Daily national Democrat., 1861-10-08
A woRD ron THE RFer1,ns Under hi.

A WORD FOR THE REGULARS Under this
caption a Regular" writes to the Union
from the camp near San Bernardiuo as fol-
lows:
Ia looking over your columns constantly
hud the noble volunteers ure prayed Tor
and lauded to the skies prodigies of vulor
and 1isiuLerestedness, etc. This is all very
well, and / for one, do not wish to detract
from their merits. and Willingly agree that
they are nobly answering the call of duty in
their country's hour of peril but, as a 7,e1u-
lar, | would ask are I'VE" the "regulafs" IA
recognized part and parcel of the nation? Is
our existence known by the contributors to
the press? DO the people think of us as
ready, able. and burning with wish to show,
as we have SO often done before that we are
not "a mere cypher Are We not taking ''our"
part in the momentous crisis in which the
country is placed should like to ask if
you have no room to make mention of us, or
are we such mere nonentities as not to be
worthy of note : A mere recognition is a
wondrous incentive to men in the hour of
peril the consciousness that their doiugs are
watched, and taken for their true worth, is
very hattering equally to us as to goiunteers
| should like to know what opinion the good
not hattering. 1t is no doubt very gratifying
to the volunteers to be petted and caressed
by the ladies; to know that thousands Of fair
fingers are working speedily and carefully
night and day, as only woman can, making
shirts, comforters, havelocks, etc, etc, for
their comfort, nursing them in sickness to
say nothing of the handsome flags presented
10y fair donors; enough to inspire the vercst
potroon with Herculean courage and deter
nnaion to do or die. Then the fattering
notices next day of grand reviews" fine
"sVdierly' appearance and, martial bearing"
of "oHr r0f"nteerS and so on, Gd Hb., is quite
intoxicating. We do not eXf ect all this, nor
do we wish it, but let lis know if we are of
any use at all are our services counted upon
only as a "fororn hope" or still worse
bearing in mind the previous troubles in
which our nation has been engaged-are the
REGULARS" not Irregular" but 'rregular" aud
''deteetive!' In plain words, give us a few
lines in your columns once in Il while.
MARE ISLAND NAVY YARD.-Thc improve
ments in progress at Mare Island under the
present administrative regime, are of such
character It's must meet with the sanction of
the people of the State, as well as the ap-
proval of the General Government. A good
force of strong and willing hands is adsanc-
ing the work steadily and substantially. An
immense foundry three hundred and seventy
hVe by seventy feet, for the casting of cannon
has Just been completed and although no ma
chiDery has as yet been placed in it, the cost
liest and strongest that can be made has been
ordered, including superb marine engines,
etc. chimney to be one hundred and forty
feet high, by far the loftest on this coast, is
rapidly ascending and will soon be land
mark visible for miles down the bay. The
contractors have large force at work grad
ing the grounds, and the evidences Of their
industry are witnessed both in the eXcava-
tion and filling up Of the inequalities, thus
increasing the area Of level smooth ground |
The sectional dry dock which was SO materi-
ally impaired last year, is being rapidly re-
paired, and at an early day will be ready to
receive vessels, large or small, needing over
hauling. The British war steamship IIecate |
is waiting to he LITE into the dock. so soon
as everything is completed BY the end of
the present fiscal year. there will be wonder |
ful improvements effected at this busy hive |
Especial credit for these improvements is due |
Calvin Brown, Civil Engineer, and Melvin |
Simons, Naval Constructor. The Govern |
ment has at last awakened to the Importance
of this post as a naval depot, aud that San
Francisco is virtually the half way station
on the high road Of the worlds commerce,
consequently the Importance of having here
immense facilities for streng henng this arm
of our country's service requires just such
outays as are now being made at Mare Is
land.-Aha.