Enlistments in Ireland for the Federals--interesting letters.
We find in the Tralee (Irelands) Chronicle, handed us by a friend, the following interesting letters. They are being widely published by the Irish press, and will, it is hoped, counteract in a great measure the efforts the Federals are making in that country to secure recruits for their wasted armies:--Allow me to introduce to you Captain Atkins, of our army, who Ireland on furlough. He and I have been together in many a hard fought field. You will find him a true-hearted Irishman. Though having no special mission for the purpose, he still intends to do all in his power to prevent our countrymen from being duped by Yankee agents, and induced by offers of free emigration to come out here to spill their blood in a quarrel with which they have no concern. And spill their blood undoubtedly they shall, for as the Yankees themselves have no stomach to this fight they will put Irishmen in the place where little glory but many hard knocks all to be won. So keenly did I feel the misery which our countrymen have brought upon themselves for joining the Yankee army, that I have wished to be allowed to come to Ireland myself, to dissuade them from such a course. How many a poor fellow have I attended in hospital, and in the field, whose ashes will never mingle with his father's, and whose bones are bleaching under a Southern sun. Therefore, my Lord, I earnestly entreat you to use your influence with your people to deter from an act the result of which will be probably death, misery and regret.
--The enclosed letter from the Rev. John Teeling, of Richmond, Va., Confederate States of America, must be my introduction to your lordship. I had the pleasure of making that gentleman's acquaintance before the first battle of Manassas, July 21st, 1864, and have the highest satisfaction in stating that he enjoys the reputation among a vast number of admiring friends (of every religious denomination) of being an upright, honorable man, and a zealous Christian Minister. During the first year of this unfortunate conflict, my friend, Mr. Teeling, acted chaplain to "Wheat's Louisiana battalion," from New Orleans, (in which corps I had the honor to serve as Captain for eighteen months,) composed almost exclusively of Irishmen, and nobly did he do his duty in camp and on the battle field. On the presentation of new color to the command our worthy chaplain consecrated the standard, and on many a hard fought field of Southern independence has its silken folds floated on the breeze-- when the victorious shout of "Stonewall Jackson's corps" proclaimed that the minions of a despot had recalled, baffled and dismayed, before the impetuous advance of the Southern troops. Is it not sad, my lord, to witness the flower of our peasantry, at this moment in America, imbruing their hands in each others blood? Why does the Irishman, who craves for liberty at home, and who complains of mis-government here, support at the risk of his life the most degraded despotism the world has yet seen? and why does he (becoming forsooth fascinated with the flowery rhetoric and persuasive powers of Mr Ward Beecher, et hoc genus omne,) enrol himself under the "abolition banners" of Abraham Lincoln, and congratulate himself that he is on a crusade to grant an unsolicited freedom to three, millions of "Africans," who are better clothed, better lodged, and beyond all better fed than he is himself? I shall answer these questions briefly. No feeling of animosity against a people gallantly struggling for liberty, influences the mind of the Irish peasant, when he salts to America, no sympathy with despotism actuates him to enlist in the Northern army; no hatred of the institution of slavery prompts him to join the fanatical legions of the invader, and makes it the greatest object of his life to carry fire and sword, lust and rapine into every Southern home. What reasons then actuates him to fight for a despotism which his soul abhors? His own adventurous spirit — the distressed condition of his native land, and then by far the greatest inducement — the enormous bounty paid by the Yankee Government for fighting material. What spirited young fellow, who perhaps never saw a five pound note in his life, can stand the golden bait of 777 dollars. As seven was a favorite number in Holy Writ, it is to be inferred that the legitimate descendants of the Chatting Puritans of England regard that number with a sort of religious reverence. The cotton, tobacco and cornfields of the South must indeed be a much coveted prize to the consistent worshippers of the "almighty dollar," when 777 "shinplasters" are to be the reward of the Irishman who undertakes to "serve an ejectment." Why does not the Red Republican of New England abandoning the shelter of his counting house or factory, lead bravely to the field of carnage those hordes of Irish, Dutch, Germans, and free niggers, whom he so persistently treats to the sound of that music which has no harmony for him — l. e., the whistle of Southern bullets? or actuated by the same spirit of liberality with which he started — why does not he remunerate with a pension his unhappy substitute, who returns from the field with a shattered constitution or minus a limb? No, my lord! the men whom I have described are coolly speculating in the life blood of our gallant countrymen, who are the object dupes of those who hesitate not to immolate them by thousands for the accomplishment of their selfish purposes and bloody ends. On several battle fields in America I can beat testimony to the gallant fighting and espritde corps of the Irish regiments engaged on both sides. The history of this war will attest the fact that on the bloody field of Fredericksburg no troops ever surpassed in deeds of daring that "Irish brigade" who selected to storm the key of the Confederate position, (an impregnable range of hills,) was only finally repulsed when four fifths of its number lay in front of the bloody parapets from which belched forth the converging fire of our victorious artillery. In the reply of his Holiness, Plus IX., to the letter of Mr. Jefferson Davis, (which appeared in the public journals,) the Sovereign Pontiff thus proves himself, my Lord, the worthy apostle of Him who taught "peace on earth and good will towards men." He says, "it is particularly agreeable to us to see that you, illustrious and honorable President, and your people, are animated with the same desires of peace and tranquility which we have in our letters inculcated upon our venerable brothers. May it please God, at the same time, to make the other peoples of America and their rulers, reflecting seriously how terrible is civil war, and what calamities it engenders, listen to the inspirations of a calmer spirit, and adopt resolutely the part of peace"--Such are the sentiments of his Holiness, and such ought to be the feelings of all who wish to see this unhallowed conflict brought to a termination. I trust, my Lord, that you participate in my views, and hope that you in the high position in which it has pleased Providence to place you, use all the exertions in your power to dissuade the peasantry of your diocese from emigrating to the shores of America, there either to imbrue their hands in the blood of their kindred, or crippled and maimed, like houseless warriors, dependent on the public charity of some great Northern city.
I am, my Lord, with assurances of high consideration, your Lordship's obedient servant,
P. Going Atkins,
Captain and A. D C., C. S. Army. Right Rev. D. Moriarty, D. D, R. C., Bishop of Kerry, Killarney.
P. Going Atkins,
Captain and A. D C., C. S. Army. Right Rev. D. Moriarty, D. D, R. C., Bishop of Kerry, Killarney.
