The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1861-09-04
VIRGINIA CORRESPONDENTS.
lroR THE LANCASTER LEBGKR.1

Germantown, Va, Aug. ii, 1861.
Or Monday morning, the Sd Brigade Of
tn, eorps of the army of the Potomac
struck tents at Camp Pe,tus and took up
the line Of mach Tor this place The Sd
Brigade is composed of the 9th Regiment,
Col. Jenkins the 4th, Col. S.oan the 9Th,
Col. Winder, and the Gin, Col Blanding.-
The sick who were unable 10 travel were
left. DIR. Crawford was detailed TO attend
the sick Of our Regiment, the 9th lie is
great hvoritc, and especially beloved by the
sick. it is to be hoped the separation will
not last loug l miss his company, society
and cheerfulness in our mess In 4 camp
life it seems if measles are prevailing no
one escapes, who has not had them. Per-
sons who have had frequent opportunities
Of taking measles at home and escaped, are
sure to take camp measles. 1t il certainly
the most unpropitious place that n poor
soldier could take them. but so it is, he has
to submit to his misfortune and bad luck,
without comfort, but on the contrary with
every privation and Inconvenience ; often
wet, with wet buaket to sleep upon, a
wet blanket to cover with, We, knupsack
for pillow and the wet ground for bed
he has to grin and bear it. At home, he
would ole with such treatment, or. rather
with such suferings, but in camp, n kind
God seems to protect the patriotism of the
poor soldier and spare the lives Of many,
who under any other circumstances would
die. En- ough and too many will die hore
as it is, but if any OF our friends at home
could be suddenly transferred from the com
forts Of home and see the sick here, their
condition and sufferings and what they un.
dergo, they would suppose all or nearly all
must die. Previous to Monday for the last
two weeks, the sun when it was not rnin.
ing was exceedingly hot. Monday, the day
We left Camp Pettus, was cloudy aud pleas
AIT, but soon after we commenced the
m'rch it began to rain and rained on us the
most OF the way the road was often one
puddle of water mud the steady tramp Of
the four Regiments made it us sloppy as
the streets about II wet Christmas, or the
hog pen about hog killing time The road
in some places being red clay like the Wax
haws. in other places n white soil but equal.
ly rs stiff and muddy. We were in the
rear of the four Regiments, and the bag.
gage trains of the other three contributed
to make tire roads worse and still more dis
agreeable, but n soldier can get used to al-
most every Inconvenience. Many were
cheerful and appeared to enjoy the fun Of
tle rain pel,ing from above and the water
flowing in the road beneath their feet-a
few looked rs if it was more than they de.
sired or Largained for. Each man on the
march carries his musket. cartridge box fill.
o. with powder aud ball, from 90 to 40
rounds his cantecn filled with water, his
hnverssck with three days provisions, and
his knapsnck with his clothing and blan-
kets. The weight Of the " hole being full
ly fifty pounds My office require me to
have horse. find one useful and conve-
fienl On many occasions, but especially 40
on such march rs we had on last Monday.
ii is true n horse is some trouble in camp,
but on ..e march his usefulness counter
balances all that. "a horse n horse ! my
Kingdom for horse " has been thought of
and wished for with as much earnestness
and vim, as when that expression was utter
ed by King Richard Ill.,
Germantown is - miles from Alexandria,
about u f.om Frirfax G.. II and about I8
miles from Washington. 1t is n small
cross roads village Before ,he Lincoln
forces passed along it contained about 8 or
ten houses, six OF which they burned ; the
rhimneys and cinders mark the places they
stood. ], was low, mean and contempt.
bio revenge, prompted with iiessian spir-
IL Of meanness, to destroy the dwellings Of
nnoflending citizens, for TO them they had
done no harm, beside, they were the houses
evidently Of poor men their families are
now out Of doors, bouse!ess and homeless.
August 18th.
Yesterday In company with Col Bland
dog ] visited the camp of Col. Kershaw's
1tegiment, now about 2& miles from u.s.
! was sorry to find great deal Of sickness
In that regiment also. Their sick have
been sent of TO the Hospital at CuIpAper,
Orange and Charlottesville, ard some TO
Fairfax Court House, which is near by
Better attention and more comforts can be-
given then, At those PAGES. Not more than
.one-bsif, ilsekat mary, Of Capt. McManus'
.Compa la camp. All who were