Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-10-30
From the HilIsbOrO' Recorder.


Mn. HrARrr: have just returned from the army
and deem it due to many of your readers who have
friends in the 9th Regiment North Carolina State
Troops, to report through the Recorder the state Of
things in the camp.
Camp Fisher is about twenty miles from Camp
Jones, four miles rom Dumirics, and six from the
Potomac. The location is an admirable one having
erery facility desirable for comfort and convenience
1t is skirtcd the East by fine road which makes
it easy of access. Numerous springs of the purest
water near by, and wood in abundance at hand
In less than mile there is stream Of clear water
where the soldiers are permitted to wash. The
ground slopes gradually to the South, giving sui-
cient drain to run of the water hastily. The soil
being sandy, the camp is never muddy. Directly
fronting camp, to the South. covering the hills
far away in the distance are the camps Of two Mis-
sissippi and one Tennessee Regiment. The view is
magnificent. While gazing on them. | could but
adopt the language of Baaam, lin part,) and ex
claim, How beautiful are thy tents, Jacob, and
thy tabcrnacles, o Israel"
was much grs;ilied TO see the great change in
our Regiment for the better since my last visit
When left before, Camp Jones,) there was not
less than six hundred sick men, of this number,
twenty died in camp. They are buried side by
side, in lovely spot on the summit Of lofty hill.
The graves done up with and ncatnesS,
head and footboard with the name, regiment. &C.,
designate who they are. They surrounded by
neat enclosure. AS ! gazed on these twenty
graves, memory called up from the past many pleas
ant "reminiscences of hy-yone dayS-far back when
the "war cloud hung below the horizon, and the
horrors of the battlefield had not been thought Of
By my own fire side had warmed some of them,
and in their youthful company had spent many hap
nv hours The words of their lips still rung in my
ears and the pleasant smile still played on their
faces But alas stand now by the grave Of Nc
Kee and next to his is Berry's, and there Is Hixs,
and wonder young Lawrence sleeps. My heart was
filed but tears came to my reiiet. turned away,
and gazed for moment the evergreen cedars
that stood dropping around the silent home of the
dead and listened to the wind as it sighed and
incurred among the lofty pines the funeral drge of
the departed Farewell broke from my lips as
turned forever away and my prayer went up to
Heaven that we might meet in better world than
this
They sleep their last Sleep
They have fought their last battle,
No sound shall awake them 10 glory again"
Our sick list is now very small, and the whole
regiment seems inspired with new life The men
| have the utmost confidence in their officers. The
utmost good feeling exists and really the camp is
the school of polltencss
! Tho Bible is the book mostly read \ large pro.
! portion of the men church members and he.
! iieve but few if any have lost ground in religion
| a
who are proianc, and only few. 1t is to he hoped
the day is not far distant when this accountable
practice will be baniShcd from the camp.
| The Rev. A. w. Mangum preached his first ser
| mon on Sunday last. Chaplain Of the regiment
A temporary stand erected, in grove near the
camp. The men formed circle around the stand
the most of them seated the ground There
were persons also from the neighborhood, among
them some ladies' whose voices and presence broke
A.. Df tho nf NJ,
sermon was we'll adapted to the times and the occa
sion 1t fell with thrilling effect on the men, bu
not more so than on the officers. He portrayed tn,
youthful David in the court of Saul-himself tn
centre of attraction surrounded with the dgnitarie
of the realm and none more ready to do him HON
age than the King himself From the day he strucl
down the Giant of Gath, to that hour, he had le
his hosts to a succession of victories and triumph
that had covered the armies of Israel with glory
His growing greatness had ecpsed that Of the King
which excited his jealousy, and he resolved to TAX
his life And now he is stripped Of bis honors, file
fugitive to the mountains Of Moab, hiding anon
caves and dens, outlawed and forsaken Of all saw
that God IN whom he trusted. Such is the unce1
tainty of worldly honors and earthly glory. II
pointed to Caesar, his glory and his fall. 10 Har
nbal as he drinks the fatal henlock, and to Napt
leon sleeping on "Helcna's Rock" But David bt
ing man Of God and putting his trust in the A
mighty, arose trumphantly over his foes ; ascende
to the highest point of earthly distinction and die
full of years and honor, leaving name behind hi
like the sun, shining upon the moral world foreve
At the close of this beautiful and impressive di
course, the Rev. A. T. Porter, Rector OF the Churc
of the Holy Communion, Charleston, S. c., an
E Chaplain of the Washington Light Infantry, Ham,
toms Legion, arose and delivered an off hand exho
tation that brought down upon the assembly
overwhelming feeling the whole force of the Sc
mon; after which the reverend gentleman process
ed to administer the ordinance Of Baptism, accordir
to the Episcopal order, to Col Fender.
# The Colonel presented himself before the ministt
S with Maj Benjamin Aston, of South Carolina, COZ
S handing the 4th Alabama regiment and Capt. St
$ phen D. Lee Washington Artillery, llampton's
ff cion by his right side as witnesses. Having re
bonded in clear voice to all the questions aske
he knelt down at the feet of the minister, with
Q hands folded on his breast, his eyes swimming wi
d tears aud by Holy Baptism Tin the presence of b
q Regiment) made an open profession OF the Regi,
$ of Jesus and was dedicated to the service of 4
9 mighty God. .s,f -..' u KS s,
d must leave it for your readers to judge of tn
K impressive scene. Truly did the minister say
!. "Thereis joy int the presence Of; the holy ang,
6 over one sinner that repenteth" We felt its for
If and its power, when we looked around and saw
4 whole regiment in tears, and its noble leader D,
ting on the whole arnor Of Christ that thus doub
le clad he might lead them to victory over their cart
% ly ioes and glorious triumph over the last enem
"A ~. JOHN A. McMANNEN.