Chenango American, Greene, NY, September 5, 1861
Headquarters 17th Regiment, N.Y.V., Camp Jane, Near Ft. Ellsworth, Alexandria, VA. Aug. 27, 1861
Friend Frank: I received the Chenango American a few days ago, and your kind invitation for me to write you.
As the regiment to which our company is attached, has as yet been engaged in no fight, correspondence from me will not be as interesting as from those who can describe the excitement and horrors of battle, and yet as our company is from your county, and quite a number of its members from your section of the county, an occasional note of our affairs may not be wholly uninteresting to many of your readers.
You cannot tell how rejoiced I am at the tenor of the articles in your paper. From the commencement of the issue in 1855, I have been its constant reader, and until the past Presidential campaign, it has been my "style" politically; and even last fall, I could but admire its candor and National course, although of different political preferences. But political days have passed. Now it is the duty of all good citizens to rise above the partizan, and lose sight of all else save the struggle in which we are now engaged, to enforce the laws, maintain the constitution, and preserve the Union.
From the attack on Sumter, you have not ceased to declare this a causeless rebellion, and one without a parallel in history. While other journals have been abetting the cause of the rebels by opposition to the Government, and cries of "peace" and "compromise", you have declared that the sword wielded by strong arms, and bullets sighted by unerring yes, the only set element, till that monster, Secession, shall have buried its hydra head.
"Compromise!" That word which six months ago was to me the synonym of returning happiness to our country, is now the bitter drug which can be coupled only with treason, submission and recognition. The cries of "peace" heralded by the tory journals of the north, is but a delusion, and will, if followed, (which God forbid) be the ignis butuus, leading all who follow into the swamps and quicksands of disunion! They cry peace - peace - when there is no peace. The blood of patriots endeavoring to defend the fray, has been shed by patricidal hands, and now those who should buckle on the armor and swear an unceasing war until the shades of those dead ones are satisfied, sneak behind the delusive phantom of peace, to aid the rebels in this unholy rebellion. There were tories in '76; there are tories in '61 - and however much they may attempt to disguise the truth - the cloven foot will discover itself. I hear from my friends in Norwich that there are a few tories (I cannot call them traitors, for they never were loyal) who proclaim their hostility to the Government and the war. 'Twas useless to write their names, for I could have guessed who they were. They are men who have nothing involved, and nothing to lose. They had neither honor nor character at stake, and, thank God, their influence is no more than their principle, and it really matters little which side they espouse. Mob law I am opposed to, and yet if the civil law will not reach their cases, I would declare martial law in Norwich, and ornament the trees with these rare specimens. If the people of that peaceful town cannot attend to their cases they had better turn them over to us, and although the various regiments around us are cutting down the woods and groves, yet they leave now and then a tree on which such "jewels" might be suspended. By all means send them here.
Eight companies of our Regiment are encamped just outside of Fort Ellsworth, and two companies are within it. It is under the control of the 17th. I, of course, cannot describe this Fort to you, as all descriptions and diagrams of any word of this kind are strictly forbidden. Perhaps at some future time when such a description can in no way possibly do injury, I may give you a description of it.
The Chenango Company is doing well, and I think in every way equal (except in numbers) to any other company in the regiment.
Captain Tyrrell and Sergeant Clancy have gone to Chenango to recruit. Any from your section who may wish to aid in the cause of sustaining the Government have now an opportunity, and I can assure them that this company is attached to as good a regiment as has left New York. You have probably seen the opinions of the New York press regarding the 17th. The Field officers are men of military education, and have an eye to the welfare of their command. I should much like to see a number of Greene boys, on the return of our recruiting officers. Pay to commence at the date of enlistment, and uniform furnished as soon as they arrive. Please do what you can for us.
Having nothing of interest to communicate, I have spun this yarn to a good length. I shall not write to trouble you again till I have something of importance to communicate, like a battle and half the company killed, for instance. But rest assured when anything of real interest does occur you shall not be the last to learn it.
Yours for the War, E.P.P.
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