Litchfield enquirer., 1861-12-05
Camp Correspondence. o CAMP KEYEs, RoxSEr, VA. 9th, Reg't Ohio Vol. Nov. 1Atb 1ae1

o'n, neg Ohlo Vol. Nov. 24th. 1881 ! FRIEND HuMtHREH.-Thinking that letter.
 rom Western Virginia, might not be unsxcs,,s- Die to you, have concluded to snend n.,, ., the aay Tn lnditing one. This morning we had
 our usual weekly inspection, the rest of the day iS oeing occupied in going to church in squads.
 ana Writing letters. In less than week, many
 northern Ohio lass will have received letter
 from her sweetheart in the 9th.
 You have, of course, seen an acconnt in ,h.
 daily papers, of OFT taking this place, therefore
 Will net tex your patience, with any of it's de-
 tails. The Federal force here, amounts to about thousasd ne7, {don't you wish you knew n
 lnfastry' Cavalry and Artillery, under the com
 maRs Of een.ral Kelley. Strong ea.rsnshmspts
 are ia the course of erection, and the force here
 can hold their pressat position asainst almo.s
 any odds. Romnsy, the county seat of Hamp-
 shire county, is village ci about four thousand
 people, and fright smart" place it is. lis
 situated in valley, surrounded on ell side. by precipitous mountains, and i. is accessible only by Six gaps, each exceedingly narrow and eapa-~ ble of being held by few men against over, whslnins OddS The people of Rornsy and surrounding neighborhood, are all without ex- ception, better sseessionists. The .si.dren car ry miniature rebel aag., and the wc 2.n, walk. ing the street armed with pistol ard dirk. ere outspokea ia their hatred efths Uni:a ssuse. As we are in strong fc-cs here, 1e pay bus lit- tla attention to the iupotsat spi.s of veasn end children.
 Camp rumors are as nul4sruus here, as bus- zards are in some localities. One day we are going to march, the next, tho enemy are advan- cing upon us It is BOW ruuorsd that VIC arc going to take up our winter quarters here. Ths boys all fear it, and would much rather play their part on soma of Virginia's battle-fslds, than to while away . long winter, in that mo- notonous manner, 60 insspersaly connected with camp life. As class, the soldiers are compos- ed of those who are ever grasping after some thing new, and with whon, . spirit of adyen- ture, is .n innate principle. To such. no plae. is moro unendurable, than Q military camp. I, for my part, do not believe that ve will remain here long achievements are expected soon, and then we will start for Winchester, which is about forty miles distsnt. Great dissatisfaction
 is felt, st the swearing in of prisoners, and thus Captains in the eighth, (mins being one) have sworn mover to take, or allow their men to take. prisoner. The prisoners, that we have taken. are decidedly hardlookiug crowd; the "bush- whacAipg" phiz strong preponderating. At times, am tempted to doubt the following, wis: e SoI m oil p,a, in o,-,, ;,.s-. The health of the troops here, has generally been good; yet, at this writing several are i'm disposed fa the main. brought about by eating anyirg and everything that since the deluge hos been supposed to come upter the cognomen of food. It is & popular idea. that the army has very ordinary fare, but in the camp oftho e'h, the contrary is true; we have an abundance or young pigs, chickens, turkeys, mutton. beef and various other substantials, part of which, sus- pect, is the result of skillful foraSing. whole regiment of Infantry, and a company of Cava!. ny. passed ny quarters this morning las is tho case e7ery morning) en route for picket duty. We here ia camr. can appreciate ths utility ofa picket guard. as veN as the value of scouts, by which NO are kept thoroughly posted regarding the movements of the Rebels
 As m instance of the cleanliness of the Com pauy to which belong, ' may note circum- stance which happened by my side, day or two since One of our number sat opmbing his head watching intsntly the surface of '.sa paper on his lap for "game." At length he threw down his comb, and with look of fdisappointmsnt and sorrow, exclaimed: "Well, by George, boys, shall give up in utter despair, for here I've sat for half an hour and combed, and combed, but nary lcuse.' But more than enough of this rambling epistle, which is as dull ss the surface of tho dead sea. More anon.
 Yours &c., J.G.R.