, until they brought forth a brood of evils that shocked, and outraged the nation and the people who at last hurled them from power. And now like the Griffin in the fable, who was part bird and part beast, they show their front part like unto a bird, and cackle for the union and their back part like unto a beast, and bowl for slavery but they are seen and known by both despised by one and hated by the other. You say you never came to this country to inbrue your hands in the blood of a people who treated you so hospitable. but are you ot doing a meaner part of snapping and barking at the heels of a people who are trying to accomplish that which you say your gratitude prevents you from attempting. No sir, you have no gratitude for this whole people. Your gratitude, duty, love and devotion are given to an anti republican, aristocratic privileged class, whose sole recommendation to you, or me is right, or wrong, that they hold slaves. We do not want to imbrue our hands in the blood of any one. We know that many of the poor fellows opposed to us are forced into the ranks of the traitors. do you think that we would not rather be at home in peace as well as you? But here to vindicate the outraged laws of the land, to prevent the country from being broken into fragments; to save the nation that is the only check on the despotism of the old world.
There are other inconsistencies in your letter that I cannot notice at present. In fact Tom well damn it, I am ashamed of you logic. You say that Gens. Meagher, Corcoran, Siegel and Schutz are mad. But I would be happy to hear that some of them bit you, and inoculated you with their noble distemper.
You say that you have not as much time for this kind of writing as I have. For you information I will say, that I am after an exhausting day's fatigue duty unloading barges full of provisions, and forage for this division, that it is now midnight, that I have written this since I came in, that I am detailed for twenty-four hours guard duty to begin at eight in the morning; and yet I am confident that most of this time you are playing the devils "tattoo", with you heels on somebody's counter in Dartford.
You unfeelingly called me a private several times in your rather dull communication. Now this is too bad, as I was painfully reminded of that fact yesterday at the pay table, when I counted my green-backs. In confidence I will tell you that at that moment I would much rather be a captain.
One more remark and I am done.-I go into no defense of this army. The world knows that it was from the multitude of "Copperhead" Generals who weighed it down that its movements were retarded, and its victories of no account. Its fighting qualities have been tested on many a bloody field. It is a n army that has never suffered a defeat on single battle field. When that silly, praying old fool, James 2d of England lost a crown by his cowardice and imbecility at the battle of Boyne, one of his soldiers indignantly exclaimed "change kings (generals) and we'll fight it over again." I will not say "change generals with our enemies," but I will say, give us true men, not Janis faced hypocrites, who while giving their swords to the government that fosters and pays them, give their hearts to its enemies
I believe I have notice most of your lucubration's except that about the filthy hogs of abolitionists; as nobody can outdo you in that peculiar sort of literature, I gladly leave it all to yourself.
John Fay
 

Letter from John Fay
Camp near Belle Plain, Va.
April 24th 1863

My Dear Friend - Your letter of the 19th came to hand and you see I make no delay in answering it. I do not see what was in that letter of mine to Mr. Adams that should make such a noise among my friends, particularly as it should be nothing strange for Irish citizens to be loyal to the only country to which we owe allegiance now.-
Our only hope even for the old country is in the strength of this and the lay that sees us disunited and consequently weakened, the arguments for republican institutions in Europe will be gone; and the grasp of the tyrant of France, the meaner despotism of England, together with all the petty kings of Italy, and Germany will be firmer than ever. We Irish men are not blameless in this war. Our influence, and votes were always cast for a party who begun and still carry it on. It is an humiliating thought for us, that our people when arriving in this country are taken possession of soul, and body by the meanest of all eliques, the democratic party of New York; and twisted, and turned, and made to do the dirty work, and take whatever price they offer, mostly in the shape of small places with work enough and little pay.
Our piople are as much the moral and political dupes of those men, as the negroes the physical and personal chattels of their masters. I make no comparison remember, between my own and any other people. Few know their virtue better than myself-their faults I am not blind enough not to see.
New York gives the key note to the other States of the union. Massachusetts, nor even all New England have no Democratic strength. If that party do sometimes cary a state it is by a hard fight, and the influence of one or two members of Congress is scarcely felt.
It is in new York with her thirty five members that the "pins" are put up-the plans are formed-the campaign commenced-the candidates named, and the lies invented; for my friend, every one of these things are done many months before a state or Presidential election. Whatever may be the chance in others states it's as much as an Irishman's life is worth in New York to vote any but the Democratic Ticket. I know that it has been changed that the Republican party were tainted with Knownothingism, but we must remember that the know-nothing party was formed of the dregs of the old Whig party at the breaking up of that organization. Nor was it without many thousand recruits from the Democratic ranks. If Massachusetts and New England curtailed the privileges of the Roman Catholics and visited the convents of those Christian ladies who are living on the very threshold of heaven waiting to be let in, it was reserved for the slaveholding democratic section of he union to be the first to commit public murder, and slaughter our people as they do the union men of the South to-day.-Michael Keating was shot down the Capital of the nation by a democratic ruffian from California, and he could find two southern men to go his bail, and half a dozen of them to convey him in triumph from before the democratic Mayor, who fixed his bail at $2,000 because he only killed a mere Irishman. Among his friends were Jeff Davis and Robert Toombs. Patrick Quigly shouted for "Magruder" a democratic mayor just elected, when he was followed by a knownothing named Essex, who knocked him down, and his brains kicked, and crushed out with the iron heel of his boot.
This was in Pennsylvania Avenue. The fellow got bail, sneaked off, and is a Lieutenant in the rebel service no. foreigners were murdered in New Orleans in the open day. Inlouisville Ky. George D. Prentice the very smart editor of the Louisville Journal, who wants to save the Union now on condition that slavery is saved with it was the great "Boanergus" of the Knownothings in that state, and the night before election he called upon the people to go armed to the polls, which indeed they did, But they did not remain there. They went in military array to the Irish quarter of the city.-They attacked and set fire to the houses of the people, their churches and convents. They fired with deadly aim on the people in the streets and houses. Those who escaped from the burning buildings-men, women and children were slaughtered-with dirks, bowie knives, and pistols-on thier own door steps. An old man named Patrick Quin his old wife, his sons and daughters and grandchildren to the number of fifteen were stabbed shot or burned to death. The deaths in all amounted to sixty. The next morning I read in Louisville from the papers in that city, an account of it with such headings as the following, "Great victory for the national party" "the enemy routed horse, foot and artillery," and so on. Magoffin and the leaders of the "secesh" party of Kentucky now were the leaders of the murder party of that day.
Why do I draw these things up? It is to prove that it is the same false party the same base men of the South who are arrayed against the union to-day, and who through their co-workers in the North would wheedle the Irish citizens into opposition and -in the end-insurrection against the government. they may deny it but every one knows it. they hold conferences with M. Mercier the French minister to Washington and intrigue with Lord Lyons the British ambassador. Their sympathies are secretly with the rebels and against the government. Even my Drtford friend i recounting all the influential friends of the South in England-that country that is the mortal enemy of his race, and nation-naively admits tat they are "our (his) friends, "that is the friends of the peace Democracy of the North. fornando Wood of New York is the chief of these mean traitors; but every state has a few.
Even Wisconsin is not without her Sat. Clark Sat is a great hater of "Niggers" yet if I am not mistaken I once lived in the village Marquette, and saw a child there that was not as florid as himself and was not checked when she called the senator from Dodge, "Father."-These sneaks (for they are not open enenies) are these many months engaged in the villainous work of persuading their Irish followers that the laws passed by congress are unconstitutional and calling upon them to resist their administration. They keep harping on the Knownothings and Abolitionists, and making velieve that they are one and the same until I verily believe many of our people think that an abolitionist is a ghoul, who sucks the blood of Irishmen and feeds upon their flesh.
Then those New York fellows are the sons of miserable Devils who lived on red herrings and cheese while they were making a fortune. Most of those fortunes were made by trade with the south may of them by stealing negroes in Africa to sell in the West Indies from where they were often smuggled into the country. Yet these are the fellows who urge on the Irish labores of the North and North-west to murder the "Niggers" on the streets, and wharves. and bring themselves into antagonism with the government; while the Woods, Mccunns, Seymours and the other cowardly Democratic black guards looked from thei windows and snickered when they saw the Negro killed in cold blood, and Paddy dragged to the Tombs after being bludgeoned by the police. Every groghole in New York is a democratic fort and those follows I have been speaking of visit those places at all times-talk of abolitionists-treat the crowd-are called good fellows-become ward politicians-are elected to the common council-get a contract for paving or lighting the streets get rich-comb the lice out of their "wigs"-hire a gang of rowdies ad are sent to congress where they cote for the extension of slavery all day and go to bed drunk every night. These independent democrats hate "Niggers" so much that they froth at the mouth when one of them comes to New York or New England "per contra" love them so much that they grin with joy when they are spread over the virgin territory of the West, which every true statesman in the land would preserve for the hardy sons of the energetic race now educating themselves all around us for that peaceful conquest. Your must remember my friend, that this war is not between the Northern and southern people as opposed to each other. It is a war between two systems of labor-free and slave. It is a war for the possession of the Mississippi valley. For thirty years this war is going on -politically speaking and the Irish Vote was no small element in the strife. the party with witch they fraternized was generally successful. By great exertion and cowardly compromising the advocates of both systems were kept from each others throats. but they were drawing nearer to each other every day. The slavery propagandists carried their blighting institution over the whole South and south-West even to the Rio Grande Texas and the California's were wrested from Mexico for no other purpose than to make more slave state, and enable the lords of the South to wield the legislation of the country.- On the other hand the free insututons of the North steadily advanced ot the Mississippi-crossed it, and pushed on towards the setting sun. Both systems met like the two Oceans abreast of Cape Horn. Kansas was the battle ground the struggle lasted for four years and a terrible struggle it was; but the mansellers were beated back cowed and broken, This was the beginning of the war. The south had the army of the United States, the administration, the Supreme court, and all the influences which those institutions could give, to gather with the terrible energy of the powerful but unscrupulous democratic party to back it. the North, nothing but the firm purpose born of despair; for if the South was successful in Kansas and Nebraska, in ten years after the threat of toombs may be made good and the roll of his slaves may be called at Bunder Hill The possession of Kansas would give them the whole valley of the Mississippi that great basin is the body of the country all the other parts are as the claws to a lobster.
Slavery once established there, it would ramify into every corner of the land free labor would be pushed to the wall, the new territories now reserved for white men would be filled up by slaves and their brutal masters there would be no room for the white population of the North or of Europe-the already dense population of the old world would increase there would be no opening here for them-poverty and ignorance would be the result. and the ultimate result of all would be a more hopeless despotism. and a deeper degradation than ever before.
Adn now why do I write this long letter to you on the subject? It is because you made certain inquires as regards my letter to Mr. Adams. to put you in mind that Irishmen, and their descendants in this country are not blameless in this most important of all questions to them and their children. that our votes have always been given to the party who was least mindful of our liberties and interests. and that our influence is almost supreme in the land yet whether for god or evil time will tell.
I remain Your friend
John Fay

Letter from the 6th Wisconsin
Camp Near Belle Plain
APRIL 24,. 63
Mr. Editor: Imagining a few thoughts penned in haste, from this section of the world, will prove acceptable to the Herald and not altogether objectionable to its readers, I take this space of time to introduce myself.
Your paper is circulated throughout the different regiments of our brigade and my endeavor to find the name of the 6th noted in its columns was with out success. we merit no such treatment, and if the best of writers harden their hearts so much is to leave us veiled in darkness, with our time cancelled our condition a mystery and our whereabouts also our welfare unknown, surely the poorest (with the pen) may attempt to enlighten the world its rewards the prosperity of our "Iron Brigade" en should he fail in his undertaking.
The day is dark and gloomy, black clouds curtain the sky while the rain pours down in torrents making music for the soldiers with its incessant tapping on our roofs. You might naturally supposed that l long for home. Your supposition is correct; at the same time never shall regret the date nor length of our enlistment We often cast a lingering thought toward the land of our nativity and employ a fleeting moments to the best advantage passing away long weeks, months and years. Some are amusing themselves at a social game of "Seven up" some are reading the works of Scott a volume entitled Marion and His Men "The White Chief's Ride, and other novels. Occasionally one may be found sketching the future dreamland others may be heard debating on subjects relative to copperheads or Knights of the Golden Circle, but by chance some friend of the North should  it us in our log shanties he might hold one or more corresponding with unty papers of conversing through the rumentality of the pen with parents others and sisters by some home fireside ese with many other employments occly our time leaving no time for the es which otherwise would prove a distant visitor.

You have no doubt ere this heard of a command of Hooker a General worthy the responsibility resting upon him. We can do no more than show by our future operations how proud we are of having him a leader. With god to protect and hooker to command we will submit to the rest.

While writing I shall commit no impro sty in mentioning to you our prepare for an important and I trust a victors movement against the enemy. A den change of the weather has already aged us and may hold us in check for several days. I hope the day is not far distant where in the south shall receive their full share of the gratitude we owe him and justice prove itself in out favor. Before closing allow me to add that  ht days rations have been dealt out to carried on the march three in haversacks and five in knapsacks. Soldiers think quite a load to back still we are willing to become "Pack Mules" for a season, sting by so doing to cause a sudden animation of this cursed rebellion. We then be free. The wrongs perpetrated account of slavery will be extinguished with it will be turned into darkness t feeling which caused the first fire on Sumter. With me nothing ever was old in memory and I trust ere this r shall be numbered with the past the age of our Union will float o'er land sea proudly as it waves over our bear

Yours Truly.

Luke

.