Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1861-12-05
DENHoC7AT-
HEAD QUARTERS, PENNsvALLBY INFANTRY,
CAMP GRIFFIN, VA. Nov. 26th.. 1851.

Mr.. EDITOR Tattoo IS playing The Bands
are sending over our dull camps this wet, cold,
November evening their chilly music, reminding
us by their familiar melodies of different, and
more peaceful scenes. 0rderlies are calling the
roll of their comrades names, and as yet they find
a present or accounted for" another day. To
the picket guard walking in the thick darkness
his lonely beat, the tattoo, of the rafting drum
or rs sounding Band, or sbrill Buge of the Dra-
goon, comes as worker of the lapse of the weary
hours, and his quckened listens for the slight
est sound, "outside the line" Soon the monitonv
taps will command by their strange language.
our camps to be left in darkness and quiet, and
our hosts to sleeps Be watchful then and sleep
not Picket Gnard, for the army of the Constitu-
ton is asleep under your protection.
:" All is quiet along our lines" So says the
signal, and so repeats the Telegraph from post IN
post single shot, and ball or two whistliag by
the picket, and one and another wonders wbere
they come from, and then the report is ua,I
quiet along our lines" Is not this soldier life a
strange one! " Our mess" I" are going to do this
tomorrow Il zoe don't more" " Let MS buv some
thing good and have ene good dinner" Wha.'s
the use Keeping our money? Well be shot one
OF these days ana some rebel pick our pockets =
ne may as Wei live well, we're not sure of living
long anyway" Such are the remarks yor hear
day after day, yet we soldiers do not more than
nan uelieve it. You would not suppose they ever
rJhect for moment could you see them in their
careless games, and fun, and practical Jokes To
hear our plans for rides and dinners and parties
and good old times" when the aCar IS oUEr, YOU
would not think that taese men were by their
own deliberate choice to risk the sacrifice of life
and health, beautifed as they have been by the
scenes of peaceful enjoyment so often pictured as
the reward OF a faithful service of country while
our trouble lasts. SO bright and beautiful is hope
to the young inauguration always pointing 10
future OF reward for present of labor and pri-
Yatlon. The First Pa, Cavalry, in which our
Centre County company is serving, made recon
noisaree last night and drove in tha rebel pick
ets They captured TIE officer Of the picket and
some twelve of the guards Two of our men were
killed, and the Colonel and Asst. Surgeon, Dr.
Alexander Of Milroy, were wounded 1t NAV
seem little remarkable that the surgeon should
be among the first to suffer, bat he was probably
mistaken for the Colonel. He was wounded bv a
picket VINO ma concealed himself, when the troops
we're returning, after they had driven in the guard
riding back IN advance Of the rest he was fir ed
upon from the bushes in which the rebels Law con-
eealed, as the Cavalry could not penetrate it,
This frequent freing officers by sharp shoot
ers, in every skirmish must De recrossing to the
envled wearerS of stripes and straps
We have some rough weather now and the
boys are fixing up for cold weather. We do not
suffer however and our friends need not pity the
soldiers untcward fate as much as they do, though
TINS is not as pleasant home as those we left
ana seems very unlike when one is sick, though
we are careful OF one another as we can be. L
nave looked abroad over this once beautiful coun-
try, and realized how terrible is war, men in its
most civilized and humane aspect. What deser-
ted homes, fields trodden down, fences all gone
Tor mlles upon miles Houses surrounded by
camps, and their owners sent awaY to make room
Tor the SICK Livery private interest so sacred in
the eyes of our liberty loving common law, sacri.
need to the preservation of the law itself and .he
security of the future
Are we going on or back Will we winter
here or go south are questions of great interest
to the soldiers about the Capitol. All want to be
where the lighting is. All search the papers r
news about " our Djrisioa, and every rumor is
spread abroad that looks to a move | can see
nc W no indications of any movement whatever
Inc reported occupation of Leesburg by McCalrs
Division, has resulted in simple Reconnaissance
A few men have lost their liberty, few their
lives, and all goes on before in this time of
great events . all IS quiet along our lines" The
Grand Army is asteep the banks of the Poto-
mae, and another is asleep in its 'front.' Which
VIII dare to rouse the other and droop our assem-,
bhes, from North to South, and East TO Wet in
mourning We have order to 20 into Winter
Quarters yet We fixing up just as we please
and without hindrance. May we be enabled ne xt
winter to go into our old peaceful Quarters up
among the Blue mountains of our keystone State
conscience OF duty done, and success unmeasurei
III us dressings We soldiers get credit for
great deal OF endurance, patience, and patriotism
from our friends at home, sometimes perhaps m ore
than we deserve 1t is no idle task 10 soldier it
is true, and we feel the CAVITY of the work we
have undertaken. and the risk we run, bnt thero
is y pleasureabe excitement in it, and we are do
ing ho mere than our duty at best. When SO
many neglect duty we may deserve credit for do
ing ours, but that is all. Yet we must say that
no one despises SO heartily as the volunteer, the
hnc Gs1I
enjoy his ease in this crisis of events If there
Is any man who does not love his country well
enough to be an open and active friend no,c, doing
what he can to advance its interests if there is
man who is indifferent, who, untramelled by
welghty business or domestic ties fails to give
less energies to the pr secuion of is tcar let me
tell nj 4 the time is coming when he will wish the
native hills he is di sgracing might eorer him and
hide his shame and keep off from him the ia3ig>
nation aud contempt of all true and all honest
women. The man whose patriotism is not kno,on
and read Of all men" is disgrace now to himself
and to his posterity.
" BY their fruits ye shall know them"
" lie who IS not for Us is against us.' II zee
deserve little credit for leaving performed an i'm .
portant duty. How much censue is due those
who neglect it. He who is not Patrio. no,e. is
not man, cannot be Christain, ought not to be
trusted. is devoid of every honorable principle
and totally unit for society Of ciyizised men, Ig-
norance IN Pcnnsy lvania is no apology to be i :
norant in land of light and liberty is itself a
crime.
Yours, PENNSVA LEY.