Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-05-17
OUR VOLUNTEERS.
Camp Harris-Llfc in Tents.

| Camp HaRris-Alfe In Tents
Camp life is 9 curiosity. PEEL's museum is tame
to it. Camp Harris is So full Of postry IS facts
As the sun was setting l stood on the. hill above
it, Watching the scene on high, below around. The
sunset was glorious The violet clouds in the West
we're belted with gold; zone Of light, bright like
the rainbow, rose from the West to the far East,
with abrilisnt clasp apparent in the zenith.
never saw but one like it before-sO singular, 80
lovely, 30 like the presence Of an angel over The
| tented hosts Of his charge Above the winding
river the smoke Of the campfres lay quiet, in blue
relief, below the gresn hills that rose beyond, like
the rampsrts of some celestial fortress The tents,
white like snow, ranged in msthemstic order, were
swsrming hives eff animated life and hilarity.
When the stars came out, all were like homes Of
light and joy. The voices Of seventy Germans,
mingled in varied songs, now rise with more than
poetic melody and power to mipgie with the roar
of the sounding waters pouring over the adjacent
lls, and fading in softened echoes along the dis
| taut rocks and woods Now sWels in dispason from
another avenue, the choral melody Of flutes and
VOL, mingled with charming well trained voices,
wont to sing in gilded houses and make the social
Joys of home complete. Sad, sweet thoughts melt
US all to tears to think that here are in camp to
save our loving homes and those We love from ruth
less desolatiOn. We lock and listen long, emotion
sweIls like tidal waves-ths tattoo bsats-We haste
to form in ranks and answer to our names-to
spread our blankets put out lights, and find rspose
upon the sweet and hospitAble ground.
Look into q tent will you. You see the commits
sarial corner on the left front. There is large,
black sheet iron esmp-kettle, like large bucket;
it is full of meat next, are eight tn-cuPs-eignt
mess together in each tent-one cup is full of bro'on
sugar, even to blackness next is cap OF coffee
| next a tin-pan of flour next bucket OF water
and all surrounded by wall of the latest bacon
you ever saw it drips with richness, as if just
from an oil we'll The table is each mans knees
the plates and forks and spoons, your fingers the
knives are swords. Around the canvass lie trunks,
boxes carpets knapsacks grass pillows, boots shoes,
&C. On the ground are hard planks or grass gath
cred frsm the fields for mattresses gum coats are
spread on these and over them blanket-these
are the downy beds of ease for our boys and broth
ers boots and socks are their pillows. On the
tent poles are pants coats shaWls bOquets, swords
bowie-knves pouches, badges. stars, tobacco pipes
keepsakes, mementoes of sweethearts, sisters and
ulOInerS, &C. Wien Ou JOO ScC SOAAS ANoh6
ing sitting standing, crouchng, sleeping, snoring
in the tents, while the merry jest, the thrilling
story, the sage counsel all minge in sweet confu-
sion to the annoyance of none, and the pleasure Of
all. Here see three engaged in writing letters
one writes on his knees, on a valise, while an
other takes off his shoe and makes the sole writ
ing desk-all write with their pencils.
The piety of very many is Marked blessing is
asked on their rude fare. In twenty tents glanced
the boys reading their bibles, and prayer meetings
| will be held as soon as proper. l saw groups at
prayers in the woods for hours heard singing,
| and they who sung "ANNIR LAURA" and The Old
Folks at Home" closed with " When can read my
| title clear and I" Come let US anew our journey
pursue
The cooking department raises many horse
laugh Boys who never handled q skille before
are in grease and -four up to their eyes aud ears.
Here is one with frying-psn stirring eOfee-thers
| is coffee mill nailed to log and two men are
grinding grist-herc is one beating dough with his
6st like 3 pugilist; he grows furious, the dough
yields large skillet is boiling ever with the juice
| Of bacon; q Bowie knife whsoks the dough into
scss and now it fries and stews aud bAkes and boils
al at once and then comes out breed. Here is an
| attempt st batter cakes. The left hand holds
bucket Of water, the right smooth stick, pan Of
meal is on the ground, the cook is on his knees,
intent IS if in worship; he pours aad stirs, and
rips and whirls beats eggs and then boils the trick
in grease till it gcts dry-this is batter cakes Here
| is an even of understanding is baking-'Oms-
5ody's pig is in that oysR. Bushels ef somebody's
chicken and turkey legs and feathers lie spread
| L. Ondv Of I lnoao niOq and fowls
roaming among the tents-sn old stable fell, very
large one it is Northern property; the shingles
are good fuel what made it fall /! Gravitation.
Fun is all alive here. The boys visit the farms
socially-a farmer almost split his sides telling
| their pranks. Some called on his poultry yard,
himself present They commenceda conversation, not
with him. but with his chickens. Besought their COM
| pany in camp One chicken answered with a erOv.
They became insulted at his manners and threat
ened his life; the chicken responded; fight be-
gun the chicken fell; another one crowed and
his neck vas Wrung for cOntumscy of orders
matters waxed hot between soldiers and chiekens-
all ended in chickens moving to camp in spite Of
farmers suggestions They spoke to calf in the
ward he refused to answer they told him it would
be long before he could be steer and they would
take care of him till then, if he would camp with
| them farmer demurred with gun-they babe calf
goodbye, saying how pleased they we're with him
and what happiness would soon follow renewed
acquaintance. Here is mimic horse fair. Draft,
buggy, stage, race, and steeple horses are put in
for the blue ribbon. Experiments begin-yOu al
most die with laughter; EOmersets are made throw
| ing Dan Rice into shadow; ground and lofty tum-
bling wrestling, boxing, fencing, quoits, throwing
cannon balls jumping, swimming, running fishing,
hunting, sword exercises, spinning yarns, sky
larking and all imaginable sports keep all cheerful
The soldiers are all gentlemen. The eOurteses
| YOU meet in the parlor you meet in the tent.
would name things to please yeu' had you room
| to print. Sabbath morning DR.. QUIsTARD preached
a polished and powerful discourse; in the evening
your servant preached . camp meeting exhortation
| and was invited "to jine in the army"
The drill was exceedingly interesting in the
field. word on the: bill Of fare and close for
the present. For breakfast. coffee, fried -four
ana meal, very sweet, with sweet middling
boiled in slowed bacon oil. Dinner: elegant
boiled ham, sliced with 3 sword; other
meats were midliBg, side bacon, clear sides,
eggs boiled scrambled steWed, stirred fried baked
roasted Corn bread, -four, hoe cake, most elegant
light rolls. Peach tkle sweet and sour. Branded
peaches two gallons peach pies made in camp, white
crust and most delicious; IA inch pound cake, SHED
rom side to side with sword; sponge cake, ditto,
covered with strawberries; sugar cakes, sweet
cakes in heart form; crullsrs, and ginger cake'.
Desert,-wine from Rhine lager beer hot coffee snd
Spanish cigars. This was one feast to EAny means
Of diverse kind. All agreed il was not to De sur
passed in Europe or America, and some OF US nAu
Jared At the best houses Of beth continents bnt'