The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1861-07-18
0urArmp Correspondence
Correspondence Of the News.
Letter from One of the Hillsborough
Band.
CAMP UPToN, VGRGINIA, I
July 6. 1861.

are having very quiet time IN camp
now, and Secessiouists are becoming q
rare sight in this vicinity. That long
talked Of and much wished.for day
poy.ddy, has at length arrived. The
Sec ond Regiment were paid off for two
months service and mileage, amount
ing to from tbirty.three to thirty-ninc
dollars per man, the difference owing to
the different distances they Travelled be.
fore being sworn into the service Of the
Government.
The various refrsshmcat stands that
are permitted within their lines are
reaping golden harvest now, but it did
not pay them to come out before the
men had drawn their pay. We went
down to one of the stands the next
morning, around which there we're sew
eral hundred men gathered, all trying
to be served FIRST, crowding, jamming
and pushing each other, aud some lit
tie fellows who, like Zaccheus, are
small of stature, climbed trees over
hanging the stand, and had pies pass
ed up to them. There is nothing al
lowed in camp which will intoxicate,
but sometimes there is a little Of "the
ardent smuggled in. No passes are
granted to any one to 60 outside of the
camp, unless they are on the sick list
There has been a number of the men
court.martialed for overstayidg their
passes and altering their dates.
There was man shot himself
through the hand this evening, the FIRST
case of accidental shooting that has
occurred since we joined them.
The officers take a great deal of care
to prevent their men injuring or de-
stroying private property, and for all
that is destroyed they make full resti-
tuition. They have placed guards
arouud the wheat-6elds to prevent the
soldiers going through aud trampling
down the wheat, and pulling it to make
beds. We have had variety of wealth
er here during the last week. 1t is ex-
cessively hot in the daytime, and very
cool at night. Some say that the great
comet that has made its appearance
has something to do with the fckleness
of the weather.
Tuesday our Band were given beau
tiful swords, and these, together with
their trappiugs, give us very military
appearance. We could here the boys
saying, "Now we are going into battle,
certain, for themusicians have got their
sidearms. Some of the boys say we
are to be reserve for the regiment to
fall back on aud rally in case they
should be defeated.
1t was rumored in camp that we
would march to Fairfax on the 4th, but
we did not go. 1t is probable they
were anticipating an attack here, as
Col. McCook ordered his men not to
leave the streets of their camp more
than fifty yards, unless in case of ex-
treme necessity, and to have their
knapsacks packed and cartridge-boxes
filed, ready to march at moments
notice, for he expected they would be
called out that day. We we're aroused
from our peaceful slumbers on the
morning of the 4th by the bugler run
ming in and telling US that the pickets
we're driven in, and we would be imme-
diatcly attacked, but it was all hoax.
However, We went out and fell into line
with the regiment, and played the Star
Spangled Banner, Red, White and
Blue, and Yankee Doodle, aud Col
Mason went through with some core
mony in honor of the flag or the Fourth,
we do not know which. @. -.-. .
We could hear the cannon long be-
fore daylight, and we could hear the
reports of heavy guns through the day
all around US, in every direction, ex.
eept the West, the Ohio regiments be-
ing the advance in that direction. One
of our scouts to-day got inside the en-
emy's camp, and within full view of
their camp, but being warned by an old
farmer that it would not be safe to-yen-
ture any further, he returned without
having gained any information of i'm
portance. The Connecticut and Rhode
Island Regiments are provided with
balloons, from which they take views
of the surrounding country. They
have them anchored to the ground to
keep them from floating away, aud have
telegraphic Communication with the
camp below. Yours, o. S. c.,
The Imagination and the feelings