Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-08-14

see TO day. Hampton village is nova perfect pic
ture of utter desolation. Even thenegroes that in
degree envened it, when we first occupied it are
fed inside our lines and there is not living thing
to be seen in all its highways and byways."
A Letter from the Army.
The following letter We take entire, from the
Wilmington Journal on account of several impor-
tant suggestions contained in it. 1t will be read
with interest .,.. -..-
CAMP CLARKE, (nenr the Potomac) |
Stafford Co., w., July 80, 81.
MEssas. EDIroRs: Before leaving home, I prom
Used you that would, now and then, write you
to keep you advised of the movements of our Regi-
ment-3d N. G. State Troops-but, up to this time,
l have been unable to make even beginning to-
wards the fulflment my promise
Col Meares. allows his men but little time for
pleasure. Company drill from tot o'clock, A. NJ,
Guard mounting, A. Accompany drill from to
II A. M-Oficcr's drill, from II A. NJ, to P. NJ
Officers recitation, from to 4 P. M-Battalion
drill, from A to ct p. N, ending in Dress Parade.
These hours of duty will show you that We have
scarcely time to write to our wives and sweethears
You were advised of the movement Of the Regi-
mcnt from Garysburg The first detachment under
Lieut. Col. Cowan left on Tuesday, July l6th--the
second, under Co.. Meares, Saturday, July goth.
These two detachments-six companieS--were sent
from Richmond to this place on Wednesday, July
9th, and were joined by the remainder Of the regi
ment under Maj. DeRossett, on Sunday, July 2Sth.
We are now encamped in a fine oak grove, with
an abundance of good water, apparently healthy
only three miles from the Potomac-twenty- five
miles from the grand army at Manassas, and within
two days easy march of any point at which the
Yankees can possibly make an attack. So that you
may certainly "count US in" the next big fight
In the meantime, this whole country is ovcrrun
with spies and we are compelled to keep eyes
open. They have been prowling around our camp,
and have been fired upon by our sentineS. Several
of them have been captured BY the pickets the
Potomac; and, for several days past, We have had
one of them in our guard-tent, sent to US by Gen.
Holmes for safe keeping Another was sent up
yesterday afternoon-a live Yankee-who confesses
his sins, ard will probably be hung.
As q matter of course, we belong to Gen. Holmes
department He has fine command here Three
Virginia Regiments-one from Arkansas-one from
Tennessee from North Carolina, (Col. Tew's
and Col Meares)-a battalion of cavalry, end three
batteries of Light Artillery: If they will put us
inson used to say, obligate ourselves to march to
Baltimore The old General was strongly in favor
of an advance movement after the battle of Manas-
So, we understand, was Gen. Bcauregard, but
Gen. Johnston forbid It, Events proved that they
were right The march of the army would have
been trumphal march through Washington to
Baltimore, so terrible the panic among the
brace men who came to whip us with cornstalks.
Never mind! we will have another chance vet
Old SCOTS pride is aroused and the next battle will
be the bloodiest on record II this Regiment does
not make its mark, then your correspondent will
confess himself greatly disappointed not only in
the officer who commands but in the men who COM
pose his command. There are ten fine looking
companies, altogether about nine hundred, quiet,
determined men, who have perfect confidence in
their Colonel, who have engaged in this war as
matter Of stern duty and who will fight all the bet
ter because principle and not passion controls their
action. "
The health Of the Regiment is only tolerabe.-
We have, as yet, never lost man-we have no Sc
rious sickness, but good deal of mumps, camp
| measles, colds, and such like diseases. / presume
those diseases will 60 through the whole camp, and
then we may look for full turn out of our regi-
| ment. Co.,
| Our men are comparatively we'll equipped, but
the material Of which their clothing made is poor
and cannot last long 1t is too thin for cold wealth
err, and shall look to the noble women of our re-
spective counties for fresh supply. We must agi-
tate this matter and see that the are not left to
suffer. The Southern Confederacy, to whom we
now belong, will find it impossible, with the best
intentions in the world, to provide for the large
army now in Virginia. We must suffer, unless our
counties take Of US. annex list Of the COM
panies composing this regiment, and trust they
/ will begin at once and unite their action to take
care of their people Let me make suggestion
The Government allows twenty -one dollars to each
man every six months for clothing. 1t is paid in
advance, Dhen they haze the money. Let the diff.
| ferent counties from which our regiment comes,
unite to make some arrangement by which they
can draw this money and expend it for the soldiers
There may be small deficiency, but the counties
will not hesitate to supply it. Let me make anoth.
er suggestion. The first thing we want is stout
flannel shirts and o9ercoats. Let me make third
suggestion. Don't let the counties undertake this
thing unless they commit it to the hands of men
0ho oill attend to It, - r.
4 mentioned above that spies providing around
our camp had been fired upon by our sentnels. Il
proved quite lively time, and showed the stuff d
which our men are made 1t was about l o'clock
I at night, Except the guard the whole camp was
asleep The officer Of the day discovered then
while going bis rounds. He challenged and they
ran. He let off four barrels of his Colts repeatt
and one Of the sentinels let off his musket but ir
the darkness the night and the thick woods, they
escaped unhurt SO far as We know. : The long rol
was beat and in fue minutes the schole Regiment
under arms aeas dra,on up in line of battle Being
almost upon the banks Of the Potomac, which is II
possession Of the enemy, our Colonel has instructed
MS men to keep continually on the alert and def,
any officer of any army to form his line of BATH
with more promptness and more exactness than h
did upon that OCCASION ,sf-af .ff'.tg.4at
wish to do an actof Justice to old Virginia Sh
- sieiy slandered when it is asserted that she i
not aiive to tho OCCASION It is no more her battl
tnan It IS ours. She is particularly unfortunate il
being made the battle ground; and, for this reason
:. would suffer more Immediately the consequences @
any disaster to our army. But we have no ripht b
say that We are fighting her battles and We az