LETTER FROM AMERICA
Nenagh Guardian 17th September 1864
The following is an extract of a letter received this week by a woman residing near this town, from her daughter:–
Charleston, July 19th, 1864
DEAR MOTHER–I suppose you think that I have been neglectful in not writing– but it is not so. I could not get a letter to you on account of the war, but as a friend of mine is going to run the blockade I thought I would write by him. You may never get this letter, for the Yankees might capture the boat. I never thought I should live to see such dreadful times; all day long the enemy throw their deadly missiles into our city. They have been shelling this place for the last year, but have not done much damage; neither are they in any better way of sacking the town than they were before. They have taken the negroes from our people, and made them fight against their masters. I was never more astonished– yes, and ashamed– than when I heard that my countrymen were joining the Yankee army, and fighting against a country that never did them any harm, but always good, whenever it was in their power. And then to think of Irishmen fighting with negroes–oh, shame upon them! I am living with the same lady. Her son is in the army, fighting to drive the enemy from our doors. Oh! if my countrymen knew as much about the war as I do, and could see and understand what they are helping our enemies to accomplish, I am sure they would never leave their homes. I will try and tell you some of the things they have done, and what they are still trying to do. They have inhumanly murdered women and children that never injured them: they have cast others into prison; they are trying to take our homes to do the same with us. Another fiendish act of their is, while we are quietly sleeping at night, they throw in their dreadful shells to kill our people. Other acts they have committed, which are too dreadful to mention. I am quite well, and never enjoyed better health.