The Manitowoc Pilot

What the Soldiers Think.
A Steel-pointed Shot at Mat. Carpenter, Charley Robinson, and Abolitionists generally.
The Iron Brigade Wants More Fighters and less Talkers.
From the Oswego Palladium Sept. 10th.
Camp of 2d Brigade, of 1st Division, 1st A.C., RAPPAHANNOCK STATION, Va.,
September 31, 1863.

Mr. Editor: A copy of the Oswego Times found its way to this camp a day or two since, in which the following extract and comments attracted attention:

"A DOSE FOR COPPERHEADS
At a welcome given in the chamber of commerce at Milwaukee a few days since to Gen. Cutler, the address was made by Mat. H. Carpenter, one of the most prominent democrats of Wisconsin, who, in the course of his remarks flayed democratic copperheads thus:

Tell our brave boys that we have not deserted them; if the love of some has grown cold, they are a minority, growing beautifully less: and the great American liberty-loving heart beats louder and warmer day by day for the Union and the brave army that supports it. Tell them that we pray for them morning and evening, as the ancient church prayed for the soldiers of the cross. Tell them when their work is well done, to return - they will find the throng of people to welcome them intense and enthusiastic. Tell them that at their peaceful coming traitors in the north will flee more rapidly than ever rebels in the south ran before them in the day of battle."

In response, Gen Cutler, among other things said:

If there are any who ever thought of withdrawing their support from the government and the army, let them go to the army and see the men in the field and in the hospitals, and witness the curl of scorn on the lips of the soldiers when such a man is named, and my word for it they will come home cured.

As Gen. Cutler was but recently the commander of this brigade, the soldiers here feel authorized to speak for themselves. They have had abundant experience in "home-made" speeches, by "home-patriots," for mere political effect: and they have come to regard them as heartless, insincere, and hold them and their authors in contempt. Recent developments have demonstrated the death of heart in these home-talkers and professed patriots, when they avow their devotion to the Union, their "support" of the gov. ernment, and sympathy with the soldiers. One touch of practical test has scattered all their talk to the winds, and made their emblazoned professions transparent hypocrisy. The DRAFT has been the touch stone, by which the soldiers have tried these "spouting" fellows. We see these men - when drawn in the lottery of conscription - when the "government" says to them - "come you are the very man we need to help recuperate the army, aid our soldiers in the field, and suppress the rebellion" - then it is we see them turn tail upon all the vehement advocacy of the draft, their avowed "patriotism," support of government, &c, and skulk behind their $300 fee, or a substitute whom they hire for less money, and run home to take shelter in their wives' petticoats: leave the dear Union, the soldiers in the field, the government, all, to shift for themselves, for all any practical aid from them.

Now, we soldiers of the army, would respond to Mr. "Mat. H. Carpenter," and through him to that class of stay at homes of his kidney. You say you "have never deserted us." That is apparent because you were never with us. You talk fair but there is too much of that sort of thing among the "home patriots." It is ALL TALK with you. We of the army would like to see you give some evidence of your faith by works - by coming here and helping to fight the enemy. The rebels scorn your talk and snap their fingers at its impotency, while it renders our duties, exposures and hardships none the less. - But if you will take a musket, "right shoulder shift," and "fall in" our ranks, that will "tell" for the cause you profess. You intimate that your "love" has not "grown cold," as the manner of some is. I imagine your "love" was never very warm for the cause. I doubt if you ever sacrificed a warm meal for that you profess to "love" to such a degree. I do not see how the "love" of others, whom you denounce, can, practically, be any "colder" than yours, and those like you, who stay at home, talk, eat dinners, and repose on pleasant couches. You proclaim that "the great American liberty-loving heart beats louder and warmer day by day for the Union, and the brave army that supports it" But we soldiers do not see it in that light, so far as practically exemplified by you and your class of talking "patriots." We hear what you say. But the Draft, the Draft, Mr. Mat. H. Carpenter & Co., tells a different story.

"The proof of the pudding is the eating of it." We observe that you talking chaps all pay your $300 or hire a substitute for less, and remain at home, leaving the decimated army to fight it out alone. Your "patriotism" may be louder when you talk loud, and warmer when you baste your stomach with good things at home - but what care the rebels for your "patriotism," warm and loud, unless you are down here in the ranks with a musket in your hands. That is the kind of patriotism, and the only kind, on your part, that they respect. "Tell them, you say, (that is the soldiers,)" that we pray for them morning and evening." That is all very easy and very cheap - and you have a soft carpet, doubtless, to kneel upon in your devotions. Prayers are commanded of us, but they are worthless, in this case, without men with muskets in the ranks in front of the enemy.

Will you take a musket Mat. and come down here where you can aid in answering your own prayers? The prayers of yourself and others of the stay at-homes, will never be answered to you, however the heaviest battalions and artillery and prayers of fighting men in the field, may be answered to them. Suffer me to inform you that the soldiers of the army have become nauseated with the empty and cheap professions, specimens of which you have given us. "Tell them," you say, "when their work is well done, to return" - "Their work!" Why our work, more than yours, and others like you? Ah, that is the depth of your patriotic feeling. You intend to remain at home, eat sleep, make money, enjoy your uninterrupted comforts talk patriotic, and leave others to bear the "heat and burden of the day," in the field; and when we have beaten back the rebellion without your aid, forsooth, you are willing to grant us the boon of returning home; and you say you will then welcome us with enthusiasm - inasmuch, I suppose, that you have escaped from the trials and hardships incident to the work that is done.

You add that at our "peaceful coming, traitors in the north will flee," Who do you call traitors? We hear you denouncing men as "copperheads" and "traitors." but what more do you for the cause than they, unless you esteem mere heartless talk and hypocrisy of account. Yes, give no practical aid. You talk well, but skulk by paying your money, when drafted - and they do likewise except the much talking. You vociferously praise the conscript law, and when your drafted come not! They oppose the law and the draft and come not! who, then, are more sincere and honest? Let me tell you, sir when the soldiers return home, the mere blatant "patriot" pretences will have little of their confidence or respect, more than the "traitors" you so flippantly denounce. The substance of the matter seems plainly to us soldiers, that you exclusive, talking, some patriots, are simply playing the demagogue for political effect, and to "put money in your purse," as we have seen it practiced throughout the war.

General Cutler truly says, the soldiers "scorn" the man who would withdraw his "support" from the government. - When we see and know a man, at the north or south. But the soldiers have learned, long since to discriminate between the fact and the malignant charges of demagogues, speculators, and fanatics at home, who have fattened, in the nation's tribulations, out of the substance of the people and the public treasury, and who slander their neighbors with the hope of holding on to their fat places.

A Soldier of the Second Brigade.