American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1861-10-19

CAHP NEAR LEEsRTRG,
Gen. Evans Brigade.
October !, Ct.

my pen TO indite thought or two, think
ing that anything relative to our army,
even if frequently repeated, may prove
Of interest TO yourself and readers. Your
entertaining correspondent 'Ensis," has
given you description as correct, as it is
admirable, of this place and It's surround
ings; but when il comes to delineation
of the glorious landscape engirdling US,
language acknowledges its inability to
portray the grandeur and sublmity every
where presented. The scenery here is truly
magnificent, composed, as it is, Of noun
tains, with their coronals Of green, while
at their base, either wales repose bloom
ing with luxuriant growth, or else for
ests waving with histrionic memories, stand
forth In all their solemn grandeur /; and
then above, as belonging to this scenery.
are floating islands of light until the set
ting sun makes the west resplendent with
purple and gold and the stars falter
forth upon the brow Of night. I. is
somewhat singular that locality so we'll
adapted to ones enjoyment as Leesburg
should be overlooked by those in pursuit
of health and happiness. It's situation,
scenery and conyeniences indicate it to
be desirable place for resort. This city
was very accessible to travellers until hos
tilities commenced on the Potomac, at
which time the railway was torn up.
Leesburg is the county-seat of London.
and has q population Of nearly two
thousand, while Loudon is one of the
wealihiest equities in Virginia and second
to none in importance. Its farmers are
principally engaged in raising grain.
wheat, oats, rye and corn. Tobacco is
not cultivated, to any great extent, in
this part of the State. The land here is
rich and rewards, in an ample manner,
The farmer for his toll. With regard to
Virginia hospitality, l am justified in
saying it cannot be excelled even by that
in Mississippi. The ladies here are as
affabIe and kind as they are accomplished
and beautiful. Apparently, they make
every exertion to administer to the health
and happiness of the soldiers. So sensi-
bic are our soldiers Of this that should
not be at all surprised if. after the war,
many of them evinced their appreciation
of this disinterested conduct on the part
of the Virginia ladies by proposing to
them to exchange their northern homes
for those Of a more southern latitude.
Owing to the strict military discipline
controlling our actions, we are debarred,
to great extent, the society of the ladies,
but from distance we can see them, for
daily they visit our encampment to wit
ness our dress parades. Among the la
dies who have lately favored us with their
presence l recognized Mrs. Singleton,
Mrs. Barnett and Mrs. A. G. Brown,
OF Mississippi. With regret, learn the
tale in circulation has been put that "Vir-
ginians often impose upon the soldiers"
This is base fabrication. True, some
of the merchants and the itinerant ven
ders of produce try TO flch the soldiers
out of their money BY attaching an ex-
horbitant price to their goods and then
like SO many Shylocks, exacting the last
cent, but this does not place Virginia
character in an unfavorable light for all
the elite and responsibility denounce the
swindling course pursued. while l think.
if the truth were known, these wretched
cormorants would be found to be exo!ics
to Virginia soil.
Our regiment is fast becoming healthy
one-the few sick are fast becoming con-
valescent. We never have had as many
diseased soldiers as the. 18th and 18th
Mississippi regiments, but they, too, like
the 18th, are now in good fighting con-
+dition. Speaking of the 18th Mississippi
regiment | understand it has just re-
ceiyed orders to start for Fairfax. Eve
ryday We are expecting battle. Our
soldiers are keen for conflict Anything,
they think, is preferable to the duh mo-
notony of camp-lhe. 1t is reasonable to
suppose that we will be engaged in san
culinary strife before we go into winter
quarters-it is so if the Yankees pursue
the policy they have announced of ma
| king this contest short and decisive
Our encampment is only about three miles
! from the enemy; from our position plain
/ ly can be heard the laundering of their
cannonade, and frequently. can be seen
the bursting shell and the smoke arising
from howitzer and mortar. Often, too,
we hear the rub-a- dub of their drums
went down to the Potomac, few day:
since, where our pickets are sentinelled
| was not afraid of Yankee bullets be.
cause there seemed to be tact
agreement to the effect that pickle
firing on both sides be suspended 81
boldly I washed my face and han DIS il
Its classic waters, while Just opposit,
rvbpra stood IN the MARYLAND eide z0f