Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1861-07-18
For the journal,

Fort CAswELL, July 10TH 1861.
Messfs' EDITORS :-Thinking perhaps you and your
eaoerS "ouc IKE 10 hear occasionally from this point
(slnce communication has in some measure been ems
pehded between here and Wilmington laelyl I have
taken the hoerty OF lndcting few lines which if YOU
see proper you can publish. l will eudeavor to write
nothing but what would be right to publish.
Since have been here (about nine weeks0 the Fort
has been put in almost complete state of defence the
ranpars which then almost destitute of guns
now orstllng with them of cabre and range
H. indeed, presents quite formidable appearance |
thnk We could be able to blow any fleet that old
Abe could send in here back to sea Quicker than
:" chain lightning could run round turnip patch"
great deal OF work has been done in putting the Fort in
ST ate of defence.
Yesterday evening several of US were remarking about
the state OF defence in which the Fort had been placed
since taken possession of by the CarOnians its ad-
vantages and sadvantages n case of attack etc
one made remark that the Federal Government had
slight advantage of in far that they had the origi-
nal plans aud designs on which Forts where erect
ed 10 the office at Washington, aud in a battle
would be used to advantage against u.s. A demure
looking Individual standing by remarked Yes but
there has been something put in here since the war
menced that they havnt got the plan of yet" What
Is that {! remarked one. garrison" said be- quietly
This tenth day OF July must be very hot and sultry
IN town. II Is now about the hour of one aud it tOl
cradle warm mere but have the advantage of cool
sea breeze, which is almost perpetual
IL is remarkable what good health the men enjoy
down here considering the number. There serious
cases at present 10 the garrison as know Ct Ia fact
tn re no doctor here and far know no use for
one The men generally are cheerful and conented-
The greatest complaints being the entire absence lin our
company of smoking and chewing tobacco and pipes
and everybody recommends smoking down here to keep
OF sickness, and believe it is good AS for whiskey
we do"t 1r1nt 1t-that u.s. privaes we can do with
ont 1t the fact is OF have been used to doing
without 1t all our lives, and experienced any in
convenience from it 81 her,
Well, have already spun this dry epstle out too
long aud must come to close, with the best wishes
for the welfare OF you and your ENTHUSIASTICALLY the
alrer portion. tell you young bachelors are on
pins every time we hear from home for fear that We
will hear Of some of our Old sweehearts getting married
during our absence Do, girls, wait till the war ends
I'd you will have plenty of beauxs for all the young mer
now 10 service are determined on getting married a:
soon as it is over.
Hoping some of your benevolent readers will send III
a " chew OF tobacco" occasionally,
remain, yours, &c, G. F. L. A.
2: s. Your readers, | hope Mr.. Editor, will no
think hard OF such broad hints as are contained in thi
letter. Men who have been in service just long enough
to spend What little they had, without ever having re
celved any thing in return besldes wearing out all the
cothlng) do get desperate enough to ask for chav
of terbacker sometimes