Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1861-09-05
With well.fed complacency, =
OUR CORPORAL
VIRGINIA CORRESPONDENCE


VIRGINIA CORRESPONDENCE.
CAMP, NEAR GERMANrowE,
Army of the Potomac, August 10Th, 1851. !
Dear Enquirer To any one who has
the temerity to make the experiment, an
attempt at correspondence, whilst con
fued within the noisy precincts Of SOL
dier's camp, with box, or barrel for a
writing desk, corroded piece of iron for 8
pen, and with not a moment Of quietness
for thought, will prove task difficult to be
performed satisfactorily, yet, [ have deter
mined to make the effort-however rash
believing that short communication touch
ing affairs in this section of the world, would
not be uninteresting to your readers; par
tcularly as so many of the gallant sons o'
York are encamped here, in obedience to
their couutry's call.
Our Regiment, that is the 9th com
mauded by Col. Winder, Colonel Jenkins
Colonel Sloau's and Col. Blandiug's con-
stitute the Brigade under Gen. D. R. Jones
now tented within a mile aud a half Of
Fairfax Court House. Our men have suf
fered, and are suffering severely, from 8
disease which seems even to pursue camp
with its distressing ravaGes, thoug b nc
deaths have occurred as yet from this cause
the unfriendly climate by which we are
surrounded, together with the lingering
effects of the measles by which our army
has been sorely scourged, appears to have
rendered its form more aggravated than il
might under other circumstances have been
fortunately, however, it seems to have a
bated somewhat in the last three or foul
days. Many of the soldiers, no doubt, have
previously felt the want of properly pre-
pared provisions, as few Of them had acquir
ed any knowledge of the culinary art before
they were called to the field no complaint
however, has been alleged against the Com
missary department, for the provision sup
plies have been of good material and very
abundant. I have understood that Genera
Beauregard has ordered government bake
ries to be established about Fairfax, in or
der to supply the army with wholesome
bread. This would be decidedly wise
measure.
We are beginning to lock with no little
apprehension, to the coming winter; al
ready have We had an earnest of what w
may reasonably expect when the cold sea
son sets in regularly; for the last week the
weather has been exceedingly rough ane
uncomfortable, cold winds and continua
rains have visited US with unmitigatec
rudeness After the lightest fall of rail-
the earth here becomes "slip and slosh'
and appears to exude to the surface double
the quantity of water that had fallen from
the heavens, it is infinitely worse than th'
South Carolina "black jacks" the soldier
consequently sustain great Inconvenience
and frequently contract disease from having
their feet continually damp, my own hav'
not been dry for four days. Most of ou
men are totally uuprepared for the severit..
of a Northern winter, and they are neces
sariy dependant upon friends at home TO
supplies of suitable winter clothing, which
it is impossible to procure here. Surel.
the patriotic people of York need only t.
be informed of this fact, to make the rcqui
site outfit for her soldiers forthcoming i'm
mediately. Woolen clothing is needed
not money. In behalf Of the York Guard
take the liberty of reminding the citizens
of Fort Mills, Rock Hill and Blairsvill
that they have brothers and sons now de
Tending the homes which they enjoy il
peace and quiet, and that it would be orlmi
nal in the last degree on their part to per
init single man of this gallant corps tt
suffer for a moment or "perchauce to die
from the want of comfortable apparel.
1 had my strength and patience slightl
tested on the day we marched from Cam
Pettus-where we were last stationed, I
this place, distance of six or seven miles
/, The rain poured in torrents upon US, almos
without intermission, during the Who'll
march, the mud was frequently six inche
, deep, and every thing in fact seemed to m
IN have consnired to render the iourne