1           Bucks County Intelligencer, From the Ringgold Regiment.  January 21, 1861  page 2  Col.3           1

 

From the Ringgold Regiment.

[A soldier in the Ringgold Regiment, one who we are con-

vinced enlisted for the war because he regarded the integrity

of the Union and the preservation of the Government of more

consequence than slavery, and who earnestly desires to see the

rebels attacked on all sides and at every vulnerable point; gives

vent to his honest sentiments in the subjoined epistle.  They

are the opinions of a brave, blunt, frank soldier, in regard to

the causes and objects of the present war, which we know are

shared by hundreds of his companions in arms; who are willing

to lay down their lives for the Union, and who scout at the

idea that the “ Abolitionist” are responsible for the Southern

rebellion.  The noble sentiments expressed by the write con-

trast strongly with the milk and water, pro-slavery articles

which of late have found their way into the columns of the

Doylestown Democrat, which is now bidding for the support and

countenance of those who are at heart opposed to the prosecu-

tion of the war in such a manner as to secure the speediest

suppression of the slaveholders’ rebellion :]

CARVER’S BARRACKS, MERIDIAN HILL,

January 16, 1862.

Messrs. Prizer & Darlington :—In times like these,

when the freedom of a great people is threatened and

the government convulsed to its foundation, it may be

supposed that every inquiring mind will inquire into the

cause of all this trouble, and what means may be intro-

duced in order to restore the land to peace and harmony

again.  I heard it remarked, yesterday, that the Slavery

agitation was the cause of all our present National

troubles.  Thousands believe it to be the sole cause. 

How can it be ?  We have boasted of being a free people,

allowed to think and act as we please, subject only to our

liberal laws.  Such being the case, has one man a right to

declare war against the thoughts and language of another

man concerning any subject.  We admit that a certain

class of our citizens, have from time to time, talked about

the evils appertaining to slavery.  Their opinions con-

cerning the “ peculiar institution “ did not meet the slave-

holders not only assailed us in the halls of the National

Legislature, but in every quarter.  They did all in  their

power to maintain the suling of our government, and

dictate for us ; but after years of bitter experience, they

found that we were a progressive people—a people im-

bued with the love of freedom and the cause of humanity.

Their dictates we bid defiance, we voted, thought, talked,

acted and slept as we pleased.  We opposed slavery as a

ruler, because we found it derogatory to the interests and

well being of our common country.  We knew that we

had a right to express our sentiments upon the the sub-

ject of slavery ; we availed ourselves of that right.  We

did what we could for the advancement of freedom and

general enlightenment among our fellow citizens.  We

considered that in so doing we were discharging a sacred

duty, a duty that we owed to our God and our country. 

Those who generally think for themselves once a year,

are charging us with the cause of this war.  They charge

that our present troubles rests with us.  Vain and

deluded people !  Who was it that fired the first shell

over the ramparts of fort Sumpter and kindled the un-

dying flame of patriotism among thousands in the loyal

North, who love freedom ?  Was it Wendell Phillips or

Gerritt Smith ?—the defenders of human justice.  Facts,

which the historian will record for the benefit of future

generations, will compel you to answer in the negative. 

Every person, who with an unprejudiced mind, investi-

gates the facts concerning the origin of this war, which

was forced upon us, will at once be convinced that the

Slave Power inaugurated it without any reason.  They

must have grown tired of the government of our fathers,

that the will of the majority shall rule ; or, were only

willing to stand by that time honored principle as long as

it resulted in their favor.

This war is one of the fruits of slavery, which has been

cherished by thousands in the free States, and by the

Government.  We are now beginning to feel its terrible

and blighting effects in reality.  Those who advocated

the measures held forth by the slaveholders of the South,

because they could not see anything wrong in connection

with the “ institution,” must certainly begin to see the

error of their way.  Slavery is only costing us about two

millions of dollars per day at present.  It has already

cost us the lives of many citizens and friends.  It has

stagnated our commerce and destroyed the peace and

prosperity of once happy America.  Who will deny the

fact that the power of slavery is this day arrayed against

the power of freedom in this country ?  Freedom and

slavery are at war !  Thousands of America’s brave sons

may fall in this contest for human freedom.  You, advo-

cates of slavery and enemies of our Government, may

say as a pretext, that the South was imposed upon.  (I

presume that a few lessons “ on the cause of this rebel-

lion” from a well informed teacher will dispel those

hallucinated ideas ) for what way have they been im-

posed upon we humbly ask ?  We never told them that

they must free their slaves or we would bring destruction

upon them, but simply advised them to do so for their

own interest.  We never robbed arsenals and stole cannon

for the purpose of waging war against the slaveholders

to compel them to free their slaves, but we obeyed their

dictates “ forbearance ceased to be a virtue.”  For

all this, we anti-slavery men are charges with the cause

of this slavery rebellion.  Can men in these days of

general enligtenment, who have enjoyed the privileges

of our free school system, bring such silly and wicked

charges against us ?  Common sense dictates otherwise !

SOLDIER

[From a letter received in Doylestown last week, from a

member of the regiment, dated Carver’s Barracks, January 15,

we gather the following information :]

It has snowed, rained and hailed here at different in-

tervals for several days past, and it still continues.  There

is quite a sleet on the ground now—it would make good

sleighing in Bucks county, but such a good thing as a sleigh I

have not seen here.  We have not yet got our pay, due

the first of the year.  There has been quite a change in

our officers ; this in all probability will make a change in

Col. Davis’s arrangements, for I understand that Gen.

Casey’s division is to assist in opening the blockade of the

Potomac, which is to take place in a few days.  Our boys

are anxious for the job.  We have had visitors from dif-

ferent regiments, and they all say that they are very

tired of waiting here in suspense.  We have received our

new guns ; they landed here yesterday ,and we will soon

be fitted out for any duty we may be called upon to per-

form.  An officer said in my presence that it was his

opinion that we will be sent off this week.  Gilver Mol-

comb, Theodore Briggs and Samuel Hibbs, of Bucks

county, have been paying us a visit.  Chalkey Wor-

thington has just arrived here.