Oxford Times, April 15, 1863
We are permitted with the consent of the writer, and through the favor of his wife to whom it was addressed to publish the following extracts from a letter written by a officer in Company H, 114th Regiment. The writer does not profess to be a letter writer, but an earnest and faithful soldier determined to do his whole duty to his country, as the noble sentiments of the letter, abundantly testify. The letter speaks for itself and is a sample of the firm purpose and evoted patriotism which pervades our army in the field.
[114th NY Infantry], Camp Mansfield, Bayou Boeuf, La., March 1863
"We left Brashear City on the morning of the 22d of March. When the orders came for us to strike tents on the evening of the 21st, great dissatisfaction was manifest in the whole camp, for all thought we were to evacuate, and you well know my feelings on that subject, but I soon found it was not to be evacuated. The men all thought it a disgrace to leave before a single gun was fired, as it most assuredly would be. None of the men know the great plan of our noble General Weitzel. The move that we made on the 22d will I think be remembered. The country here is cut up with Bayous, that you can travel with small steamers from the Gulf to the Mississippi River, and Brashear City is on an island, and no force being here, the rebels were moving down Bayou Boeuf to cut the telegraph wires and destroy the bridge and so run in on both sides of us with their gunboats--but they failed in the attempt, as we think they will in all. This place is easily held, and we can go back to Brashear City and get ready for a fight in one hour if necessary. There is a small force with the gunboats left there, and the place will be held, and the war will be prosecuted to the end of time if the rebels do not lay down their arms. The health of the Regiment is generally good, yet there are some sick. We have lost three of Co. H, since we left--William S. Willis of Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], we buried with all the honors of war on the 13th. The death of Simeon Eckerson of Unadilla [Otsego Co., NY], occurred March 16th, at the Marian Hospital, at New Orleans.
"I am contented to stay here and contend with the rebels through life, if they will not come to terms sooner. The fact of the case is, soldiers will get dissatisfied and will write to their friends in the north the feelings of the troops, the dissatisfaction and the hardships of war, but the north can rest assured that the troops are ready to do their duty, and that we are the same patriotic men that left Oxford, comprising the 114th Reg., and to a man are ready to defend their country's cause to the last. The news comes here often that the Empire State will not submit to the Conscription act. They ought not to. Any number should volunteer that is called for--like men. They are no better than those that have left. They have no more to leave than I have left. It is their country that calls as well as mine. There is no excuse only cowardice or secesh principles. We are sorry to hear that politics are taking the place of patriotism at the north. At the commencement of this war the blood of the nation was dear to all. It was regretted that it must be shed. Do men so soon become demoralized in our native State? Can they stoop to the lowness to dabble with politics in this their time of need; they had better remember the men that have left their homes, and by withholding their services they may be the means of spilling the blood of their neighbors, for the spirit that is in this part of the army, would never yield to rebels nor any secesh north. This war was begun at the South, and while there is one drop of blood north, it should if necessary, be spilt to bring down the throne that Jeff Davis is building. there is scarcely a day passes without bringing fresh evidence of the cruelty with which suspected union people are treated inside the rebel lines. Without trial or the shadow of justice, they are exposed to the most shameful treatment, robbed and even murdered unarmed. This is the bravery of the South. For instance, let me mention one circumstance that I was knowing of at Brashear City, which we left on the 22d. Berwick on the other side of the bay stands unharmed, the rebels under cover of the buildings ran down one gun, and commenced one night firing on our gun boats, the fire was returned too briskly, and they left. the next morning a flag of truce came requesting the commander of the post not to fire on peaceable citizens, they wanted the protection of the union troops, but allowed the rebels to hide behind the property they wanted us to protect, and never gave us any warning of the approach of our enemy. What is this, the chivalry of the south or the cowardice of which they have a double share?
"Is there a man North that dares to favor the South, let him beware, for the time will come when he will have to hold his peace, and with shame hide from the public, or wither under public opinion. The 114th Reg. all will remember, have friends in Chenango and Madison Counties, and I hope have too much patriotism to let our cause suffer there. Perhaps you all think I am too bitter towards the South. The outrages that have been committed on our troops compel me to wish for the black flag to be raised. Don't think me reckless, but feeling for rebels has left me. The war has continued long enough, but some will say be careful, you may harm some union man south. Now if there is any such that should ever read this, I wish he would come down and find one for me, and do me the favor, to bring with him some white lampblack, which he can find north, if he is smart enough to find a union man within the rebel lines, for I tell you they cannot live there. Now if there is any backslider there that is loosing his first love and his patriotism, let me invite him to look back to the time when the 114th Reg. left there and think of the spirit then manifest; think of the partings of friends, the throbbing hearts, the warm pressure of hands, the patriotic songs, the God speed that was bid us, the warm tears that fell on the clasped hands of parting friends, the sobbing good bye that was scarcely audible, the waving hands as we left our home, the prayers of the aged, and all the blessings given us, and then let him, if he dares prove recreant to the cause, and he is not worthy the name of man--Yet I feel assured that the old proud state of New York will be ever ready to do her duty, and never withhold her helping hand, and if anyone in Oxford should dabble with politics they many be dabbling with the better blood that is in the army."
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