Thursday, August 2, 2012

1862 August 3 Martinsburg, Va.

Martinsburg Va
Aug. 3d 1862

Dear Friends
It being
Sunday and having a little
spare time I thought that
I could not improve a few
minutes better than in
writing you.  I am well
and hope these few lines
may find you all the
same.  I suppose that
you are harvesting now
a days.  I should like to
be with you to help you
put up the grain.  But
I cannot and must be
content to stay where I am
and write you.  The weather
is pleasant & all goes well
in Camp.  No exciting
news just now.

[page 2]
I believe the most
that interests us just now in
the way of news is the draft
draft in Ills.  When you
write I want you to tell
me all about the draft &
what is being done at
Genesee  Who wants to
enlist now and who
are going to stand the
draft.  I hope that every
young man who is not
married will be drafted.
They have no excuse to
be found in the lurch
at such a time as this and
when they are needed
so bad down here.  Why
do they stay and still hold
back?  Is it because
of cowardice or is it because
they dont want to leave
home?  Certainly they all
had an excuse when
I enlisted for it did

[page 3]
appear then that their Service
would be needed, but
now the whole country
calls and begs of them
to enlist and help put
down this Rebellion and
still they will not come to
our aid The Lord knows
it is high time an end
was put to these troubles
Why not come out as one
united people and Push
this war to the very gates
of Southern homes?  There
is no need of thinking
about enjoyment at home
in the north while such
a war is being carried
on in our land.  the cry
or call for more troops at
this momentous time of

[page 4]
the war is imperitive[sic]
and should recieve a wel-
come response from every
loyal citizen of the
north. The South are
turning out to a man--
and are meeting us in "en
massee" and why not meet
them boldly and avenge
the wrongs already done
God knows our cause
it is just and we have
the means to punish traitors
Now let us do it, and
Save all future posterity
from the gulf of ruin
The Signs of the times are
dark, but than there is al-
ways a dark hour before
day break; hence let us
live and fight in hopes
if we are beaten in despair.
To continue the war is entirely useless
or to permit it to continue rather

[incomplete letter of William Henry Redman, Co. C, 12th Illinois Cavalry]

MSS 7415


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