1 Bucks County
Intelligencer, From the 104th Regiment, P. V.
April 14, 1863 Page 3 Col. 3 1
LETTERS FROM THE ARMY.
From the 104th Regiment, P. V.
ST. HELENA ISLAND, S. C., March 31, 1863.
Messrs. Editors :—Full accounts of the great Union
meetings held in Philadelphia, New York and through-
out the Free States have been read by soldiers of this
Department in different papers. Every newspaper that
has reached us, contained full reports of the speeches de-
livered at these gatherings of the loyal masses, by the
leading men of the country of all parties, except the
“Doylestown Democrat.” The heart of the soldier is
gladdened on reading these important news,—we term
this intelligence news, because an effort has been made by
the traitors, alias “ copperheads “ of the North, to instill
into the minds of the soldiers that the Administration
would not be sustained by the majority of the people—
that the President’s great war measures would not be
supported, and that they might soon meet with hostile op-
position. This, every soldier knows would bring war to
their quiet moral homes, and knowing what real war is,
casts a gloom over the present enacting drama. The sol-
diers know what they are fighting for better than copper-
head Democracy can teach them ; they know that our
cause is just, that malicious traitors have assailed the Gov-
ernment without any just cause or provocation, and
that conquer we must. It is also known in the army that
the Union’s most dangerous enemy is the cowardly, skulk-
ing traitors at home, who are deluding the people by mis-
representing the war. the President and his efforts to
crush the rebellion. Yes! they do worse by violating the
first teachings of their childhood—if such teachings they
have had—and condescend to plain lying to gain their
hellish ends. Cowards we despise; we would rather meet
these cowardly, malignant traitors upon the field of bat-
tle with their particular friends of the South, than have
them skulking through the Free States, doing that which
Satan is ashamed to attempt and acting as his aide-de
camp.
The speeches of Gov. Johnson, Ex-Governor Wright,
Mr. Dickinson, Mr. Van Buren, Mr. Brady and of all
prominent Union men, are inquired for and eagerly read
by the soldiers with cheering results ; and they should be
much more largely circulated in the army than they
have been here.
Dr. Mendenhall apparently does not believe in Union
meetings—we know Jeff. Davis, an open traitor, does not.
He treats these loyal greetings by calling them “ A new
dodge,” and proceeds to inform his readers what “ the
Abolition party” is doing. From this we infer that all
active Union men are “ abolitionists,” and that the Union
League is an “abolition” arrangement. Admitting this
and more to be true, the Democratic party, at least its
leading men, has taken an active part with this “ Abolition
party.” Doctor, do you not know that the speakers of
these great meetings with one or two exceptions were life-
long Democrats? Calling Democrats Abolitionists is ev-
idently “a new dodge.”
Loyal men do not care what rebel sympathizers call
them ; they have but one object in view, and that is to
save the Union and our free institutions. Judging from
what the pro tempore editor calls “a new dodge,” we
believe that new and important strategic movements are
being made in the North—not McClellan strategy, nor
a great strategic flank movement that will find the peo-
ple on the banks of James river, protected by United
States gun-boats in mud up to their knees after a heavy
July rain, but such movements as will save the Union
and cause traitors to pass rapidly into oblivion.
We are getting tired of this Island and long for a
change, we have concluded that Dr. M., of the Democrat,
is in want of a special reporter in Rebeldom to report se-
cesh speeches for the columns of the Democrat. Vallan-
digham, Cox and Stiles are retiring for the campaign, and
it is necessary for the success of the “cause” that his
paper should be supplied with the “article” by some one,
consequently as soon as we fully resolve to change our
base of operations and mode of living, we will make a
further excursion into Dixie, and act as volunteer re-
porters for the Doylestown Democrat. My friends say
that I can get the job, providing I report the best that are
made ; some people believe that Ex-Hon. Cox makes the
best and I will not find a more superior secesh speech-
maker in Rebeldom. We will see. This we regard as a
fine opportunity for a young man to distinguish himself
during the gubernatorial campaign, as Mendenhall has
apparently determined not disgrace the Democrat by
publishing Union speeches.
The weather for the last two days has been like the
vain people in England, rather unfriendly, with rain and
chilly easterly wind, making camp life unpleasant for
the time. The Chaplain’s good work continues with in-
creased success,—last Sunday, at the evening meeting,
over twenty persons were baptised, and it is having a
very good effect among all in the regiment. We learn, by
private letters and papers, that there is much sickness
and many deaths among our people at home, proportion-
ally more than in the army, considering our manner of
living and frequent exposure. Except cold’s, the health
of our regiment continues good. This is a gala day for the
104th, our urbane paymaster Major Mason, is here paying
(line unreadable). The
“Greenbacks” are very plentiful, and our sutler M.E.
Jenks, is “ gobbling ‘em up” in large quantities. Those
in the North who have been eagerly expecting active op-
erations in this Department, will have they desire grati-
fied soon—before this is read probably. We have un-
bounded confidence in Gen. Hunter—his heart and soul are
in the cause for which he is fighting. We are now being
paid for four months. UNION.