1              Bucks County Intelligencer, From the 104th Regiment.  October 7, 1862  Page 1  Col. 3              1

 

LETTERS FROM OUR VOLUNTEERS.

From the 104th Regiment.

GLOUCESTER POINT, Va., Sept. 20, 1862.

Messrs. Editors :—Another week has passed since I

last wrote to you, and we still live untouched or unhurt. 

We still have plenty to eat and plenty to do.  Work,

work to do is still before us.  We must have the fort in

good repair before the foe attacks us, and, when done, we

are ready to meet them if they dare to show themselves.

But if what news we hear is true, and our army is still

giving them battle, and pressing hard upon them, we will

not have to meet such an overwhelming force, for they

will be pretty much snowed under by the time they get

this far back.  We are at work nearly every day except

when in picket, in repairing the fort.  We are having it

fixed up in a nice condition.  We are having or going to

have it well mounted with good and heavy guns—g uns

that will mark every time they hit, and tell, too.  We

are having a delightful rain, and with it enjoying our-

selves in writing—some to their fond mothers, some to

their dear wives, and some to a sweet and loving lady,

who responds to a noble and just cause, one who lends a

helping hand in this hour of her trials and afflictions.—

Since I last wrote to you I have been visiting our Secesh

neighbors, and to see what I could purchase of them in

the eating line.  One family I found were very strong in

their secession sentiments; they were against us, and not

afraid to tell us that they thought we had no right to

trespass upon their soil and cut down their time ; but

did they say they had a right to secede ?  No ; and they

could not have said so without a cause, and cause they

have none.

Your interesting and the best paper in Bucks, was re-

ceived in camp on Fifth-day (18th), and its columns were

eagerly perused—particularly the columns containing

the names of those who are trying to escape the draft. 

Will they all escape by having a sore toe, a bad leg, weak

in the back, and sick occasionally ?  Such men as these

should be sent forward at once.  They are not fit to live

in a land of freedom and enjoy the happiness of being

free.  When will men think as they should think ? when

will they do as they should do ?  Will they go and get

exempt, and let the rebels invade our own State and coun-

try, before they are willing to take up arms and go and

help defend their own soil ?  Will they go and make such

excuses when their country is in danger of being invaded,

their property destroyed, and their home made desolate ? 

Are such men as these men who love their country ? are

they men who would help sustain the Union ? are they

men who wish this rebellion crushed and ended ?  Are they

men who are willing to help us, or are they such as

would assist the rebels ?  Shame upon such men; after

peace shall have been restored to our bleeding country. 

Shame to such men, who will not assist us to end this

wicked war, so that all may return to their homes and

enjoy the happiness of living in peace once more.  Shame

upon such men, who stay at home and read the papers,

and see thousands of men slaughtered day after day, and

still say they are not able to endure the hardships of a

soldier’s life.  They will go and get exempted.  What if

they do not get exempted ?  Why they have to go, if

called upon.  Go they must, and there is no getting out

of it.  I know there are some who are not fit for soldiers. 

I know there are some who cannot well leave their

homes ; but there are enough that can well be spared, at

such times as these at least.                                  T. C.

GLOUCESTER PONT, Va., September 24th, 1862.

Messrs. Editors :—The gladdening intelligence of

victory has again reached us.  How it animates the droop-

ing spirit and invigorates the desponding heart.  Its cheer-

ing effect can be read upon every countenance.  For

victory, (let it cost what it may,) every soldier aspires—

always ready to endure hardships; brave danger and face

the foe at the point of the bayonet for that, the precious

object of his aspirations.  Though it converts the usual

quietness of many families into mourning, upon it rests

the future weal or woe of our country.  Victory must

crown our arms if our cause is to succeed.  Yet we may

consider victory too dear, owing to the many valuable

lives it costs, but we must remember that no great object

is attained without heavy loss and many sacrifices.  By

considering the great object we have at issue in the

present contest, these losses should be born with fortitude,

knowing that those who fall defending their country, die

in defence of a noble object, and that their names and

deeds will be remembered as long as we can boast of

being a free people.  Bucks county has lost another

worthy son by the death of Colonel Croasdale.  I served

with him in the ranks, knew him to be a young man of

worth, with a bright and promising prospect before him. 

He died defending his country among the brave !

Captain J. Reed Orem had his resignation accepted and

left for home last Thursday.  Capt. Orem has not been

able to do duty since the battle of Fair Oaks, owing to a

wound he received in that battle.  The Captain is a

gentlemen and was a brave and gallant officer, and his

absence I much regretted.  Nothing of interest has taken

place during the past week the men continue at work on

the fort.  Fatigue, guard and picket duty keep the men

engaged.  We have had but very little drilling since here

except the wheelbarrow drill.  Last Thursday morning

the steamer “ New York,” moored to the wharf and a

company was detailed to disembark cannon and ammuni-

tion, under the supervision of Lieut. Carver, (ordnance

officer for this post,) intended as the armament for the

fort.  Some of the guns were put in position, but since

the work is lying idle, which is owing to a countermand

of orders at headquarters.  Since, I understand, the guns

were designed for the works at Yorktown and they found

their way here through mistake, and that they must be

taken to Yorktown.  The regiment has been furnished

with new Sibley tents, which will add much to the com-

fort of the men’s quarters.  Nearly all the schooners and

brigs lying in the river had their sails spread this morn-

ing, and soon left.  Some of them were here since our

arrival.  There is but little shipping in the river at

present.  Two gun-boats are lying off the Point and York-

town.                                                      L. H. M.


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