Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1861-11-21
FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO.
Wieen for the Fayetteville Observer.
ARMY OF PENSACOLA,
Nov LET 1891 1


~ Nov. 1st, 1861. { |
A strict sense of my obligation
to comply with promise is the
only incentive that prompts me to
begin communications this morn
ing, for | certainly am not afflicted
in the slightest with ''cacoethes
scribendi,' and if l forward you
anything like readable letter it
will be doing a large business OH
yer small capital, for camp life
does not at present furnish SUI
fcient nateriei for even one of a
more fertile Imagination than
myself to build on.
j have been constantly engaged
for two weeks attending to the
TRANSPORTATION of troops into win
ter quarters, ard preparing cabins
for others not yet provided for,
until [ can hardly begin to write
but my pen seems determined to
begin with, special requis:tion,
"invoice," abstract" or some 9th
er term appertaining to my pres
ent department Quarter Master
while saws, axes, augers, nails, etc,
alone present themselves before
my "mind's eye in chaotic con-
fusion, and sol fish some time in
my ink-stand for an idea, and "small
fry" must be the result. Whenev-
er the ''boys" are rot on fatigue
duty, there is but little to relieve
monotony; they live, move, and
have their being just as irrational
creatures do, and with but little
more regard apparently for tie
past, present, or future. Sitting
around a huge log-fre after sup
per we discuss the "on dts of the
, day, which consist of various ru-
mors from authentic" sources in
regard to the movement Of oar
regiment to MObile''-of the "dis-
bandment of the II months volun-
teers about Christmas to arm those
enlisted for the war;" ete.-to all
which, Notwithstanding tie cu-
hentic sonce) ''it's all stuff" is the
usual comment of the soldier.
The general depression in camp
is painfully perceptible. For sew
en- months we have buoyed our
spirits with the pleasing anticipa-
ton that we would certainly be
ordered hence, but hope deferred
has made the heart sick, and new
the fact that winter quarters are
assigned us preclude any further
speculation on the subject. I'm
der such circumstances each moves
, towards his duty more like a galley
slave than q citizen soldier, the
same activity that once existed is
now wanting at the daily drill, the
'eGlee Club" has disbanded. the
chords of the guitar are seldom
strung but to breathe sad airs, and
the "tattoo" for retiring, once the
} knell of hilarity, is now welcomed
! by the men, impatient to indulge
in sound sleep, that sweet though
temporary panacea for a soldier
cares. 1t is true the "affair' at
Santa Rosas awakened us from the
state of stupidity into which we
were relapsing, as it was considered
a prelude to q more important en-
gagement, but the good effect was
only ephemeral, and the embers of
humiliation have extinguished the
last spark of military enthusiasm,
for subsequent Developments tend
to show that we are only to look to
the offences of Pensacola" and
if it is any qualification to friends
at home they may rest assured that
there will be nobody hurt" at this
point for months at least to come.
All of us are anxious for our term
OF enlistment to expire, that we
may be brought into active SER
vice. Quamdiu! quamdiu!!