Franklin County: William Tell Barnitz to the
Pennsylvania Daily Telegraph, March 27, 1863
Summary:
Barnitz writes a very patriotic letter that sings the praises of the Union and
the defeat of the Copperheads. He talks about the inevitable defeat of the
Confederacy and discusses the presence of contraband slaves in the Union camps.
He also commends the ex-slaves for being eager to learn and expresses his
support for African-American troops, whom he describes as more brave and
honorable than their copperhead adversaries.
Pennsylvania Daily Telegraph
March 27, 1863
NEWBERN, N.C.
Like the tocsin peal of victory the news of the resurrection of Northern patriotism broke upon us a few days ago; and oh! the enthusiasm that burst out in every camp! Every face beamed with gladness, every heart was lightened of its depairing burden. No victory however great and splendid, even to the taking of Richmond, could have occasioned such universal joy and mutual good feeling among the patriotic soldiers. Here and there, to be sure, some sneaking leech, who foisted himself upon the Government, in order to have the opportunity of breeding discontent among the men, the effect of which would redound to the disadvantage of the Government, or, as in a multitude of cases, to insure a living, which the party at home could no longer vouchsafe, would skulk along with hang-dog look and sullen mien, discovering his vicious heart and traitorous feeling; but, generally, there was joy -- open, beaming joy -- and from ten thousand hearts went up a thankful prayer for the awaking of the patriots so long dormant, or who had been regarding our life struggles with a morbid indifference, though they saw the fabric of our Union shaking on its foundation and almost ready to totter to ruins. Since Beauregard's proclamation, exhorting his hosts to call all Union men Abolitionists, his allies in the North, seeing that thus they could deceive the masses and array them against the Government, spreading discontent and sowing disaffection broadcast, took up the cry, and every true patriot -- every one whe favored the vigorous prosecution of the war, the confiscation of rebel property, or the subjugation of the rebels, the only possible means of crushing the rebellion -- was trumpeted forth as an Abolitionist and execrated as an enemy of liberty. Indeed so utterly blinded were many of their followers -- so utterly and hellishly belied, betrayed and deceived -- that they would have seen our armies annihilated, and rejoiced, and would have thrown themselves in the way for that arch-traitor, Jeff Davis, to ride over in his triumphal entry to our Capital. But, thank God, the film has fallen from their eyes in good time, the bubble of treachery and deceit has burst, and clearer, brighter skies glow around us; and was it not wonderful that men of substance, self-deluded, tarried so long upon the mine that threatened every day to explode and engulf them and their all in an abyss so deep that all the energies of posterity for ten centuries could not resurrect them! We do not realize the terrors and calamities that anarchy spreads when a nation falls under her rule; neither can we appreciate the struggles and difficulties attendant upon the organization of new institutions, else these hell hounds who have been plotting the destruction of our temple of liberty, cemented by the blood of our fathers and reared at so great a cost of life and agony, would now be hanging on every tree, objects for the execration and loathing of patriots all over the civilized world.
Let the fires of liberty, rekindled, be kept steadily burning; let that patriotic association, the Union League, be established in every city, town and township throughout the North, gathering together men of every name and party, where sentiments fresh from the fountains of truth and loyalty may be interchanged, and where, like Marius, true men may pledge themselves upon the altars to freedom, and swear to live or die for their country. Then may the traitor demons plot, and howl, and lie, and hiss, as they see their hopes of agrarianism, dissolution and anarchy scattered to the winds; the army of the Union increased, inspirited, jubilant will march on from victory to victory, crush the last stronghold of rebellion and show to the world that a republic has with in itself a self-sustaining power -- that princes were not born to rule, and nations only to obey.
Last night our pickets were again driven in; our brave boys dashed off after the rebs, but in asmuch as we have heard no firing, we presume they have vamosed as usual.
There are about 8,000 contrabands here, working on the railroad, cutting wood, and raising a regiment of volunteers. Philanthropists from the North have opened schools for the instruction of the youth, and the avidity and ease with which they study and learn, is truly surprising; how their eyes glitter with every new discovery, with what satisfaction they enter the school room, how attentive, as if they feared some beautiful would escape their notice; it humbles one to see the efforts these youth put forth to attain knowledege, and it is a grand omen for the amelioration of the race. As soldiers they evince the same traits, attentive, active, quick to learn, ambitious, and, above all, courageous; and I will guarantee when put in the field, they will surprise even the cowardly copperheads, whose superiors they are, in everything constituting manliness, worthiness and honor! The Union is safe! The rebellion will be crushed in six months, and these unchained people, fierce under the stings of recent goads, will dash down before the nabobs, who have kept them in eternal bondage, ignorance and degredation, for their own gratification, to administer to their own selfish wants. What a fearful retribution will be visited upon these traitors, who, like satan, dissatisfied with prosperity, with a government the most benignant ever known, with civil immunities and privileges, unknown to other nations, and with an enslaved race to produce the necessaries of life, to jump at their bidding, to fan them while they slept, and tremble when they woke -- who thus favored, thus pampered, attempted at one fell blow to dash down their government, and establish one exclusive as China, proscriptive as Spain, with nigger heads and hearts for foundation, pillar, and dome.
Our regiment, the 158th, is in high, good spirits and health, though deploring the abscence of our gallant Colonel D. B. M'Kibbin, who on the night of our search for the rebs, near White Oak river, while riding through the forest, broke the fibula of his right ankle, his horse having gotten his foot into a port hole and fallen upon him.
Adieu.
WM. TELL BARNITZ
