Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1862-11-26

A solder lust said "0ll Jack intends ia 10 tear up al
the railroads In the State, and with no tools but our
pocket knives" Thew have 20 fac destroyed the BAN
more and Oiio from Hsdgesvile to near Hirpers Ferry;
the Winchester and Potomac almost entirely, ana now
ths Manassas Gap from Piedmont to Sra burg.
It 10 When idle 10 camp that the soldier il a great M
stitution We! one that must be seen to be appreciated
Pen c,nnot fully paint the air Of cheerful c 1ntent, care
hiarity, irresponsible ~loungings, and practical spirit Oh
testing that OBTAINS" ready to se,z, on any odd eircun-
s.Ancs in its licensed levity. A'cavalry.man" comes re-
,icing In immens, top-boos, for which in fond pfide ne
mad invested full forty dollars Of pay at once te ~
from an hundred voices follows him along the hneT
| HOone up outer them boots come out! too coon 70
70 into Winter ~qu,rtsrsl l know you're in thar SOP
YOUR arms stickin' outi" A bumpk n rides ~ In rn
| uucoumonly big hat, aud is frightened at the s1ous1
"Oome down outer that hiatt Como down ] amt ~
use TO say you amt IN there, l'see your legs hanent
gu =" A fancy staff Off ser vas horrihed ~ inc rf,t
erent reception Of his uiosly twisted moustAche-n y
heard from behind innumerable trots-" take tneF
mice outer yer mouth take 'em outl no use to say mp
amt thIr-see their tails hanging GU T" Another, sPoy
ing immense ~vhiskers, was urged to "Oome out oil ~
bunch Of hr! l k1ou you're Ia thar l see your -,
u wo. king !" Sometimes a routing cheer IS asAre
he distance, it is explained-'boys look OUT. ~
comes old Stonexalr or an old hare, 'one or tother \
th4y being about the only individuals who invar'AY'
bring down the house. A
Aud yet there are no batter specimens oil the sarne'1
tue soldier, than the men of this brigade. hh knof,
10 the army, il not In print, a. "the lighting Drg..oot
I; ia now constituted Of the 18Th, 20 b Slst, IL ,, 4sP
b2d and IS h Virginia Rssimsnu-the l2h GeorGh-
one of the most gallant regiments In the seiVIce, ~
ing. TO the regret of al their old comrades OF W
mountain brisads," been transferred. The brigade ~
been represented, by some Of its regiments, 10 nee
svsry battle Il I'D in Virginia-in Northwest VirslniS1'
,bs VALLEY, on the Peninsula, around Rshsosa, nos
Cedar Rua to hanAse Plains, ct HIrpers Fsry, ant
then reduced to scarce five hundred men, Aud lurroun
dsd BY overwhelming numbers, Il fought . bloody SAl
clear out through the YsI ke lines ct ShArpsourf'-
-Four of is B~rigadiers has besn wounded In the services
Generals FL. Johnson, EIG,y, Stuart aud Early. fv'
Of the regiments above named were united 10 one com
uAnd under G m. Ed Johnso1, whose conspiououh bra
vsry at Greenurier, Allegheny and Mcdowell, has neye
lost its example upon MS men. The 18Th aud ~ b Vr
ginis have been since united with IL. II IL at presen
comm ,nded by Colonel J. A. Walker, Of the, lS!h0e gal
liant Off YER aud courteous gentleman, Who has wen do
served u Brigadier's commission. -,
Bat the whole dsy OF camp life Is not yet described
the night remains, and lAtteriy is 10 no unusual scene
as the cleaning gathers, to SIC q group quietly coliec
beneath the dusky shadows OF the forest Irses-"God'
first te~mples,"-vhenc room arise the notes OF rome Ia
miiaS hymn, avaking memories Of childhood and Q
home. The youthful chaplain, in earnest tones, tells hi
holy mission; another hymn Ia heard, and by the ulnipI
light Of the pine torches the weird like figures OF th
grouped soldiers are seen reverently moving TO 10
1iahis rspose. Tho deep bass drum beats Ap-ta
sounds die out in all the camps, save, At timee, the sWee
strains from the band OF the ftGh Stonevsl! regiment, i
a neigbborinE grove, till they too fade away into th
Q lily night and soon-
THE soldiers lie peacefully dreaming,
Their tents in the RAYS Of the clear Autumn moon,
Or The light Of the watch fires are cleaning,
A tremulous sigh as the gentle night wind
Tnro' the forest l,aves so ely is creeping,
While the stars Up above With their Offering syes
Keep guArd-iOr the army is sleeping"
Yours, sTAUSros.