Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1861-12-11
From tt j. T. B.o

II he knew now mucn pleasure his letters afford
tho readers of the Adoertiserl las ne hear from
all quarters) he would feel himself DELINQUENT
in special, bounden duty every week he fails to
remember us epistolarily.
From the letter in hand we feel at liberty to
make the subjoiued extracts:
By-the-by, this is the day the Aduertiser comes
to us-Suuday; VIC will get it this afternoon.
Sunday is not always holiday with us. This
morning ut nine, sky leaden, wind marrow search.
ing, mud fathomless, orercoats lacking, hearts
stout, right nrms ready, all calculated to keep a
hotel" We left our spectral white tents and
marched out to Picket Station, No. 4, four mile,
from our encampmont What march Dante,s
hell has nothing to equal it. We have relisyed
Col. TERsHAw with the Second Regiment; they
hnre beon out for three days past, during which
they have had implacably bad weather. The
four Regiments of Gen. BoNHAx's Brigade picket
at this Station, each remaining out three days.
Imagine the pleasure of standing out two,
or three hours during the night, in rain, slect,
snow, mud, without fire, without oyercoats, and
with the penalty of death before you should you
fall asleep! Most truly i,it the private soldier
who most prominently deserves the honor and
gratitude Of his country. Proud am I to say that
this honor and gratitude not yet wanting to u.s.
for our noble women have worked for u, in
spirit which is holy, and with an effectiveness that
seems blessed of God. On Picket duty it is the
duty Of the field officers to visit the Company Re-
serves and all the outpoDts between midnight and
four o'clock, A. NJ; our line is fully three miles
in length, and runs through briar and brake.
thieket and ravine SO lou see it is not the pri-
yate alonc who undergoes hnrdships and expo
sure. Your correspondent once accompanied Mai.
sEIDELs upon his midnight round, and, although
following in the wake of the gallant Major, who
pushed right forward with his usual mpetuosii,,
he still considers it the moat perous undertaking
of his life. Our eyes and the eyes of our horses
were repeatedly torn entirely out and our shins
and elbows permanently Invested of skin.
"Near US while Pickcting is field upon which
are to bc seen forty-six mounds, the graves Of
brave soldiers, South Carolinians, who died Of
mensels while our Regiments under Gen. Jcxss
were eneamped near Germantown. neat wood
en- hcad-piece with the name, and date of death,
marks each grave. These mounds look bare and
cold and comfortless, but the dend who die in
such a cause, sleep we'll; at eve, in the mooucss
midnight, in the gray dawn, they lift not mp THAR
covering. Let US hopo that they have received
mercy at that Mercy-seat where mercy is SO in
o1haustible. This leads me to speak of the de.th
of the young, noble, brave, intelligent and ahlia.
bic LAycDoS MoDLgY; he too, so young, go be-
loved, has died for his country. When We con-
template this seemingly premature death, wo
must wonder OF the ways in which God has or
dained the loves, lives, rewards, successes, pas
sions, actions, ends Of his creatures. Around the
grave Of LAXGDos MoDLgY were unseen troops Of
mourners, for wo al rose up in heart at the sound
of that bell and silently followed the honored
hearse.
"As to our winter life here, ne are still in
tents, still kept from building cabins by the rob-
abilities Of u move or fight. Our Colonel, Lieut.
Colonel and Adjutant have built for themselves
snug houses !; hope they msy not havc to leave
them. Some Of us have stov"', and many have
!
neys wood yet awhile is quite abundant, and
upon the whole we do not have 8 bad time. Don't
cease to send us covering though. The blankets
50 literally contributed by tho ladies OF the vii
they wero Goi-send assure you, for this Com
pany was peculiarly in need Of them. Our heavy
employments arc digging trenches, throwing mp
breastworks, drilling and picketing. Our amusc-
mcnts are winter preparations, trips to Manassas
for jorcs afternoon visits to the srand forti6ca-
tiuns and splendid dress paradcs of Centrevile,
writing letters, drying Lecf, eating apples and
chesnuts, cards, gossip, laughter, sleep. At Gen.
trrvic and Manassas VIC buy oysters at dollar
quart, butter at sixty cents pound apples at
fifty cents a dozen, chcsnu;s ut twenty-five cena
q qcart, &C., &c. One of our chief amusements
tou is music at night, for VIC have avery excellent
band, led by Mr.. Bgy. CLARK, Of our District;
they play at rcvcillc, guard mounting, dress pa
rsde on the march, and ut tattoo Our Camp,
like the world at lsrge is q real Vanity Fair;
sometimes it is Vanity Fair bright, happy and
united; sometimes Vanity Fair cold, dull and dis
cordaut.
"Repors Of McCLELLAxs advaLc= are still
rife, but we no longer expect bin, at cnst not be-
fore Centrerillc; We snurt with incredibly at tho
bar; mention Of such Il thing We arc ready
however ii he should conc.
Our Brigade s now in the Division Of Major
General VAS DoRx Of Texas fame. This Division
cou.ists of the Drisa.le1 Of Gen. BoSHAN, Gen.
RopEs, Gen. EARLY, the Hampton Legion, and
NIL the Cavalry in this region. In Gen. RoDEs'
Brigade is the large and magnificent rife regiment
of Col SErBELs, which has lately been provided,
except two companies, with splendid sabre bayo-
nets it is a most nvihcible looking corps, oppu-
lenty armed and equipped. Lately VIC have had
three grand reviews. The whole Division, save
tho Hampton Legion, which is too far Of, has
been reviewed by Gen. YAK Dorm; then by Gen.
BEAuREcAnD, accompanied by Gen. TAS DoRx;
then by Gen. JouSsoS, accompanied by Gen. VAN
Dons, Gen. LoSGsrREEr, Gen. BEAuREcARD. The
spectacle upon each Of these occasions has been
very brilliant and imposing. The Generals and
the members of their stafs, have appeared en-
orandc tenue, and in uniforms ,trikingly 6ien pro-
uonce these Generals are without exception ex-
trcmcy distinguished in appearance, manners and
horscmanshp Our eyes have truly behold lately