The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1861-12-04
lyoR The LANCASTER LrpakR.I
CAMP CAMDEN, Nov. 20, 1861.

matter was no excuse for not writing and
'o.day being so wet and rainey rs to pro.
hibit us from doing duty, we will occupy
a few leisure moments in penning some
things that may, perhaps, interest some of
your readers.
We are stationed at a place near, in fact,
on the battle-ground Of the 18th July, close
to where Col. Jenkins captured portion of
Sherman's fine Battery. From my tent
door can view the whole ground. A gen.
tleness, which nover thought could have
followed n ha!d fought battle, pervades the
whole scenery around. But the second
view "tells a tale" On both sides can be
seen the graves Of the martyred dead The
earth, the trees, and even the adamantine
rocks, have been shattered, torn asundcr by
the almost impedeless balls. All this un.
folds tale not only Of sorrow and suffer
ing, but demonstrates 10 the passer by, that
civilized as well rs unciSilized nations, can
err and plunge their country into the deep
| est depths Of war, famine and misery.
We mad quite severe storm in camp not
long since. 1t commenced about midnight
and lasted the better part of next day. The
rain fell in torrents and the tents were
blown down and scattered in every drec
tion. However, we soon had them pitched
again, but had TO stand sentinel the remain
der Of the night to keep them from falling
| again. That night and the next day was
what soldiers call n lively time Every
now and then could be heard keen shrill,
and the inference was that some poor fel.
lows tent had gone over-that being the
sign OF distress in camp that night. Not.
withstanding such times as these are, it is
not so trying as person unacquan.ed with
our mode of life would imagine. We sol.
diers have learned, BY dearly bought expe.
rience, to bear it with patience, and so we
look upon it as a kind of amusement Who
il he that wouldn't be soldier
Yesterday morning week ago, an order
came from head quarters that Brigade re.
view would be had that evening at 3 o'clock.
Every one rubbed up their gun, swo rds
up to the notch for II grand display. We
were expecting TO meet our new Major. Gen.
eral (Van.Dorn) for the first time, and
knowing that the first Impressions are often
the best and most lasting. we were rigged
off TO tie best Of our opportunities, hoping
to make favorable opinion or the General
at the .tnrt But what a disappointment.
Scarcely had We reached the parade ground
before the frowning elements poured down
such drenching column of water, that
we were forced to make a retrograde move.
ment to camp at the expense offs good wet
ting and without seeing our General His
former reputation is sufficient we are
cot anxious to see him until the Yankees
CONE, then we know we will be honored
with his presence. So the rain changed
the programme, and next morning BY way
Of substitute. an order came for the ID Reg.
iment to go on Picket duty for three or
four days After the necessary prepara
tons were made, the Regiment Was formed
and off We started for the post we now oc
cuPy. Picket duty is now Performed by
regiments instead Of companies as was the
case some time back. a regiment is sent
out some three or four miles in the drsc
'ion Of the enemy and halts, and then com.
panies ARE sent out in advance Of this Our
company is on post to-day. | am now
writing from the advanced bost Of the ar.
my. so if am surpri, ed by the enemy while
s't'ing here negleciing my duty, in order
to write that which avails me nothing ex.
cePt the pleasure il affords Others, | mus,
hold you, Ar. Editor, or somebody else re-.
sponsibie.
While write, Federal officer is pass.
ing by-a prisoLer. lie reports that the
enemy are not nearer than Falls Church in
force, hence the reports time and again that
the enemy were advancing-had driven in
our pickets-causing US TO build breast
works and strengthen our outposts, are like
tho majority Of camp tales--fabuIous.-
Shakespeare says, "Egad how this world
is given to lying" Now everything is quiet
and no fight expected soon-for week ut
least.
Friday morning We could see the beau
tiful snow.capped heads of the Blue Ridge
Mountains, presea,inga grand and pictures.
que appearance. So you see, when we have
rain and wind in the vaIlies, We have snow
on the mountains. will here remark, that
saw piece of rich pine this morning, tho
first | have seen in Virginia.
Capt. McManus is with us now. We
are glad he has returned, especially myself
as he will take great deal Of responsible.
ty and duty of Of my shoulders, on nc.
count Of lieut C!yburn being sick in Hos.
pital at Charlottesville. lie was getting on
finely at last accounts. llis fever had bro.
ken.
Having heard that report had reached
home that had lost all the baggage in nv
charge TO this place, and knowing the value
Of il and the interest manifested by those
who gave II, feel ii my duty for the bene.