Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-10-12
18th Regiment of N. C. Volunteers.

r a A$N hSAAuCAt oAsIts Ss NStuutOCiSs
E5Weelip from a late Register the following ex-
tracts IRON long but well written letter, by
member Of the 18th Regiment N. G. Volunteers
dated Camp Holmes Sept 2Srd" We desire to
call special attention to the excellent hygiene
! engagements of that Regiment. They speak well for
tie care taken by Col. Pettigrew and the Surgeons
of that Regiment, of the health and comfort of the
command. rT
This forced march, so fruitless of any good, was
dearly paid for by us Up to that period there had
never been death in the Regiment while
ncig5bors on all sides were losing men by the score
But many of our measles convaescents, IN their
anxiety to be in at the first fight eyaded the order
requiring them to remain behind, and marched in
the ranks. The roads were perfectly impassable.-
Wagons stalled and broke down in every direction
Infantry and Artillery alike bivouacked in the mud
and water. As / was detained with the baggage
train did not reach the hating place, four miles
of, till half past eleven but then cOed up in old
field, with my head on persimmon root and my
feet at the fire. | slept most delicicusly through
rain and wind until reveille. In this manner
journey of.twO days occupied a week. the GONZALES
cents relapSed under the effort and at length one,
in spite of the efforts of the Surgeons paid the
debt of nature The event made at the time most
painful impression. We had not yet been rendered
calous by frequent repetition The funeral took
place at night and solomon scene it to those
who witnessed it for the first time, wound
down the side of the hill or ridge upon which we
! are encamped and Deposited the remains of
comrade in his last resting place in the valley
Though the booming of cannon and the rattling of
muSh etry had not attended his exit from this
worldly scene yet he died the soldiers death, for
his life had been sacrificed to his anxiety to be first
in the service of his country. Msfortunes never
come alone. The two following days added one
each to the number of graves in our little Cemetery
but then the hand OF the Destroying Angel was
stayed, and the health of the regiment has been i'm
proving ever since. Regimental Orders require us
to pay the utmost attention to hygiene The reveille
is not sounded until sunrise The day commences
witha "mannana" las the Spanards call iD of in
fusion OF dogwoOd bark, as prOphylacti against
fever and ague We are not allowed to go to work
before breakfast. As soon as the is well up
and the air dry, the tents all raised and the
camp thoroughly policed To accomplish this more
etfectuay, the officer of the day makes his visits
Of inspection in company with one of the Surgeons
and there is class of offences more unpardOnably
punished than those against cleanliness We are
not allowed to drill until the dew is off the grass
nor in the heat of the day. Our tents are placed
as to have the morning Sunshine full upon them
while arhourS against the noon day are IN the
adjoining woods, contrary to the usual custom Of
encamping in the woods itself If there be neceS-
sity, our orders require it. the last march,
We exposed without stint; but otherwise we are
carefully protected and warned protect ourselves
against the dew. Whether it be owing to these
precautions TO our good luck, know not, but
certainly have diseases the meascls and their
consequences.
You are doubtless tired of this ard wonder why
don't write you some. news" Why, my good
friend, we hear no news, except every now and then
the appointment of new BrIgadier General which
has become so common of late that we run the risk
of having inscribed upon tombs the famous
cpiIah,
81 T. ;f.;au
Pds acIdeDticieH."
Cape HateraS affair is an awful mystery to us
still, and we would be glad indeed to hear some
news from home Calculating the transaction.
If commodore Barron. initiating the horrible ex
ample set in Western Virginia, surrendered while
it was yet possible to make some little resistance
however desperate then let sadly turn the picture
to the wall and mention it no more. If the blame
rests with the Confederate Government say So
But if as charged by some papers, it belongs right
fully to politicians, who sacrificed their State
desire to further the interest of political friends and
to political faction, then step could be too
vigorous to preserve the honor and fair fame of our
State from Soilng, and to secure us against repet
ton of such humiliating disasters which might
result in transferring the scene Of war to our own
firesdes. Indeed it is high time this fashion of
surrenderng should cease Surprising resistance
unavailing and death inevitable is not death by the
bayonct preferable to death by the halter? Those
who mediate upon surrenGerng under any crcl-
instances entirely mistake the character of this
contest 1t is not to defend liberty. The
question is no longer whether Pompey and Cutfee
shall be held in SubordinatOn to the Southern white
man, but whether the Southern White man shall
be held in snbordinaton to the Northern Yankee of
all hues. In such struggle, what inducemcnt any
Southern White man Can have to surrender am at
loss TO perceive, and think that the Government
should formally announce that no person who de-
liberately Surrenders himself shall ever be eXchang-
ell. You may rely upon it the examples of Rich
Mountain and Fort Hatteras will never be followed
in this Regiment. Aud in closing this letter. may
assert though say it myself that are to speak
modestly, second to none we have met n1punctual-
ity, vigilance, care for weapons, good humor
hard work. marching, craftsmanship, flor we are
Mountaineers) battalion drill and that the mancpu-
vre We execute best and like best is the bavonet
charged in line at double quick so the idea of sur
rendering has not entered our heads. Indeed the
boot is quite on the other leg We fondly expect
to receive vast lot of swords, marked " Anes Man.
Co" of which We are in much need.
If you have any fresh butter, please send it along
as there never any here, and besides we have
eaten up what little there was. We are told that
this region is quite proverbial for its sparseness
mel weeds with tears IN their eyes, and the grass
they cross the country BE that as it may, we have
devoured every edible thing, and would be grateful
for supply of luxures.
SENSIBLE VIEwS.-We find the following excel
lent thoughts in an editorial of the Georgia Com
mORUeaLh: