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 [[109th New York Volunteer Infantry|Back to 109th New York Infantry]]\\
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+Letter of James M. Williams
+Annapolis Junction, Sep 3, 1862.
+Dear Friend,
+As I am not very well and do not have to go on duty to day. I will try and tell you something about camp life. I enlisted on the 11 day of August at Binghamton, stayed there until August 30. And then we started for the south. And after riding in the cars three days and three nights, and haveing nothing to eat but dry bread and a little beef that had been boiled a week or longer, we arrived at Annapolis Junction, where we pitched our tents...We are in Rebbledom now, only twenty miles from Washington and about the same distance from Bulls run. They are having some hard fighting not far from Washington every day. We don't know how long before we shall have to fight. There are about 600 guerillas within three or four miles of here that we expect will attack us in a few days. Let them come. We are ready for them. We will try and do them justice if they do come..." The 109th NY Infantry was infamous for its aggressive fighting. Williams also describes hardship conditions, "...after riding in the cars for three days and three nights and having nothing to eat but dry bread and a little beef that had been boiled a week or longer we arrived at Annapolis Junction where we pitched our tents and put up for the night...Our bill of fare consists of potatoes and boiled beef without any salt, and a very little of that, and have to eat it with our fingers and jacknives. We have no plates or knives or forks. It is hard to be a soldier..."
+https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/2052675_1124-civil-war-soldier-letter-signed-als-ny-infantry
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+//Binghamton (NY) Broome Republican//, April 8, 1863
+Camp Laurel, MD., March 8.
+Mr. Editor: I am sorry that it is not in my power to communicate something of interest relative to the war. And the only thing encouraging, that occurs to the mind, is to use the expression of Artemus War - "that the Government is about to take rigorous measures for the prosecution of the war. And also that Washington is safe. And all is quite along the lines." But to the point.
+Let me enquire of you how those Peace parties prosper among you. Those men who are so highly susceptible of sympathy for the suffering soldiers, and who so highly honor and congratulate them for their bravery and their devotion to their country. How I wish that their conduct toward their country and the soldiers, might demand the same compliment; but in justice to the government, to the soldiers be it known to those men and to all whom it may concern, that their sympathies thus expressed are not received with favor or thankfulness. Neither are we ignorant of the effect which they intend for Secession. Therefore in behalf of the soldiers, tell them for us, that we ignore and repudiate their pity for us in any such form. We ask not for their pity, and if tendered, should not consider it any more genuine than though it came from Jeff. Davis himself. Their sympathies are with him, or they would not be so over anxious that we should stop fighting secession. They may consider that they do us honor by calling their Peace Conventions, but we consider them insults. Not that we prefer the continuation of this war, not that we have long the desire for the society of our families and friends at home, not that we think ourselves braver than other men; but in honor and justice to the heroes who have already fallen upon the battlefield, for the preservation of the Government, through whose veins flowed the best blood of our country, in honor to them we refuse to compromise short of a complete victory. All the favor we ask is that the people professing loyalty, will show it by precept and example, and thus hold up the soldier's hands, and the day will soon be won, and the victory ours.
+Let Northern rebels beware how they undertake to barter our rights away, lest there comes upon them a day of retribution. For Secession must and shall be put down, both North and South.
+They talk of compromising with Secession after so much of our country's best blood has drenched the soil of Rebellion, and so many patriots have found grave in the domains of Jeffdom; so many fireside been made desolate, so many kindred ties have been broken forever; so many companions whose future hopes have been blasted, and the coming days of life made a burden; so many orphan children whose wails can be heard all over the land, and while suffering humanity still cries for justice, those mean sneaking, cowardly, deceptive demagogues, propose to disgrace our nationality by urging a compromise with rebellion, thus legalizing rebellion to be repeated in coming time and future generations. Let them put their hands upon their mouths, and cry [...], and like men grasp their fire-arms and rush to the rescue of their country and the soldiers for whom they would deign make it appear their sympathies are so much stirred.
+But my attention has been called to another [...] who in the beginning spared no pains to secure to themselves the cloak of Union, the object of which was best known to themselves, and the time, but has revealed itself more plainly as days and months have worn away. I allude to those men who in the beginning of this war cried war the longest and loudest, until they were called upon to do something to carry on the war, and then like the noble peacock that got a glimpse of his uncomely feet, their patriotism met with sudden death, and when true patriots were flocking around the old flag, jealous of its safety and honor, their patriotism has sadly degenerated.
+At different times it has shown itself in different ways. In discouraging enlistments and in swindling volunteers out of hard earnings, previous to their enlisting, but their disloyalty shows itself the clearest, when they encourage desertion, and furnish clothes and money for them, thus to cheat and swindle the government out of the money which it has freely donated to all who might become its friends and defenders. And again circumstances have show to the satisfaction of thousands that there is still another set of patriots. A class who are intent upon saving the Union at almost any sacrifice. They did not seem to be in circumstances to go to the war, but were quite willing everybody else should go, and to make the idea more tolerable for those inclined to go, they were not slow to answer, yes to almost any favor requested for the relief of families of volunteers, when they never intended to perform one thing, or redeem one promise, but will spend more time and money to obtain a certificate of exemption from draft, than it would take to keep every promise they made. But I am inclined to thing that the little article which Congress manufactured very recently, known as the Conscript Act, will have a tendency to bring them to time.
+Yours truly,\\
+RICHARD MONROE,\\
+Co. D. 109th Reg.,  N. Y. S. V.
+{{ :109th_ny:binghamton_ny_broome_republican_04_08_1863.jpg?linkonly|}}
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Howard County, MD in the Civil War

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