Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1861-10-10


Although we are not yet in the enemy's
country, and consequently have expert
enced none of the dangers of war, yet a
communication from Captain SPANeLER's
company may not be uninteresting to ma
ny Of your readers. Well, here we are en-
joying all the pleasures of Camp life;
pleasures, indeed if such we may call them;
sleeping upon the ground and cooking our
own "grub," 6amping about at the stern
command of the Drill Master, are pleasures
which the most of us are by no means
used to. .- Il.
1t is true, that for the private citizen to
change quiet home and tho society of
friends for the noise and confusion of the
camp, and the unpolished society of SOL
diers, not to mention many other things
equally important but BY no means pleas
ant, has tendency, for time, to cast a
gloom over the mind, and to cause the
inexperienced recruit to long for the pleas
ures of peace; but the genuine patriotism,
burning within his breast, will nerve him
for every adversely, and enable him to en-
dure hardships as yet unthought of. But
even camp life is not without its pleasures.
1t is certainly pleasure to know that our
calling is a glorious one, approved by the
entire civilized world, and by God him
self; that we are regarded by all loyal cit
izens as the safeguard of the nation, and
the only hope of expiring liberty. 1t is
certainly pleasure to know the prayers of
the entire christian world are daily ascend
ing to the throne of grace, beseecbing the
Eternal Goodness on our devoted heads,
and that not only friends but even stran
gers are deeply interested in our personal
welfare, for the proof of which we have bad
abundant evidence.
In this connection l desire 10 make pub
lie our acknowledgment of the kindness
manifested toward us by our friends, on
Thursday, the Sd inst. On that occasion
we were most. agreeably and most sump-
tuously entertained on the choicest provi-
sions and even the luxuries of private life,
and that, too, in almost extravagant abun-
dance; TO say nothing of the pretty faces,
the happy smiles, and the agreeable con-
versation, which greeted our rough exte-
rior. We have often attended pic-nics,
where friends mingle with friends, where
youth and pleasure meet
To chase the glowing hours with flying feet"
But never have we attended one where
the Joy was so perfect and the pleasure so
general as on that occasion. The tables
loaded with all the niceties which warm
hearts could bestow, or tender hands pre-
pare, bore a striking contrast with the
same tables as they were short time be-
fore loaded with the rough substantials
prepared by the unskilful hand of the raw
recruit. Such days interspersed thrughout
a soldiers life like the Oaces in the great
Sahara, serve as kind of farewell to the
pleasures of private life; and the soldier
needs no better manifestation of friendship
than for those whom he calls his friends to
follow him to the camp with the "good
things of life." That they may live long
to enjoy the blessings of freedom and
the prosperity of renewed peace, is the
hearty wish of their soldier friends. For
ourselves, we are at pleasantly situated as
we could expect. Our company is compos-
ed Of brave and agreeable fellows, and our
officers can't be beat, and we are deter
mined to give good report of ourselves
when the hour of trial come.
More anon,
S. H. CORN.