Mr. Lincoln's War - - - printer-friendly version
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Lookout Valey Dec 2nd 1863
Dear Wife
...How is it with your friends the Desserters, are they still lurking around,
a part of the time lying in the woods for fear of the Marshall & at all
times ashamed to see the face of an honest & honorable man, or have they
all gone to that bourn of refugees & niggers-Canada; one or two of them
served up in the presence of the regiment might serve as a warning to others
but the punishment to them too slight, Death by musketry in the hands of true
and Loyal men engaged in the defence of their country, is to honorable, rather
let them suffer through a long life the upbraidings of their own guilty concience
& the execrations & contempt of ther fellow men. However I hope that
thare will be an oportunity offered by government this winter for them to
return to duty & that they will be wise enough to profit by it.
yours as ever
John C. Griswold