"Correspondence of the Advocate." from the June 11, 1863 Door County Advocate
Correspondence of the Advocate.
FORT MACON, N.C.,
May 14th, 1863.
FRIEND HARRIS: —Accept my thanks for the Advocates you have sent me.—Through them, I find that Door County which is my home is not behind the times, but is advancing towards that future career of prosparity that awaits her.
War has its sway of havoc, desolation and sorrow throughout this fair land, and Door County suffers with the rest of her sisters. But she has one consolation, she will come out of this strife with more wealth, population, and a higher cultivation than when this war first broke out. It is said that a place can be judged by the papers it publishes and I believe it. I never saw a flourishing place, but what would sustain a paper. I hope that both the Advocate and the wealth of Door County will increase in prosperity and flourish like a "green bay tree."
Of course you have heard, we did not take or destroy Charleston, as I wrote you we should in my last. We were then confident that we should succeed. The country is not more disappointed than we soldiers were. If you could but have heard the curses of the soldiers against commanding officers, you would have thought the place might have been taken. But officers in command know best, and we have nothing else to do but obey orders as faithful soldiers.
After our attempt on Charleston proved a failure, we were sent to North Carolina, to help relieve the garrison of Little Washington, but the rebels left, and run as rebels always do, and saved us the trouble of going further than Newbern after them. Gen. Foster, for greater security and safety, then divided his department into three districts, named respectfully, the Neuse, Pamlico and the Albemarle. The command of the Neuse, was given to Gen. Naglee, our old Gen. that led us through the bloody battles of the peninsular. Three companies of the 81st. was sent to garrison fort Macon. The rest of the regiment is doing provost duty, in different parts of the district.
The guns of fort Macon, look frowningly in every direction, and it would be sure death to any body of rebels to try their metal. The rebels considered the fort strong when they possessed it, but it is doubly so now, and if they should have the temerity to make us a visit, they will meet with a hot reception.
Much has been said, speculating as to when this war will close. Perhaps the conclusions of the soldiers may be true, I will write them:
This war will close when the rebels are whipped into submission. If we should compromise, it would only throw the country into a bloodier war at no distance day. We want a peace that is honorable and not a dishonorable bloody compromise. We want a peace so that when we do come home, we can stay at home, and not be found napping in ill judged security. This is what the soldiers want if it takes a lifetime of war. If our friends at home, will only sustain us, we will fight the rebels to our terms, and have a peace that will make this Union what its founders intended a land for the oppressed and homeless of all nations. Then let our friends—the friends of our country—the friends of the people—the friends of the widowed, and fatherless, whose earthly protector was murdered by rebel bullets and whose cold bloody corpse lies mouldering in some southern swamp—sustain us to evenge their fall and teach traitors that the way of treason is hard. If they will only sustain us against the copperhead traitors, till we get home, we will give the latter a lasting quietus, which will make them rue the day, they ever thought of playing into the hands of the rebels, and betraying their country.—Friends sustain your own sons in your own cause.
I see that there is a Union Club started in Door County. That will help us amazingly. It gives us confidence in the people at home, and in our cause.—We shall win.
JOSEPH REMINGTON
Co. D 18st Reg't. N. Y. V.
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WASHINGTON ISLAND, Door Co.,
May 25th, 1863.
Dear Advocate:—We wake up once in a while, and let you know that we are amongst the living. I am happy to say that the staple business of the Islands is flourishing, wood is in good demand at improved prices, and the fish market having recovered from its long depression, is gladdening the hearts of our fisherman with better prices than ever.—We also take pride in reporting that of maple sugar, the Island has produced during the past season, (spring,) 5,800 pounds weight of such sugar as we are not ashamed to brag on. Our farmers too are busy as bees clearing up land and putting in crops, subduing the forest, and widening their farm borders constantly. To all who are homeless, and looking westward, we say come to Door County, and its lovely Islands,—we have plenty of government lands free to settlers, of the choicest kind for soil and timber,—no better can be found in the north western country. We have a good home market for all our produce, as fish, wood and grain, our waters abound with fish, our winters are mild, summers delightful, dame nature has lavished upon us her richest blessings, with everything to please the eye, and gladden the hearts of all, we all live to a good old age, for we have no doctors; we live in peace and unison, for we have no lawyers; so come one and all to our Island home, where a rich harvest awaits your sinewy limbs, and sun burnt brows, and where the evening of your days can be spent in contentment and peace, the rewards of righteousness and industry.
Yours, ever,
D. H. RICE.
Courtesy of the Door County Library Newspaper Archive
[Information about Daniel H. “D. H.” Rice: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/141152082/daniel-h-rice ]
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