Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1861-07-02

Onions for 5redkfst-T Taste in d,ess-Lddics
scarce Nobody to loUe-Developing resouress--
Beautiful in nature-inteTesiiag iHteTogaforits--
Posting Of Staiiasis--Sigaag the pledgs-IoTi
Deposit-DuH Sanddy--Boarding ii hotel,
&c, Sc, &C.
Perryville, Md, I
Saturday night, June 20, 1861.
NIR. EDITOR -
The presumption has been that II
town existed here with character to entitle it MOI
only 10 name, hut to IA local habitation = but
to US, it is exceedingly probematical, 80 much .
that we almost regard it us myh. with nn ex-
istenee only in the Imagination The persistent
inquiry ever since our removal here, has been,
"Wheres the vilage?' To this no satisfactory
answer has yet been returned. The men have
been engaged in reconnaissance, aud report ai-
ter diligent exploration in all directions, that
they can discover nothing answering to the des-
cription Of n town. They say that just across
the track from our quarters, some buildings are
planted, without any pretensions to arrangement,
und at "magnihcent distances" but to call it a
place would be a misnomer, it has not attained
10 sufficient size to he christened yet, though q
kind Of notoriety has been thrust upon it, like
honor upon some people, as Shakespeare would
have ii. Some of the soldiers partial to statis-
ants, five houses and four hotels all of which
buildings, their report records, stretch over an
area Of ground, equal TO that once encircled in
ancient days, by strips from the hide Of " the
lord of the lowing herd" at the instance of n
sharp fenale, who by means Of this cute Yankee
trick, cheated the proprietor out of land enough
to build city upon but u wide margin must be
allowed to their representations, since cxaggern-
tions are in order.
ha plaf bar Ia
morning our caterer, in pursuit of provisions
under difficulties, makes his grand rounds, md
returning reports, no butter TO be had, ii may
he or not an egg in the stores as the latter
article is u kind Of standby at our table; and
to guard against any deficiencies in this respect,
the policy of negotiating for few old hens, for
the sake Of an collar crop, is under considern-
ton. There is little fresh meat obtainable, and
as n consequence we eat salt meat go constantly
that our threats feel as though there was one
vast saline deposit down there. which would re
quire the inhibition Of a small stream to remove
Ono fellow asserts that gallon of peas would
glut the market, and that bushel of young pc
tatoes would occasion such stagnatOn that the
producer of this very necessary tuber, would not
feel encouraged to bring any more in for the
season but this is extravagant again. We see
vegetables so seldom, that we have almost be-
come oblivious of the impressions the pnlltc de-
4
ter short absence returned. with some onions
in his hand, which he placed on the breakfast
table; it had been 50 very long since We had
eaten any, one of us had to expose his ignorance
by inquiring if people generally ate them with
salt; such want of knowledge is excusabe, how
ever, under the circumstances.
Very little attention is paid to dress down here,
there being no ladies to dress for. We are iu-
different us TO the style; tits q matter of no mo-
mput Wlafhpr vi blnpt our hoota mr. NOT mr. havn
on a collar, which we now regard as supefiuOus
we can wear our blue flannel shirts without
either coat or vest, and have no apprehensons
Of the ladies criticising our appearance, We fit
ourselves for the camp, not the parlOr. II is so
seldom that we enjoy the blessed privilege of
seeing lady, that if We have to remain here
long, like Casper Ilauser we shall open our
eyes in amaze ut the sight OF one, and regard.
ing her rs q divinity, adore her. We have seen
but two females about the grounds since we have
been here; whether there are any more about
here, or whether they give us n wide berth, de-
ponent saith not. a place devoid of such society
Is not suited to the taste Of the soldier, who is
supposed to be privileged to have at every new
encampment, some fair one, upon whom his SUI
pernhundant affections, after his love for his
country ind self, can be concentrel, said af-
iections to be changed to some other object, with
u change of station. With all these little draw
backs, isn't tsurprs:ng that the men could get up
feeling of contentment here Not when it is
known that they have discovered the whereabouts
OF number OF fine cherry treee, which afford
some excellent cherries they visit the trees very
frequently. 1t don't take them long to develop
the resources of place. md find out its points
Of interest
The river affords fine field for the enjoyment
of the soldier who discovered very soon that it
can be appropriated to other uses than that OF
navigation, for every day, with hook and line,
he is angling for the finny tribe II very diminu-
tive specimen of which he catches aud in the
evening he is splashng about in the water, cool.
ing himself Aside from these privileges, to n
lover of nature who is pleased to contemplate
her glories, there is an enjoyment pure aud un-
mixed, in the studying OF the Susquehanna, in
her several phases-a charm that inspires the
soul In the day, with its slightly rppled sur
face, or at night, when the moon, in her purity
aud splendor beaming upon IT,, making wide
aud extended line Of silyery light, forming n
beautiful watery mirror, in which her pale face
is seen, made apparently irregular by the dancing
undulations on the bosom of the water Who
does not like to look at the beautiful in nature,
feeling a something iudefnable arising in his
breast, which niuses calm and q peace of
mind, with the view expansive, expanding the
soul, as 1t were, giving it u greater capacity for
the emotional, besides improving the morale of
the man; sense of enjoyment dependent upon
no sensual Qualifications, but inherent in the
mind, faculty placed there for the appreciation
of Gods works, and the glory of his creation.
The men are better pleased with their quar-.
tiers than with tents, though the flies that some
times swarm, trouble us more than sccessionists;
in camp our pests were the ants. The quarters
here afford the men plenty of room, in which
to Sleep sit and eat, and to hang up their ac
coutrements, equipments and arms they look
quite coy, and have space in which to spread
themselves. They have been digging holes un.
der the bank in which to place their provision
boxes, ms though they were going to put up here
some time, or make it a permanent residence,
and wished to make everything comfortable.
Seated in our room, we can hear the conyer-
sation going on in an adjoining room among the
fellows. Some are discussing the question what
they shall do on the Fourth; another one SAYS,
"Nhat's trumps2" another, "Dll, have you
seen my knife ?" again, "Ben give me a pipe full
of tobacco" or, "Iellows, | wonder what kind
OF money they are going TO pay us in % "Now,
look here, boys, don't go to breaking up our fur
niture in that way" aud numberless other ex-
pressions which show good state Of feeling.
A few days ago, in passing through the depot,
we observed one Of our soldiers seated upon tbe
platform with his feet touching the ground
another soldier was standing in front of him cut.
ting bis hair; squad of men were standing
around much interested in the barberizng going
on, and all the time poking fun ut the victim,
iuquiriug of the knight Of the scissors, ''say Jim
are you going to whlewash his head after Won
have sheared III" "Do you sand paper il ~
After the capillary substance has been removed,
and has become so short that par of pincers
couldn't seize II, then they ask OF him how lone
he has been out Of the penitcnliary, or if he has
had nn attack of fever which necessitated the
cutting of his hair in the improved bob.tail
fashion
Our charge is rather an important one; the
sentinels are posted about the quarters, over the
railroad tracks, depot buildings, and at the pier
to have an eye upon the steamer maryland"