Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1861-05-16
From the Cult 1T Meritn'
Written for the Fayetteville Observer
LIFE IN THE CAMP.
NJ :"
FoRr BARANcAs, April 22d, 1861.
No. y.

Itranspired so many stirring incidents
at this point, so many rumors OF
wars. aud. false reports as. to facts,
THAT il would be task TO enumerate
III, m, and quite bore to read, even
Iif those which are true could be as
certaiDed; but l have got through
clearing away the supper things"
and having clear table before me i
will "write up to the present time,
for | am away behind 10 that res-
pect, not having had time possibly
to attend TO my correspondence -
will me niion before it escapes me
that l haye been promoted to the
, position of staff officer In the %
Regiment Of Alabama ID months
Volunteers, and being ia consequence
thereof relieved Of those unpleasant
duties that devolved upon me here
tDfore, will probably he better enabled
to keep you posted in srelatieE to
events transpiring at this point.
The night of he 18th will be a
memorable dale in my diary. About
10 P. nj seven guns from Fort Pick.
ems firing in quick succession, Gre
atsd general excitement among
The troops, and expectation was rife
las 10 its significance. While all
were busy explaining to their own
satisfaction, the purpori. an order
C me 10 haste TO form aoith gus.
The hurried and excited manner
of the cfficeIs plainly indicated that
something more tbsn ordinary called
fciih he or,ler. But DO hint WAS
given, Of its nature, ard iu a few mo
ments our Regiment was drawn up
10 order Of battle. waiting The COM
mands Of Gen. Bragg. Cartridges
were hastily distributed, (only 4 to
each man in our company, not having
been supplied with our accouIre ments)
and for the first time in my life |
executed (rnther nervousIy) The mil
Iitary order ''load at will" ! shall
never forget he emotions during the
long hours We wsited in breaihless
suspense. and in entire ignorance
Iof the object, drawn up for action.
The hurried movements Of the
staff officers, as they galloped up and
down the lines, served to increase he IT,
tense anxiety that excited Us, to know
for what object we were ordered
Imagination was taxed to divine, and
all sense OF probable danger seemed
merged into the desire to be made
acquainted with The nature Of the
work that WAS TO be executed. Sus-
pense was agony. In vain sergeantsl
and corporals, Sc, we're questioned
as they epassed byin executing orders,
for US to know was mot 10 question
why was but TO DO OF de-" The
nervous excitement that usually per.
yades the racks just before entering
into an engagement was universal ]
believe, but it soon gave way to
feeling Of Impotence to do something,
every one felt ready to make the al
tack, and we're really disappointed
when finally dismissed to our respec.
tive quarters, with the order to be {
ready at moment, 8 warning. This
sounds like boasting, but the even,
has engendored quite different feel.
ing from that which has heretofore
existed.
Upon our arrival the idea Of storm !
ing Pickens, was perfectly awful; un-
der any circumstances, it is a horri-
bic subject to contemplate, but when
defamation Of The ranks is 10 be the
inevitable. consequence the idea Of
such charge was sufficient to appal
the bravest, bet DOW we have become
accustomed TO the rude front Of the
formidable stronghold ~familiar With
its face" and the question is impa-
tien:ly asked, whea will we make the
charge?
After the lapse Of several days
The fact has been finally developed
that an attack was intended against
Pickens. On the night spoken Of
1000 Mississipians, $500 picked)
with scaling ladders. &c, had al (.
ready been marched TO the Navy
Yard, and boats we're in readiness to
carry them 10 Santa Rosa's Island,
just as they we're about to embark,
seven guns we're fired from Fort Pick.
ems. This 10 conjunction with the
unusual signaling with lights at the