Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-08-14
CAmp ELLrs, Suffolk, Va, Au,. 9Th. IS {


CAMP ELLIS, Suffolk, Va, Aug. 9Th, IS 81.
Editor Spirit IF tie 4ge.-With sadness.
haste to state that death has been in our
midst again. After a brief illness of about
one week, Ebenezer c. Stradly departed this
life on the 3lst ult He was a son of Rev.
Thos. S~tra2ley, a Baptist minister of Ashe-
vile, n. 9. 1t was a case Of typhoid fe-
yer. lie was a noble hearted young man,
and q vacuum has been created in Capt.
Fance's Company, which will be sensibly
realized by all the members Of the same
This Is the first death in our company may
II be the last while in the service.
On the goth, Capt Harsrave llst another
OF his men-one Of his best men. His name
was George I. Lewis. ] think it was also a
case Of typhoid fever. There are a few other
very serious cases Of illness in the camp: but
the regiment on the whole seems to be con.
valesccnt.
How affective often, and yet how merciful
always, are the dispensations of Providence
Z. Behind a frowniug providence,
GodMdes a smiling face
Partial evil is often universal good. The
darkness Of night unveils the hidden glories
OF the celestial world. From our Affections
we learn lessons and acquire dispositions that
cannot be learned and acquired in prosperity.
May the loss Of friends teach US all so to num-
Der our days, that we may apply our hearts
unto wisdom.
| have just returned from q three DAYS
visit to Portsmouth and Norfolk, and I was
very much interested in what | saw. To a
man raised inthe mountains, and accustomed
only to the sight of spring branches and
small rivers, the sighto such an expanse of
water as Norfolk harbor, is very little short
OF the grand. | visited the Navy Yard, and
although / had heard much said about it, |
confess the half had not been told me. The
yankees before they left, certainly succeeded
ia dgsroyinga vast amount Of valuable prop
erty by FIRE but their Hight was so precipi-
tate that the most valuable part of the prop
moTt7is Tying ntiRPit6SSd yard OaH qH4J e&n RRQqth end
number. 1t is doubtful whether the South
ern Coniedcracy will have use for them all
during the whole war, however protracted.
The South is certainly well armed in the
heavy ordnance line. KThe Plymouth and the
Germantown, vessels Of war, though injured
by fire, are being rehtted for use. The Mer.
rimac lies in the dry dock, and is being CON
yerted into q floating battery. a small
steamer in actual use, lay in the harbor.-
While / was therea small vessel arrived from
North Carolina, laden With tropical fruits,
parts Of captured prize, no doubt. | should
have stated, that at the Navy Yard they are
manufacturing shell, and rliling cannon.
was permitted to enter a government boat
and sail Town the river to Craney Island
The Island contains about ten acres of land,
is situated about five miles from Norfolk, in
the direction of Hampton, and is very strong
~ fortified. Indeed, Norfolk harbor seems
to be admirably protected, andif yankee YES
sells do not wish to be completely riddled
they would do we'll to keep at a respectable
distance from the guns that command thu
harbor. While at the Island, | could easily
see, without the aid of a glass, our own swiv
els pointing to the right and in the direction o
discern Old Point and the American Fla;
flying from the fortress. In front | could SCI
Hampton college, and long lines of whit
yankee tents stretched along the shore. IL
the left could see Newport News, and twt
or three large vessels lying near by. A larg,
vessel was also visible at Old Point. | vii
leave you to imagine my feelings, while look
ing upon the tents and war-Ships Of the foe
now threatening to overrun my native State
and to reduce our whole beloved South to
state Of crouching yassa,age to black repub-
licau tyranny. But | believe that the Go,
of battles is on our side, and that he vii
- teach our hands to war, and our fingers I
fight" | believe that he will give us tn
victory and that tight early. On more bat
tie fields than one, already has the striplin.
David with his sling and smooth stones
trusting in the Lord Of hosts, Frustrated &
his feet the giant Goliah, trusting in his shiel
and spear and ia the might of his own arm
Surely "the battle is not to the strong,n nor tn
race 20 the swift; but time and chance hap
peueth to all men; " and that "time an
chance is but another expression for tn
providence that presides over the destini'
of nations and individuals.
Recruits are constantly coming into OIL
regiment. Capt Dixon has just return'
from cleveland county with a considerab
number of recruits, one Of whom is Rev. M
Randall, a local Methodist preacher. Wi
six ministers, this is emphatically a cleric
regiment.
Farewell for the present.
ROUGH AND READY.