Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1861-12-13
Delaware Gazette Army Correspondence.
CANP KINa. Ky, Dec. 3d. 1861.

are stun IN The land OF cane and turkeys
celebrated in song as ''the old Kentucky shore
Winter having fairly set in, times are NJ
quite as pleasant as they have been. We hay
had some rain, some mud and some snOw-ti
/ first inStalmcnt of a series of visits old Fathe
Winter is expected to pay rs.
The broken weather has retarded our drllin
! for some time, but we hive had the bette
chance TO practice at target shooting. Q
each trial Of skill the best shots in each Con
pany were reported to headquarters. We ha
no William Tells among US, but we have pier
| ty of men who can make the bullets tell prett
| fairly OF the mark. On Thanks giving da
Liet. Col. Force sent for the best marksnfln il
each company, and presented them with tur
key each. Joshua L. Dunlevy four Orderl,
Sergean) was the lucky man in Company d
''who like the miiler's [won-
Just lit the nlrk right front that hs the wager
Thanksgiving day passed. of pleasantly 70
the season. In the morning we were out ol
drill when Major McEiroy informed our Cap
tain that his company was detailed to escort
the new regimental eolors to the parade grount
for presentation. Our Captain speedily tool
us to our quarters where we busily employed
ourselves in "sleeking up SO as to be ready
for the ceremony. The order to fall in" was
cheerfuily responded to- and we were soon on
the parade ground. From thence our Com
pauy filed off to escort the eolors. We hal ted
before the COlonel's quarters, where we had
fill view Of our splendid fig. 1'h2re stood
Major sieElroy holding in his hand our
"Heaven Born Banner
ar SMALL -,
what it lacks in siza. The centre is deep blue,
which forms a beautiful contrast with its yellow
fringe. Then the proud bird of our banner
occupies d conspicuous place beneath an arch
Of silvery stars The whole so gracefully ar
ranged, calls up in the memory the beautiful
lines of Drake:
.'Wlen Free Ion4 FROM Ii lr nt,uItt,tirf Height
UirnrIcI her Stan lard to tbs air;
Sla tore the azure rob- OF night
AnI pllceJ ths stars OF glo.y thcre.''
Bat to continue; the Color Sergeant of Com
pany c advanced anl took the flg, then took
a position in our centre. We fled to the
right and marched quick time to the parade
ground. The Color Sergeant took his place
at the left of Company O. We marched to
the rear and took our position. The order
" Parade Rest" brought US to a position of
case. All was still save the gentle patlcring
of the rain, so like an April shower that one
might forget it was winter. Our Lieut.. Colo
mel briefly addressed the mtn in something Ike
the following languages
"SohDIHRs OF The Corn RBGLNENTI-Thesc
are your colors. You must guard them as
woman guards her honor You must guard
item with sacred jealousy. Wherever we
90 these eOlors must 90 with US. No traitors
hand shall ever trail them in the dust. If ever
we return, we shall bring them back safe; we
shall hook on them with pride. with pleasure,
and with satisfaction
Deep silence pervadal The ranks, but ven
ture to say there was not heart unmoved-
not one who did not fully concur in every sem
timent expressed by our excellent Lieut.. Colo
mel. Beneath a rough exterior, the soldier has
IA heart to feel" This little scene recalled to
many the parting of friends, when the case and
Injuries of home were given up, and the young
and vigorous rushed to the dcfeGse of their
country; when the great heart of the loyal
States, with one accord resolved that come
what will, that flag must foat-and float it
will when the miserable traitors who, with
sacrcigious hand, would pluck down its cclcs-
tial stars, will have sunk in oblivion or only
be known in history by their dark treason and
bloody Deeds
The colors wete again brought to the front
and our Company got orders to escort them to
headquarters. As we once more stepped off
to the cnlivcning notes of Yankee Doodle,
thought of the vast army which will ere long
be in motion to avengs the insult offered to
our flag when Sumter fell. But the disgrace
shall be wiped out and We shall see our banner,
as in bygonc days,
'Fag of the free hearts if5pe an Il hons
By angel hands to yalor given,
Thy stars have lit the weIkn dome,
Ana all thy hGcs were born in He.tven;
Forever nOat that standard sheet,
Where brcathcs the foe, but falls before Us,
With Freedoms suil beneath our feet,
And Freedoms banner streaming o'er us.'
Camp has again become pleasant, the mud
again become terra .frma, so that we move
round quite pleasantly. There is always some
thing interesting going on in camp, so that a
cheerful, merry-hearted fellow will never get
tired of camp life. As a general thing that
old complaint from which folks at home are
not always free) called the "b!ues,' gets hold
Of our visitors when they stop here, for the
first or second night But when they get used
to lying on mother earth, they must admit its
4 better foundation than feather bed
We sleep comfortably and warm; in fact,
never slept so sweetly Or soundly in my life
Most Of the men have a rubber blanket or
overcoat, which they spread next to the floor.
This keeps off all dampness and saves their
blankets from dirt. Two generally sleep to-
geihcr, if indeed, there can be any distinction
where an lie in such proximity to each other.
You may well think the men in each mess are
close friends
II is amusing 10 go through camp at night,
when the m are in their q-Iartcrs. Here in
one tent they are singing hymns, in the next
you hear Il debate, in the fonrth they have a
speech, and all imaginable freaks of firm are TO
be found in camp. The tents, by moonlight.
look like so many fishing snrIcks, itE ltfl sail.
Although we can find no fault with oar pres
ent location, our boys still express desire to
see active service. 1t is to be hoped that they
will ION be sratifeI Our Regiment is re-
cruiting slowly, but we expect to have our
full complement before long. Those of our
Company who have been sick are all recover
Cd but we still have three men in the hospi-
tai.
We arc pleased to find that Delaware coun-
t. still responds to the call of our country
We feel justly proud of her; hurrah for Dela-
ware! Still they come! We believe there are
no "secesif' in Delaware, except a few old dry,
crusty fellows, whose sole delight is the AL
mighty Dollar. We hope there are not many
of them. One closing word to the ladies:-
Any young man who has not pluck enough to
volunteer, let him die an old "btcril"
LAWRENCE GRENNEN.
Among the military reforms agreed upon by
the Secretary of War and Gen. Mcclellan is
one to abolish reginRntal music for brigade
bends. esttif reginent to have its own flies.