Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-07-11
Letter from the First Delaware.
From onr Special Correspondent.
CAMP, NEAR SurFoLE, NA.1
July s, 1862
LETTER No. "a.

July s, 1862.
FglENp EcRRL:
II II town ever approXimu.
ted to that condition called dissolution. this
is assuredly The place. II was originally n
village of fifteen hundred inhabitants. rea
sonable proportion of whom, il may be as
sumed, We're males but at present. it is
about as devoid of that class of population
us Rome, in its earliest days, was of females
The men have gone to the wars, leaving the
women and children to the tender mercies of
the Yankees, There is scarcely any husi-
ness carried on except that which is trans.
acted by those men who persstenty follow
the army in all its movements, to dispose Of
crackers cheese aud tobacco to the soldiers.
The NansemOnd River, OH which the
Town is situated is dark, sluggish looking
stream, ut the wharf of which is To be seen
but solitary schooner in an indolent state
A pile of oyster shells glsten on the shore
and the few rods of whariing present the
aspect of premature decay
The principal street is wide, with each
SIDE handsomely shaded with trees. aud with
q row oi large elms in the middle, which
give a very pleasing effect. There are some
home llEo residences with yards in front,
adorned with shrubbery.
But the agricultural operations ure vorthv
character, and in some respects, we imagine
are similar 10 those followed hy some of
Adam ~ contemporaries. Since we have been
~ the country, Me have been watching with
II" lgli interest. the method of carting the
newly harvested Wheat from neighborinl.
llrld. a small horse cart with upright bars
I'll the Sides with capacity ab0nt that Of a
wheelbarrow, and resembling Il diminutiy,
chicken coop, is the mode of conveyance.
ilroo or four negroes assist in loadinr. and
then the horse il driven to the ward iut
the Joke u, that the horse has to be taken
from the shafts before the cart can he fitted
up to discharge the load. BY this, vnu may
estimate the length of time required TO re-.
move lhe product OF an acre Our fellows
say that ii takes but three cents worth of
rope TO rig up 4 harness such us is seen here
here are some fields about here that have
been planted in Corn, hut il is n conjecture
vain Us whether the proprietors are cuitiya.
ing the corn or the weeds the latter are so
! luXUrlant
We had an opportunity of witnessing an
other feature of the face of the country n
lew days ago. Being on Ii train 1eloycd
several honrs awaiting the repairs on a
bridge we wandered in company with others
4 through the forests and came upon n branch
OF the Dismal Swamp Canal. leadinn from
Lake prnmmond. II was nm object of in.
terest and curiosity. The Canal was about
ten leet wide and three deep and in that
spot was upon the summit of n ridge. with
an irregular ana tortuous water course forty
leet heiow IL ON one side, with old wood
sgoWS pIled up IN confusion along the bank.
Shihgle boats OF a peculiar construction
were lying lazily upon the Canal; they were
about lity feet in length and three feet in
/ depth, and drew II foot and a half or t,yn
leet OF wafer, and were designed exclusively
for the shingle trade.
! Ihe scenery was wild the water was of fl
dark color from juniper Swamps throu,rh
/ which the Canal was cut. Weeds and
boughs of trees chOled the course of the
stream the huge cypress trees overhunr
the Canal immense piles of shingles and
pine wood seasoned, were upon the banks
having been brought there months npo
dense swamps were around. There was an
ar Oh IoVellness peYading everything
tnere was no sign Of life. This little artiii-
ciai stream upon the smooth surface of which
the long Doats had transported many thou
SANDS OF shingles from the gloomy depths of
the Swamps, making even the cypress for.
ests scene OF hustle and activity. was now
an illustration of Southern neglect. decay
ana desolatIon. Built at considerable cost
many months had elapsed since its dark
surface had been disturbed by the passage of
the extended craft with its accustomed
freight 4'''"'"
We mornllzed upon the unpromising CON
ditlon OF affairs us witnessed in this section
and returned TO the ears, finding them not
ready to start and feeling some symptoms of
approaching hunger, we went in quest of
something to eat. Our researches were
amply rewarded, for we had the rare salts
laeuon OF watching negro woman bake n
real rFinla hoe cake in the most apprnvnd
style and additionally had the satisiactinn
ol eating it, Thus did we feel pleased Win
cur reconnaissance, for We had seen an arm
ol the Dismal swamp Canal, and had plr
taken OF a hoe cake of the rgnia pattern.
ocea-lonlnF remini7rence7 Of a very nercou.
bic nature.
There is another institution here more
common still--eOntrabunds. Our camp has
already become kind of Mecca for Them
They are employed by our boys who have
become tired Of cooking in this warm eli
mate, The way the boys swear them in is IL
novelty They engage Il negro and then tell
him 1t Is necessary 10 swear him accord
luglN they make him hold up his right-hand,
extend his left arm, raise one foot and stick
his cap on the heel of that foot, and stand
ing in that position like goose on one leg.
they oblige him TO repeat some nonsepsicai
umbe of words. These impressive ceremo.
MES concluded, they give him nn Adams
; Express certificate which they inform him
will pass him anywhere, and entitle him to
perpetual freedom. If we should remain
here any length of time the supposition is
that nearly every other man viii have Il
eoniraband as an orderly. This concentra-
ton of negroes in every camp, shows what n
perturbation slavery has been subjected ia
by means of the war. 1t has been afflicted
with kind of a chronic chill which has
weakened its vitality to such degree that
3 be the issue of the present conflict what il
may, the institution will be threatened with
death from inantion, without any aid from
Congressional acts towards Fastening til,
event.
i But to affairs of the Regiment. We nave
very good camping ground, and the boy
$ have made an attemp. to shield themselves
in measure, from the rays of the sun, b,
f bringing trees from the forests and trans
planting them before their tents As t.
8 health, the Regiment is in IL very satslacto
G ~ condition. Yours billy
n FROM THE JAMES RIVER.