The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-06-07
Rirhmnnn Dispatrb.
FRIDAY MORNING. JUNE I, 1851
FROM YORKTOWN.
SPECIAL eoRnsspospEscE OF TIE pIsrArca.

YoRKTowS, June 1st, 1861
/ have been purposiBg to drop you a line for
n day or two, but such has been the uncer-
tainty of our movement Is that it has been al
most impossible.
Our regiment has been employed this week
in making some very form liable entreuch-
ments in this region, behind which it would
be very safe to meet any enemy. Others are
being erected by large bodies of negroes in
proper locations. In one counted l25 slaves
at work. Some of our regiment, 1t seems, had
come to the conclusion that, as we had helped
to erect a formidable fort, IL would be our
pleasant duty TO defend it. But this will not
be the case One thing is certain and satisfac-
tory, that the men who will defend II will be
worthy OF the place. There is but one spirit
that animates all. We will try to die
cheerfully, if necessary, in defence of our pa
rents and sisters. Such is the strength of the
con yiction upon all minds that ours ts right
eous cause, that no man seems scarcely TO
think Cf defeat.
Our regiment came here from Williamsburg
on Thursday morning last. The march was
fatiguing, but borne without murmur. We
left Williamsburg at 4. NJ. / visited York
town 10 or II years ago and examined its de.
fences, but not with the same interest as on
yesterday. BE not uneasy about us If q Sec
oud battle of yorktown shall be- fought
presently.
II made my blood almost boil Il day or two
! ago when l met fifty or mora wagons car
| riages, and all sorts of vehicles, bearing old
| age and infancy, as fBgitives from their dear
| homes How long shall we suffer this p
| Though slow to take vengeance, nevertheless
| the day OF vengeance will assuredly come.
| We are pleasantly situated in eome respects
| 1t does ones soul good TO stand upon the truly
| noble York, and drink deep do Gn into his
lungs the fresh, invigorating air that comes
! across its waters. Then the II h and the oYs-
| ters / believe all our men are fattening -
| Certainly most of them are. We have mad
| very bad quarters, but to-day they have been
| very satisfactorily exchanged. The house
| just vacated, and from which l. rs the last
man TO quit, now write you, is about 40 by
| 70 feet, one-story high, with "A small garret -
1t has also a cellar. 1t is occupied TINS In
| the cellar 10 negroes engaged upon some heavy
| work in one OF the principal rooms above
| some carpenters, and in the other room and
the garret are the IL members of the Life
| Guard.
| Your correspondent, night before last pre-
| ferred 10 occupy one OF the open wagons with
| three of the men, rather than in one of the
crowded rooms, and he has not yet repented
| of his cholce. He slept pretty well uutil
| summoned at 81 A. II. to "march " Last
| night, the wagons not being on hand, sought
| tor the hospital recently occupied by two of
| our men, {now Well,) and slept admirably -
| 1t is a smoke e-house. When entered it las t
| night with light, camps tool and Dispatch
| in one hand, and my bed in the other, it had
| but one aperture. aud that was, of course the
| door. II is out 10 by II feet and was rather
| close with the door closed. Before | arose
| however, a second opening was made Jus
| above my head by some negro men who were
| il search OF kndling wood. This would have
1 o -
| unity TO my head. Now, we are not com
| planning. We are cheerful and happy-happy
| in our hearts and cOneciences, and with pIeu ~
! good, wholesome food for the body Bnt I
| write with a view more to the future comfort
| not of our little band sim ply but with q hone
| of lessening the privations OF others who
| may come after Us. AS said before, our ne W
| quarters are charming, and IL we had not se-
| cured them, we would certainly have dispos.
| sessed the negroes and the Two carpenters 10.
| day, a. TO have the whole house.
| No man IN our regiment is unwilling to
! work. The Colonel and every officer has gone
| willingly into the trenches. II is glorious 10
| labor for such a cause as ours. No man fears
| that his respec liability is 50 superficial as to- be
| rubbed off by handling s. shovel or pick. The
| true life thappiness) of a man does mot con.
| sist in the things that he hath" or the work
| he may engage In, bat consists in the aims
| and inspirations OF his life. God truly
| makes the wrath OF man 20 praise him. Many
| noble virtues are being cultiyated-napy V
beautiful sympa thies are being developed In
| this struggle tor Independence and manhood
| The French motto is, s'to die for ones country
| is r lot the most beautiful and the most
! worthy of envy" To labor voluntarily freely
| cheerfully for this one high purpose Of indie.
pendence, is glorious. How superior to the
| selfish accumulation of wealth, 10 be spent in
| vanity and shown idleness and vice, A
friend said to me last night, '''rhis war win
make of some of you that never would
| have been men without it," This is true.
Let every volunteer IN the ranks, who has
| left home Of ease and plenty remember that
he has not been ''drdfted" and forced in to the
| ranks, but that, with a willing heart, he has
| taken his humble position, and that that po-
| sition is more honorable to him than any posi-
| tion in the army. This is the true position
| In the sight OF men | know it is not the most
| honorable; but in Reasons eyes, ard in the
! eyes of the Author of Reason, it is the most
| beautiful. Thank God, took my place there,
and IL will be one of the happiest recollec tions
of my life.
| / have said but little about army move
| Tnents, because do not think it prudent In
our Colonel we have Il kind friend cool and
| brave commander, and in our Captain the
| tenderest of fathers. p
| =. S.-As We may take the field soon, we
| will greatly need tents. Can they be had
| They would save the life of more than one
| man in my company Twelve will do for a
| company. p