The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1861-09-25
VIRGINIA CORRESPONDENCE,
iron The LANCASTER LYDGrR.1
CAMP NEAR GERMANTow,

L
September ], 1861. {
My last letter was concluded rather
abruptly. had to stop to prepare for
forward movement, which we did not make
Our camp is still at the same place, since
then we have been on the lookout hourly,
daily and nightly, for marching orders
However, the movements Of the enemy
have prevented 1t, their denominations so
fur have only been a faint, for what pur-
pose wa do not exactly understand. Gu.
advanced forces are in sevon miles of Alex.
andrin, they are being fortified with view
to hold and drive back the invaders. There
is sc be no falling back. Large armies
must necessarily move slowly, their outfit
is immense. The soldiers can move with
more facility than the transportation Of the
necessary appliances. Our Briag dc alone 70
quires about fifty wagons with four horse
teams. The tesmsters and horses have to
be fed, and the provisions for them carried
along, or hauled up after we pitch our en-
campment. The necessary horses OF the
field and staff are about 80, they require
fOsd-nll the heavy ammunition, cannon
balls, shells. caniater and grape, must to
about The medical stores cannot be dis
rsastd ~;th, .hea The provisions necessary
70 provide for the breakfast dinner and
supper Of 80 large force. This makes q
vast amount Of transportation and cannot
be overlooked. We in this matter must
depend on ovsrseersrs. In the article Of
beef alone, it takes from 8 70 10 bssvss 10
supply OUT Brigade ON bssf killing day
that article is good here, In fact choice, but
We have so much Of it and know how little
to cook It properly, that We are getting
tired Of the "much Of IT," Such beef AT
homo would be a dsiicacy. However, in
our meas We think W. prepare it Ala mode
for variety we try il IN different ways.
Bill, ronsts; John, hashss and stews james,
frys; and ], broi. Allen being otherwise
engaged but takes time TO look around and
pronouncss tho different styles "first rate I"
Dr. c. has been too incessantiy engaged
With the sick to take much part in the
cooki6g, but we will give him = chance to
try his hand after the sickness abateI. No
person has asked mo to repeat the "soldiers
Johny soup" that l told you | had made
In fact mono Of the mess rslished II, but
found one soldier who did, and from the
manner ho pitched in ] concluded 1t was
good or that he was hungry. Hs styled it
"ths Adju,ants Soup" nnd pronounced i,
"hrst rate" We all are beginning to BE-.
lisvs that We are good cooks--certainly We
have all learned great deal, and that 10
the best Of schools, experience" Bill"
10 chief and docs remarkably we'll, rather
"foggish" gives aunt "Sylva" and aunt
"Hannsh" for authonty-wants to do IS
they do "to home" Allen is less fastidious,
takes all near cuts, is ensily satisfied <bn
his performance and insists that all 10 "6rst
rate" He never frets about home but the
formers thoughts are often on home, hs
wants to SEQ his wife and child and sthe
rest Of them" In tho moving about, our
mess lost our oven. got "mixed up" expo
foneo has taught us that neither bread nor
biscuits could bs baked in a frying pam
After many inquiries We succeeded in get.
ling a rusty skillet with lid which bakes
very well. The bed making up" 10 the
sasissf part Of the soldiers work, that can
DO done every day or once week a. the
soldiers desire. Speaking Of making up
beds. must relate rather novel mode,
which q soldier in Capt. Wylie's company
adopted. Capt w. had procured load Of
straw for his men one soldier who had
been lying on piece Of an old plank 10
keep him of the we. ground, spread down
his straw, then his plank on. top Of the
straw, then his blanket and stretched of
,fpFasoft easy sleep but he found his bed
Is |iafd ~ ever. A friend discovered the |
kity aud susgsstsd that The plank be !