Good For Him!

Letter  to Henry Bitner, Chambersburg, PA, from Alexander Cressler, (as found as www.familytales.org). Cressler is a McClellan fan, to say the least.

July 15, 1861, Chambersburg, PA


It is reported to day that Gen McClellan has routed the Secessionist entirely, and taken about sixteen hundred prisoners, "good for him", may he ever be successful in his efforts to protect the rights of American citizens. And may his right arm be strengthened by every battle strife, and may God unnerve every arm that would raise to aid in the destruction of this the home of the [ free] and the assylum of [ the] oppressed. 

Gibson & Co. (Cincinnati, Ohio),  Major Genl. McClellan on horseback.

Hardships to Bear

Letter from Henry Bitner, Chambersburg, PA, to Alexander Cressler, (as found as www.familytales.org)

Alexander Cressler to Henry Bitner, a friend.  Cressler is confident the Union will prevail, but there may be hardships to bear.   Little did he know then that Chambersburg would be destroyed by the Confederates three years later.

June 10, 1861, Chambersburg, PA

. . . You seemed to think that some other Nation might join with the South but I believe our cause is a just one, and if, all the other nations of the earth should join with their teeming millions and come to our shores in battle array against us, that by trusting in the god of battles, who I believe is superintending our movements, that triumph must be ours, but we must do our share of the work and stand right up to the mark, whether death be our lot a not Henry, I have no fear of the result, we may lose many good men, but if we go to the work right I feel confident of success.. . .

The Ruins of Chambersburg, 1864, From Library of Congress Collection

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