24th Regiment Cavalry, NY Volunteers
Civil War Newspaper Clippings

GOOD WORDS FROM THE ARMY.
Camp Near Weldon R. R.,
Sept. 28, 1864.
To the Editor of the Utica Morning Herald:
Probably a few lines from the 24th Cavalry will be read with interest by those who have friends in the regiment. We are at resent camped about three miles from the Weldon Railroad, which has become so famous in the annals of this war. We are doing fatigue duty on Fort Steveson, and occasionally picket duty. We were paid off yesterday, which put the men in buoyant spirits, and made them more determined to do their duty and help bring the war to a speedy close, for the end cannot be far distant. Both in a military and political point of view, the situation looks well. The question now is, whether a free people shall govern themselves by their constitution, and their laws, or submit to have the ballot box overthrown by an armed faction, and a president forced upon them by the bayonet. Take these simple issues, and talk them down to the understanding of plain people, so that no man may be misguided by lying words of peace. A patched up peace would not cancel our debt. We should still have to pay that. If we divide we must keep up a standing army, and lose half of our foreign and home trade, because of a rival nation underbidding us in the markets of Europe. And what of taxes and prices then? Besides, these very peace-mongers are crying out for a war of retaliation with England, or a Mexican war with France, and how much would that add to prices? Cipher it out on every side; convince the farmer, the mechanic, the day laborer that it will be cheaper for him, in every way, to fight out the battle now, and so get a peace that will stand. Every way, there is the highest encouragement to the nation to press forward to the suppression of the rebellion. Crush the armed power of the traitors, and all will be well. We need have no fears at home; loyalty is yet too strong for treason, and the triumph of our arms before Richmond will bring the Peace Democracy into a grave so deep that resurrection will have to be done on the other side of the earth, if done at all. Let us now take courage, fill up the ranks, and push on, in the full faith that a glorious end of triumph is near. Yours for the union,
S. G. Bullocke,
Co. B, 24th N. Y. V. Cavalry.

DEATH OF CAPT. BURCH.—Captain CALVIN C. Burch, Co. G, 24th Cavalry, was wounded on the 17th ult. while leading his company in a desperate charge on the enemy's works at Petersburgh. He died the following day, as sincerely mourned by his brother officers as by the men who had been, under his immediate command. A letter from the 2d Lieutenant of Company G, to the wife of the deceased officer residing in Orwell, in this county, pays a glowing tribute to her husband's virtues as a man, and bravery as a soldier. We make the following extracts:
Your husband, Capt. Calvin P. Burch, died this morning, in the 3d Division Hospital of the 9th corps, calmly and quietly, surrounded by weeping and loving friends, breathing out his life cheerfully, with the noble consciousness that he met his death in the front fighting for and upholding the glorious flag of his country. (July 3, 1864)
Yesterday afternoon he led his company on a fierce charge, when they were met by a cross or enfilading fire, which nearly cut the entire regiment in pieces. Many brave officers fell, but your husband received a bullet in the lungs, which could not be traced out; of this he died this morning, regretted by all who had the pleasure and honor of his acquaintance, and worshipped by his entire company, who cannot be consoled at their irretrievable loss.
" His company are trying to have his body embalmed, and, if they can do so, it will be sent to you by express, of which fact you shall have timely notice."
A postscript adds that it was impossible to have the body embalmed. His companions in arms deposited his remains in a spot which was carefully marked, so that it can be easily found again in case his friends desire to remove his remains to Northern soil.

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