Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1861-09-05

experience, we did not lose way, bu arrived just be-
fore sunset at the camp which is fifteen lilies from Will
mngton in a southerly direction, and the road Is
toIerGbLy sandy, when it ia not full of water and the
weather is reasonably hot it good three hours and
a half or four hours drive u the camp
They have battalion drill and dress parade twic5 a
week, on the evenings of tuesday and Friday. We
were Just in time to be late see that OF Tuesday
The bad already come of parade, and many OF them
were enjoying themselves and removing the dust of the
parade ground by seabathng, while others were cook
ing supper attending to Other regimentai dues-l
The weather being fine, the open air cooking and the
other al fteSco arrangements looked pleasant enough
and the men all seemed in good humour and determined
to make the best OF everything.
Supper at tattoo at nine-Out lights at ten
by eleven hardly sound heard the challenge
Of the sentnes or the roar of the ts waves
broke on the beach outside Of the banks, and this last
those accustomed it hear conscious
of hearing.
Walking around after dark, we found groups in front
of the officers tents of the several companies, talking
enjoying the cool, pleasant breeze or quietly pulling
the weed" From the quarters OF the men would &C.
casonalIy cone the sound of music not unSkllluiIy
played or and then melody, comic or sentimental
would be sung At zine the roll was called and at ten
all lights put out il the regimenta and company
head quarters. Just before THE hour tor retiring,
some of the boys" aued and abetted by Professor
Williams formerly teacher of dancing IN this place,
but now member Of the Rife Guards executed some
pieces of vocal and instrumental music wi much taste
in the vicinity OF the reg mental lead quarters Nothing
could be more orderly than the conduct o. oil the men
-, ahtp an the most r.
dial relations eared exist between the officers them
selves as also between them and those under their COM
mand II th,re was any thing different, did not see
| it. We do not pretend to knowledge OF tactics or
military science but we could ste that the different
duties were carried promptly, orderly and quietly.
The camp is high and dry level just on the mar
gin OF the Sound its head where it is quite mar
row, appearing not to be than stones throw over
to the banks, which, little South OF the camp, are
heaved up into queer looking mounds OF sand, nc
doubt changing form after every heavy blow The tents
are pitched in uar rows, forming streets the parade
ground being to the South There is abundance Of
excellent water there being good well to each two
companies We heard no serious complaint in regard
to commissary The eating department appears
to be satisfactory Occasionally the mosquitoes get
thick according to the direction OF the wind and other
circumstances but they tame, very tame You can
kill as many of them you please if that affords you
any satisfaction.
Upon the WHOLE on Tuesday evening the occasion was
pleasant one US. The weather was delightful. We
were pleased to everybody and everybody scented
pleased to see US from COL Radciff and all his officers
and men we received every courtesy and attention.
This is the pleasant side of the picture. We regret
to say it has another and less pleasant sdeto which
we will soon come The morning drill is from six ID
seven. While standing the parade ground observing
the companies officer reported to the Colonel that
steamer was in sight, nearly abreast of the camp
When examined through glass; she proved to be a
side wheel steamer. with large top-hampcr, bearing
Southwest.
Presently The rain, which bad been threatening, pour
ed down-the hour of drill being finished about that
tme the double quicked to their quarters. Happy
these who had quarters fit to protect them. There be
ing for the several cooking arrangements the
perfect torrents OF water that poured down drove the
men away deuged the food and damped or extingush-
ed many OF the fires. Even if this had not been the
case none Of the could have stood at the tables
to eat in the open air in such rain We looked into
sundry OF the mems tents and found them hardly drie1
than where there DO tents The water mig ht have
been slightly sed getting through, but nearly all got
through, nevertheless. The eakiest of these ap
propriately stamped " Leaksville-J NJ Nj" 1t is
said that Mr. Morehead got contract to furnish these
tents to the State at the rate Of fifteen dollars EACH
If Solve only speak from common report)-
be must have got twice the value of them for any
purpose. Fer the purpose of tents they really
worth nothing. The material is inferior. Totally
suited for tents SO open in its texture that one ndig
nant sufferer assevtraed that there little or no diff
ference between it and mosquito netting In truth,
r is hardly better than common sheeting.
There are other smaller tents, made from superior
article of Georgia duck their only serious difficulty
being in regard to their size. No tent without cal
is perfectly dry, but the highpitched tents belonging
the Wilmington Light Infantry nearly so ma,
be. 1t is true they of superior material. We I'm
derstand that Captain Rankin Is having tents made her
by Mr. Griffith to take the place OF the most defectiv
tents. When this is done when the floors plankeC
and raised and there are shelters built for cooking AM
eating there will be far less need for hospital
dations and when the hospital accommodations mad
more adequate there will be far more chance for the mel
to recover quickly.
The sick list is quite large and the regmental sur
geon informs that frequently, when he is cheered b.
reduction of the list indicating improvement in tn
general health Of the camp, be finds the whole groun
thus gained almost Immediately lost the result Of tn
effects produced by heavy rain wetting the men il
their tents wettng their bedding, their baggage thei
e food and themselves in cooking and eating. Mumps
t, Measles, etc, are around.
re There other matters relative to the military pre-
lection of tie camp by batteries, entertainments etc
o which do not come properly before us here. Whethe
N Col. Radcf's command occupies this camp not, W
D. take it for granted that the camp will be permanent,
long the war continues and the is threatened
ot therefore it is that we insist strongly upon the
re engagements above suggested We do not desire