Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-10-31
Letter from Flrsi Delaware Regiment
LETTER IA a.

letter from FIrsi Delaware Regiment
LETTER No. IL.
BOLIVAR liM6HTs, HARPER FERRY, NA.l
Oct. -, lsG2
FRIEND EckEi.
The idea that there are relative
notions OF happiness entertained by different
classes, is moi novel one by any means S.
Soldiers and civilians are as widely separated
in their views of human felicity, as the duties
incident to their respective vocations. Ac.
c0mmodatlons which would be considered by
the latter as of the most Indifferent kind,
would be looked upon by the former as su--
perb, and that which wonld satisfy soldier.
would render citizen as miserable us job.
But few comforts are requisite to make M
the sum total of happiness of the fighting
men the acme OF their ambition is to have
Il plenty of rations, aud good ones, but few
drills, not much guard duty, sight of the
pnymaster every two months, an occasional
chance to grumble, just for the recreation
aud relief to the mind, u removal of quarters
every few weeks, and n speedy and satisfae.
tory conclusion of the war; now there is
nothing unreasonable about those aspira-
| tions.
The force of the expression that "man
wants but little here below" is evident to us
who are elevated on these Heights, above
ordinary mortals; and we have discovered
that one can he content with very few of
those agencies which he had previously re-
garded as essential to his enjoyment of life
When the winds blow over these hills nj
night, causing one to shiver as though he
had two agues ON him at time his primi.
tive notions of comfort lead him tn regard
an extra blanket as the maximum of his de.
sres. An indulgence in meal that has the
recommendation Of being unlike that fur.
nished by Government, is an enjoyment rare
and much thought Of.
The privilege Of sleeping warm too, is
much valued, and II is diycrting to see the
arrangements made at night for retiring
you might suppose that the chief end of man
was to sleep warm they all tumble about in
the straw, hunt around for any openings that
would admit the wind, stop them If possible
wrap their overcoat around them, cover
themselves with their blanket and go Ia
sleep.
How much are some little articles an.
parently Of no value themselves, priced by
the soldier for istance, the possession of d
tin cup or tin plate after his has been lost
on IL march or in n battle, us is often the
case, is looked upon as Il piece of good for.
tune, for such articles are essential, especial
ly the cup: if necessary he can dispense with
his plate for he can use cracker as a plate
putting his meat upon il. And a few day.
ago we felt that the only thing we needed tC
render us as happy as mortals are generally
constituted, was Il chair, for we had beer
sitting on boxes and when, by fortunate
circumstance, we found ourself the possesso
Of rckety one the back Of which was bro
ken, we felt almost as proud as though som,
kind friend had donated us three stor,
! all tho ifl,
Another one thinks that IL he only conlt
have the privilege OF sleeping in good BET
for one night, il would be great source 0
, enjoyment, for then he could have IL tru,
, sense Of comfort; it would be so pleasant
he magines, to cover himself with sheet
I and clean coverlids, whore he could not hea
! the rattling of the rain against canvas
! covering or the blasts as they pulled through
the openings in the front of the tent.
I Another one feels that it would be
=, source Of intense satisfaction to him, if h,
/. only could visit some quiet house in tn,
! country, where not man in uniform coul,
i be seen, or mule team with wagons file,
with commissary stores, where not gui
4 could be heard, or where taps would no
I warn him to bed at night, or reveille advis
G him to get up in the morning.
!, Such longings are natural after man
U | HOnlHS SbINlCbJ uHu CulHOL Well bt tpltss
}, ed. The few occasions on which we hay
} been inside of house within the past fey
d months, have been attended with peculia
n sensation. We felt that we were in an Ell
It tirely different atmosphere from that we ha
; been inhaling, for there was nothing miitar
n about our surroundings; carpets, ookiui
: glasses, stoves, chairs, sofas, appeared move
Il indeed. On one of these occasions we seat
= = ed ourself in a rocking chair, cushioned, an
y wrought ourself up TO pitch of human Bills
I equal to that experienced by the young ma
e the FIRST time he fell in love.
q Though soldier, by his service, reyor
t tionises his mode of life and almost his yer
:. nature, yet he can adapt himself to all cil
d cumstances readily; such a happy facut
n has he that way that every condition in whic
: he finds himself, appears to be his norma
d one. Though he may undergo privation
s and endure hardships, he laughs ut them, ha
his jokes over them, and makes himself con