Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1861-06-20
LIFE IN THE CAME.
NO. W.T.
Vrtten for the FayesseviRe Observer.

ttr7tten J0f tHe FUyStteJtHc OOot' tSf'
CAmp TnoUspaLE, Tenn, June 18th, 1851
DEAR WALLAcE:-l trust you will excus
!, apparent eeotism in me. in thus addressin!
YOU, and through you. the go0d people 0
/ Lincoln county, who havs a deep and abiiin,
interest in he Destiny and fortunes of man,
who are in camp. am proud to gay tia
{ ro.hipg has occurred sirce my last. worth !
Of much Interest until last hight, wher
W had one of the most splendid exhibition:
Of chivalry and gallantTy in our camp, evei
viiressed in the arnals Of war. You are
doubtless aW are Of the fact that for OF least
enc week oast. the rumor has been current,
that il wss the war programme Of Gen.
Winfield Scott, to ccueentrate vast army
upoi. the Sou side OF LouisviRs KeRtuch =
take possession of the Louisville and n ash
villo Rail Road, pass down said road, rout us
from our post a; Camp Trousdale and thence
10 the city Of Nashville kentucky occupyiRs
! the unenviabIe position of ar armed n-"tra j.
r.: aIosition sn foreign 10 al her hopes il the
| future; so ihimicai to all the glorio sachieve-
mens Of her past history, ard so humilia-
! III g to her sister States oil the Sbuth TO whom
she is bound by every association OF interest,
% institutions, Of climate, OF soil and of geo
graphical construction; | say taking into con-
sderation this almost dsstardiy' position Of
kentucky, the so diers at our camp knew
not how soon Black Reru blican vandalism
might invade our soil, so dear, SO sacred to
every noble TeEnesSeean. Unarmed, as many
in camls are, without a solitary round OF
ammunition in the entire army. nevertheless
ali seemed eager tbst &n opportunity might
lie afforded 10 try their metal at the point of
the ba, onet. Such an opportunity IN REALJ-
~ has not yet been afforded, vet an eveHt
transpired on last night of the most exciting
character, aud from which might be Cleaned
lesson as to the unsurpassed GOODNESS, cour- 3
age and intrepidity Of our volunteer army
1t was near the hour OF midnight; the entire
army wrapped in The most PROFOUND sinm0er;
not a solitary light fllckered at any point
not a sound was perceptble, save alone the
monrnfll hymn Of tho whipPo~ill in the
valley hard ey. All Twas quiet and peace, but
not 10 remain So The thunder OF nlnsketry
sround the outposts of the encampment and
in the vicinity of the sentiHels awoke our
slumbeiiiIg soldiers Simultaneous with the
thnEdsr of firearms, was heard at the heal
quarters of commanding officers the sounl
of music calling t. g soldiers TO arms lu less
ian ten minutes the entire encampmeut by
conf anics. were at their respective posts and {
In line Of battle. One wo Id naturally suppose /,
that unGisclpined volunteers, without arms,
and destitute of ammunition would at least |;
exhieit a dispt sition to faltet. Such however !
was rot the fact A few candles had, in the
mean time, oeerflighted in the tents and as {
heir liz ut beamed upon the soldiers you CcuIt
have seen depicted in he flash of their eagle
ewes the iniexiile determination - win the
victory or die, Won might hear from one
end Of the lines TO he other, such cool, DELHI ,
crate expressions as the following, Il will :
plunge this old bayonet to the heart OF the
irst one place my eyes upon" BOYS, 4
vii. have good gun w sun rise in the morn ;
ing" al they are DING to fight, why don't
they show their game" Il will die before |
leave the ground" These with a thousand =
other expressions You could hear. Can it be
tossibe for such men to be conquered? r.
well might YOU try to convince me that ths /
branches of the lovely forest waving in such j.,
lealty ami graz ur over the epca4npmeat, had ;,
never been rusJied by the zephyrs Of heaven. !
Sir, you may extemin4te such men, but con-
suer them, never! It wculd be impossible
Tor me give all the amusing incidents of tie
occasion in his shoft letter. But must tros- t
bass 10 relate enc Our mutual friend Z /,
" oosley OF the Mulberry Rihem.n, was
standing as one Of the sentines. When the |
alarm was given, one OF his comrades as SEN (
incl, asked him what TO do? His cool reply
was,-''Sr stand IL goasr psf like sod;sr
N a man, an nsurdr tks FIR t scoal re- up |
1a wlon, yot fz yocr ey.s" Capt. Higgins /
asked his men if they would follow him?
With OIL universal shout that would almost
rend the skies, they responded in the sfirma a
tive. Sir: disgrace will never stain the eS-
cuiheou OF such so'aiery, but whsE bat
lie il ieug GIT, if ever. Won may lock for the
achievement OF !,garel. that will nDt perish,
only with eternity. j.
The alarm was grOundless and was doubt :
less concocted to try the game of Tennesseans. !
Great has been the mirth in camps over tbs
incidents and scenes Of the night. Il were
not volunteer would say with ali the stu
cerity of my heart. that Lincoln county mistt
well be proud of her sons in campa Trousdae
There are some things thai are humIiiatinz 10
the patriot, and ought to be to the man mos:
destitute OF honorable sensihifties.
Yen can foTu, TO sort OF conception of the
mpostions practiced upon Tie army. Every
hing calculated to steal a dime from tia +.
pockets Of al. inconsiderate soldier, can bs
found at camp Even book peddlars are
swiuding You have no doubt seen one |
,naggic ito het oock-esed bo'e-t gge tan3tr- /.
shaded BILLINGS and his Doc, the one as
mean as the other and seem to be insepara-
bly,, blended. Said Billings came TO camps ,
and would sell three sheets of small letter
paper for ono dime, and every thing in his
line in about the same proportion. Der friend {
J. G.. Harrison of tie Norris Greek Guards,
aud Stephen Smith of The Camargo Guards,
insisted by my friend McCutcbeon Of VIM
chester. took said man Billings in charge
Sid Billings left and said Billings has not
been heard of in this vicinity since Such
men as Billings ought never to slesp upon any
other couch than one made of thorus, thistles
and briars. | must close by telling YOU that
til ere has not been cath in our camps. and
the boys are all in goe1 health, or at least as
much 10 as could be expected.
Yours Respectfully, Pro ARIs Ell FooIs.
ITO. WIZ. /,
CAMP TRoUsDALE, June l5tb, 1861.