Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-08-13

NkAS 3<sS VI
appended-shows q larger number placed ho7i
dc combat than General McDowell gives as the
aggregate loss of the three divisions-coznpos'
ed of some thirty or thirty .ilre.regimen's-that
took part in the fight. No one, therefore, but the
most credulous ofreaders, will sccep. the official
report as worthy OF entire credcnce, or will
venture to quote it, in the face OF tho vel
established facts by which some OF its most
important statements are controVerted.
From Williamsburg.
Correspondence Of the Richmond Enquirer
y CAMr PAGE, near Williamsburg, Va,
August 10, 1861.
Assuming that an occasional communication
from the neishborhocd Of sod Williamsburg"
NAV not DO altogether undressing to your
readers. [ will, now and then, devote a leisure
moment, in the intervals of camp duty, 10 a
brief hurried chronicle Of such incidents OF
the "Peninsula War" as might, perhaps, pass
unnoticcd and unknown amid the bigger events
of the day.
By way Of preface, a pcn.audiuk picture Of
the scamp and its surroundings" may not
be ;nappropos or unentertainiug 10 those who
have never been initiated in the life Of the
''bold soger boy y Camp Page, like all other
camps, is far from Astounding in articles Of elc-
gance and certu. There are no porticcs or
palaces; no Gothic cottages, or Corin-
THAN columns, no Paved streets, with gilded
coaches, prancirg horses, and liverieo drl-
vers. Nature, not art, is characteristic
here. Necessity, not luxury, is the sol
dier's FIRST thought. Patriotism, not pride, is
the ruling principle, the one absorbing Object
and purpose of Us all. Hence We have no
downy beds, on which 10 dream of ''home,
sweet home" no luxurious lounges f6r siesta
after O sumptuous dinner Of yiands, rich and
rare; no iniolent reclining on tho cushions
velvet lining no dining hall or dining table,
with s~po.less cloth and silver service no pol.
ished washstand, with marble top and scented
soap; no anything to remind one OF opu-
lcnce and case, save by Gntithesis Of associa.
ton. We have no ~luyuries, and we wish for
none. Our hands and hearts, eur minds. o"-
bodies. anr aAul.---.-.L- Confederate cause;
and as the poor Eastern deyotee, in selfdenial,
ir bodily torture, in penance and in pain. finds
solace sweet, and strengthened faith, so do We
soldiers Of the Southern cross, not only submit
without murnrr to hardships indispensable from
service in the field, but we contemplate them
with patriotic pride, (snjoying our spTs7iags,
for they chsSten US in The cause , and with
hardened sineHS, and muscles strung, thank
God that VIC have health and strength for the
struggle, come when or where it may.
A thousand thoughts, d thousand things
each moment remind US Of our wrongs. And
with folded arms on his h%eaving chest, the
Southern soldier looking UP Gas he lay wrap.
ped in his blanket, by tie roadside or in the
lorcst) communes with his God es he lifts his
eyes 10 the twinkling, speaking stars; and
with ~fervent, sanguine prayer, all unspoken,
iuvokes the aid, the guidance and the blessing
Of Heaven, for the success Of the Confederate
cause, and the preservation Of those principles
of liberty, which are secular corollaries Of the
Christian religion. But l digrcss. 10 return
to camp-imngine an area, Zone acre, ten acres,
twenty, fifty or a thousand, as you please,)
with rows Of tents, either in the open field, or
among the trees-the underground cleared
away-or both, rs it may suit your fancy
Imagine some Of these tents Of snowy canvass,
others Of planks, each and oil not unlike those
small, s7uatty tenements commonly seen about
the baruyard and purlieus of the farms in lower
Virginia, and iamiliarly known as novels, Or
houses for the shelter and incubation Of ducks,
geese, hens, &C., Of the different fvathercd
tribes. Imagine there the soldiers all out, in
the scorching sun, their bayouets glistening, and
guns flashing back the burning beams Of ";he
orb Of day" Imagine them out in companies,
in bat;alions, in regiments at drill, dress parade
on review, and you have camp before you
in IN animated and interesting phase. Imagine
now the sun 10 have set, the parchcd earth 10
be cooler Tor n little less hot, the dress parade
to be over, und the soldiers sitting out in merry
groups before their lent doors. or i, may be
here and there dancing gaily to a jocund air
executed on tho violin by some cnulous imita-
ton Of Psganriny Ole Bull cr Fituxtemps.
See the officers now with unbuttoned coats
(just recovering from the "msltiug mood" su.
perinduced by the ~undisn;ied double quick
Of the afternoon drllD lettering around
with that air of hal!-starched abandon
so beautifully typiEed in tho wet and
weltcd collar; aid that immaculate shirt
bosom, too, so smooth, and white, and
stiff before battalion drill, nov like its weaver,
obviously reduced by exercise and extreme
heat, to the meekest degree Of lassitude, con-
sistent with military dignity in undress. MY
countrynen, what } iali!" DismisSing our
fat friend Gas the gentleman We have described
may, for sake Of distinctions, be styled) let us
draw nearer 10 another group. These are oil
GERS also, and they too, seem 10 have horne
their share Of the cheat and burden Of the
day" They have their caps and coats oil, a
small darkcy is suppl ing them with copious
drauGhts OF cool water just from the spring;
one Of them has perpetratel n witticisIn Tor
attempted it and failed, which is all the better)
ard our fat friend having joined the party, is
about to begin the laugh. They are a
merry set, these bold soldier boys
But | am writing too much, considering the
pressure upon your columns at this time, 50 l.
will resume my portraiturc Of camp aud chuip
life in my next letter.
The news Of the burning OF Hampton, reached
us mere day before yesterday. In fact, the
light of the ~conlagratira was plainly visible
FROM our camp on "Wednesday night, although
the distance is betwecn thirty and forty miles.
The soldiers here from Hampton, though sad.
dened by the intelligence OF the final destruc.
ton Of their homes and household gods, cheer.
fully endorse snd cordially commend the deed,
II it will contribute ausht 10 the discontinue
of the Fandals, aad the fur,herance Of the
Southern cause. While they drop o tear on
the ashes Of their beautiful town, like the
Christian mother, weeping over the grave Of
her darling child. they look to the future for
consolation. If the cause Of the Confederate
States demands the sacrifice, let every roof and
rafter, from Virginia to Texas, be devoted to
the flames, and true patriots will never muir
null. LAURENs.
Seward gave az entertainment 10 Prince IA.
poleon, on Tuesday evening, ct which Dr. Rus.
Ill ,on.ornon5.of ~ ,ho Tnp3np ,.I',,,oe !,