Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-10-30
From The Hillsboro' Recorder. |


MR. HEAKTr: have Just returned from the army
and deem it due to many Of your readers, who have
friends in the 9th Regiment North Carolina State
Troops to report through the Recorder the state of
things in the camp.
Camp Fisher is about twenty miles from Camp
Jones, four miles from Dumfres, and six from the
Potomac. The location is an admirable one, having
every facility desirable for comfort and convenience.
1t is skirted on the East by fine road which makes
it easy of access. Numerous springs of the purest
water near by, and wood in abundance at hand
In less than mile there is stream of clear water,
where the soldiers are permitted to wash. The
ground slopes gradually to the South, giving sutii-
cient drain to run off the water hastily. The soil
being sandy the camp is never muddy. Directly
fronting camp, to the South, covering the hills
far away in the distance, the camps of two Mis-
Sissippi and one Tennessee Regiment The view is
magnificent. While gazing on them. | could but
adopt the language of Baaam, lin part,) and cx
claim, How beautiful are thy tents, D Jacob, and
thy tabernacleS, D Israel"
| was much gra;ifed to see the great change in
Regiment for the better, since my last visit
When | left before, Camp Jones) there not
less than six hundred sick men, Of this number,
twenty died in camp. They buried side by
Sde in a lovely spot on the summit of lofty hill
The graves are done up with care and neatnesS
head and foOt-board with the NAME regiment, &C.,
designate who they are They are surrounded by
graves, memory called up from the past many pleas
ant "reminiscences of by-gone days-far back when
the war cloud" hung below the horizon and the
horrors of the battlefield had not been thought Of
By my own fire side had warmed some of them,
and in their youthful company had spent many hap
ply hours. The words of their lips still rung in my
ears, and the pleasant smile still played on their
faces. But, alas stand now by the grave of Nc
Kee, and next to his is Bcrrys, and thereeiS Hxs,
and yonder young Lawrence sleeps. My heart was
filled, but tears came to my relief turned away,
and gaZed for moment the ever green cetarS
that stood dropping around the silent home Of the
dead, and listened to the wind as it sighed and
mourned among the lofty pines, the funeral drge of
the departed Farewell broke from my lips as
turned forever away, and my prayer went up to
Heaven that we might meet in better world than
this.
They sleep their last sleep,
They have fought their last battle,
No sound shall awake them to glory again."
Our sick list is now very small, and the whole
regiment seems inspired with new life. The men
have the utmost confidence in their officers. The
utmost good feeling exists and really the camp is
the school of polItenCss.
The Bible is the book mostly read. A large pro-
portion of the men church members and | be-
lieve but few if any have lost ground in religion
Unfortunately for the men, there are few officers
who are prolane, and only few. 1t is TO be hoped
the day is not far distant when this abomnable
practice will he baniShed from the camp.
The Rev. A. W. Mangum preached his first SER
mon on Sunday last Chaplain Of the regiment
4 temporary stand erected, in a grove near the
camp The men formed circle around the stand
the most of them seated on the ground. There
were persons also from the neighborhood, among
them some ladies, whose voices and presence broke
the monotony of the congregation of men. The
sermon well adapted to the times and the occa-
sion. Ii fell with thrilling effect on the men, but
ca han fha OH IIa o,.nIt
youthful David in the court of Saul-hmself the
centre OF atracton surrounded with the digntaries
of the realm, and none ready to do him hon.
age than the King himself From the day he struck
down the Giant of Gath, to that hour, be had led
his hosts to q succession Of victories and triumphs
that had covered the armies Of Israel with glory
His growing greatness had eclipsed that ofthe King
which excited his jealousy, and he resolved to take
his life. And now he is stripped of bis honors flies
fugitive to the mountains of Moab, hiding among
caves and denS outlawed and forsaken of all save
that God IN whom he trusted. Such is the uncer-
tainty Of worldly honors and earthly glory. He
pointed to Caesar, his glory and his fall. To Han
nIbal as he drinks the fatal henock and to Napo-
| leon sleeping on "Helena's Rock" But David be-
ing man Of God and putting his trust in the Al
mighty, arose trumphantly over his foes assembled
to the highest point of earthly distinction and died
| full OF years and honor, leaving name behind him
| like the sun, shining upon the moral world forever
SiOoS
course, the Rev. A. T. Porter Rector OF the Church
of the Holy Communion, Charleston, S. c., and
Chaplain of the Washington Light Infantry, lamp.
tons Legion, arose and delivered an ofEhand exhor-
tation that brought down upon the assembly in
overwhelming feeling the whole force of the SER
mon after which the reverend gentleman proceed
ed to administer the ordinance of Baptism according
to the Episcopal order, to Col. Fender.
The Colonel presented himself before the minister
with Maj. Benjamin Aston, of South Carolina, com.
handing the 4th Alabama regiment, and Capt Ste
phen D. Lee, Washington Artillery, Hampton's Le
| gion by his right side as witnesses. Having res
| pended in clear voice to all the questions asked
he knelt down at the feet of the minister with his
hands folded on his breast, his eyes swimming with
tears, and by Holy Baptism lin the presence Of his
RegimenO made an open profession OF the Religion
OF Jesus, and was dedicated to the service of AL
mighty God
| must leave it for your readers to Judge of thai
impressive scene. Truly did the minister say
There is joy in the presence of the holy angel.
over one sinner that repentethn We felt its force
and its power, when we looked around and saw !.
whole regiment in tears, and its noble leader put
ting on the whole armor Of Christ that thus doubly
clad, he might lead them to victory over their earth
ly foes, and glorious triumph over the last enemy
JOHN A. MCMANNEN.
SoUTH LOWELL, Oct 1861. -