Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-07-10
Letter from the Camp.

j.
We have been kindly permitted by ! friend .
give the following extracts from private letter re-
csived By him, from Amenber Of the Raleigh RiAess
near Suffolk, dated Camp Bragg July 4th 1861 p
Our readers win be much interested in their peru
sal The correspondent, abiding to some addition
made to his wardrobe recently, says: nd Z
1t was certainly great pleasure to me, once
more to get on citizens clothes. feltas much re.
freshed as one who has bathed in midsummer. In
TACT uniforms and stripes the only disagreeabe
things in camp-iife, to me- / pass my time very
pleasantly through the constant and unvarying
routine Of camp-duties; and I find that the hard
ships have been much exaggerated-discomfort and
suffering not being the nvariable companions Of
soldier, but only in rare instances. The Confede-
rate rations, too, are very ample, and when taken
in addition to the vegetables and other things which
are plentiful and cheap in this country are as good
as any reasonable man can desire. But, this being
constantly in uniform, and always seeing men dress
eo IN uniform, has become perfect eye.sore. l
never Jared better, or enjoyed better health, than
since have been soldering" Our mess is never
without fresh meat, fish and vegetables, and with
the exception Of slight cold caught the first
night slept on my cot, l have been well every
moment since left" - .. e
The writer finds that some people in that region,
like some other portions of the world, are not ex.
actly what they should be. He says:
"One man actually posted his land, declaring no
soldier should gather pinestraw from it The ladies
down here are rather different from the men have
described-and | have made several pleasant &C.
quaintances. The newspapers have but told the
truth, when the ladies of Suffolk were called beau.
tiful-they will compare favorably with any have
ever seen.
We have had three or four alarms. Some one in
attempting to tamper with our sentinels, has by
them been three times fired upon, but owing to the
darkness, has escaped. As soon as the gun fires,
the long roll" "a call to arms) is beaten and in
an incredibly short time, the whole regiment is
formed on the parade ground, in line of battle
This has happened three times, and the rapidlty,
quietness and regularity with which the different
companies have formed, give great satisfaction to
the Colonel-who argues therefiom, that, when the
time comes, the 4th WILL like the 1st do its duty.
Col. Daniel has been to Norfolk, and visited while
there the Notifications thereabouts- reports ev.
cry thing in splendid state of defence Gen. Huger
has displayed great talent in managing this DIVISION
and his energy, as much any thing else, has kept
off the attacks of the enemy from this quarter
Batteries are rapidly going up all over the country
where a ship could pass or an enemy land. The
third regiment left to day. for point North of US
to take charge of batteries on and about Pagan
Greek. We, expect will soon follow them, t.
some point where our services would be more need
ed, should the enemy land. The enemy constantly
remind US, by the booming Of their cannon, which
we hear distinctly every day, that they in reach
ing distance. They are constantly firing at ou
batteries, trying to discover the position Of ou
masked batteries" which they so much dread
After giving some account of the operations o
the enemy, from the Rip Raps, upon the Sewelr
Point battery, with the Sawyer gun, and the bomb
| shells used, he proceeds:
II have seen one Of these unsatisfactory ar
| shaped like the Minnie muskct-ball, with a hug
cap (percussion) on the point which, when it hit
an obstacle, causes the shell to explode. They cal
do no harm now, and are an immense expense
the enemy. Mr.. Vance made most capital speec
to night when he arrived from Norfolk, it being tn
4th Of July The men were wonderfully tickled
| with him."