1 Bucks County Intelligencer,  The Soldiers for Curtin—Letters from the 104th Regiment.  September 22, 1863  Page 2  Col. 2

 

The Soldiers for Curtin-Letters from the

104th Regiment.

The same patriotic impulses that have led such

distinguished men as Generals Butler, Rosecrans,

Dix, Burnside, and Cochrane to cast off the fetters of

party and to declare themselves unconditionally in

favor of the preservation of the Union, no matter

what may happen to the traitors, are felt among

the men who fill the ranks of our armies everywhere. 

Thousands upon thousands who went out as Demo-

crats, are now heart and soul with the Administra-

tion on the question of putting down the rebellion. 

We have repeatedly published letters from the army,

which sustain this view to the fullest extent.  Wher-

ever Pennsylvania troops are found, the deepest in-

terest is felt in the election now pending in this State,

and the most earnest hope is expressed that Governor

Curtin may be successful.

The 104th Regiment, mostly raised in Bucks coun-

ty, is now engaged with Gen. Gillmore, in active

operations before the very citadel of treason.  Yet

the men composing it cannot repress their feeling

of anxiety as to the result of the grand contest to

come off at home.  They appear to be aware of the

fact that it is just as important that the allies of the

rebels should be routed in Pennsylvania, as it is that

Charleston itself should be taken.  If Pennsylvania

is lost, Charleston will be a worthless prize.  We

have late intelligence from the 104th, giving us some

particulars of the state of feeling in several com-

panies of the regiment.

In Company B, now commanded by Captain

Theophilus Kephart, there are 51 men—of whom 45

are for Curtin, 2 for Woodward, and 4 neutral.—

Our correspondent says:—“ You will find that Cur-

tin has a very large majority in the army.  Copper-

headism is played out; and the idea that the Dem-

ocrats have all the soldiers is a hoax.  The voice of

the army is for crushing the rebellion, and we are

going to do it.”

Company C, at first commanded by Capt. W. W.

Marple, and now by Lieut. Scarborough, has 49

men—all but one of whom are for Curtin.  Several

of them were Democrats before they left home, but

they go for their country now.  If an election could

be lawfully held in the Company, Curtin would get

every vote.  All the men feel the warmest interest

in his success.

Company D, commanded by Capt. Swartzlander,

was raised in the upper end of Bucks county, and

nearly all the men were Democrats.  There are 32

or 33 men in the company who have a right to vote,

and twenty-nine of them are now in favor of Andrew

G. Curtin.  A member of the company writes us :—

“Our company is all right for Curtin, the soldier’s

friend ; and the other Pennsylvania troops in this Depart-

ment.  Gov. Curtin is very much beloved, and every

soldier from the old Keystone has reason to feel

proud of him.  Our men are only sorry they have no

chance to vote for him.  If the people at home don’t

believe it, they should let the soldiers vote, and they

would soon find out what we think of him.”

In Company F, commanded by Capt. Alfred Mar-

ple, there are 40 legal voters, at present—every man

of whom would vote for Andrew G. Curtin if he had

a chance.  The Captain says:—“Our men entertain

too much respect for the honor of Pennsylvania, I

hope, to have their names associated with that de-

testible hunker portion of the Democratic party that

is throwing obstacles in the way of the efficient pros-

ecution of the war, because a majority of the people

in the exercise of a great constitutional right chose

to elect a President whose views upon national ques-

tions did not coincide with theirs.”

In Company K, under Captain Pickering, there are

now 30 legal voters—26 of whom are for Gov. Curtin,

and 4 in favor of Woodward.  Quite a number of the

men in this company are War Democrats, but they

say that Curtin is the man for them.

Under the decision of Judge Woodward, the seces-

sion candidate for Governor, the soldiers of the State

have no right to hold elections in their camps.—

Could they do so, the result would be fatal to his

aspirations.  The relatives and friends of our gallant

soldiers, who are at home and can vote, should act

according to their views.  As our soldiers would

vote, so let us vote.  The men who do the fighting

for the country are opposed to the peace candidate

for Governor.  Let ups uphold them with all our

might by electing a man who has always stood by

them, and who has done his utmost to assist the

National Government in its mighty task of putting

down the rebellion.