The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1862-06-04
Let desk and case and counter rot,
And burn your books of trade"

Let desk and case and counter rot,
And burn your books of trade.
Nor is this wonderful army less pictur-
esque in point of personal attire and wea'
pons.
Every man has come from his homestead
fitted with the best and strongest that loving
mothers, wives and sisters could put upon
him. And the spectacle presented as they
are drawn up in line, whether for marching
or inspection, necessarily forms an arabesque
pattern of the most parti-colored crowd OF
people upon which human eyes ever rested.
Some are in black-full citizens dress. with
beaver hats and frock coats; some in home
spun drab some in grey, blue. and streak
cd !; some in nothing but red shirts, pants,
aud big top boots; some. attempt display
with the old fashioned militia uniforms OF
their forefathers some have banners Heating
from their " outer walls" in the rear; some
would pass for our friend the Georgia Ma
| jor, who used to wear nothing but his shirt
collar and pair of spurs.
Take them all in all, they rival those
fantastic shapes that hang upon the walls Of
memory in a poets dream"
Aside from the dress, have been forcibly
struck by the remarkable personnel Of ma
lority OF the men. They are heavy, large
headed, rough, brown faced fellows, who
look az if in fight they might weigh ton
apiece, or " whip their weight in wild cats"
Fully three-fifths of them are over SIX feei
in height. and very considerable portion
are mere striplings, ranging in age from
| fourteen TO eighteen. The health of the ar
my is generally good, perhaps better than
that Of any other body of men in the field.
Yet none have suffered more hardships, en-
cOuntered more perils, or been more de-
priyed OF the neeessaries of life.
Their weapons are not less miscellaneous
than their personal appearance. At first
few were armed with any thing but ordinary
shot-guns and rifles, and 10 a considerable
extent such is the case at present, but II y
a proud boast among them that " Dad Prices
men are the only ones who have yet been
able to equip themselves generally from the
spoiIs of the enemy" Missourians and Tex
| ans won't walk where they can ride. Con
sequently an unusual proportion Of the army
lis cavalry, but these | learn are 10 be dis.
mounted and turned to active account as in
fantry. A COON move. Nearly every man
in the division is a splendid shot. While al
Memphis l heard bet made that certain
boy, fifteen years old, in one Of the regi,
ments, could not at the distance Of eight
hundred yards hit the crown Of a hat four
times out Of FIVE with minnie musket. The
bet was taken by an officer, the hat put up
and the lad. who was quietly standing By
leaning on his gun, directed TO fire. Ia
times in succession he pierced the hat wiihir
two inches Of the centre. The wager va
willingly paid, and considerably handed :,
the sharp shooter as tribute 10 his skill
As the loser remarked, 1t don't pay yer,
well TO bet on stock you know nothing about.
The young man afterwards remarked to ;
bystander that he never missed anything ht
could see.
Such is brief sketch Of Price aud his no
BILE little army-the only organized body o
men in the Confederary who have thus IA
; lived up to the inspired droppings," par
Of winch | have already quoted:
. acomc with the weapons Al your call,
With muskei, pike and knife;
He wields the deadesi blade Of al
Who lighesi holds bis life =
! In conclusion may add that " Dad Pric
. and his boys" are now here. and in positio
where the " hand writing upon the wall 3
| their future fame will 20 down % po.terit
inscribed with the crimson tide they wi
: draw IRON the hearts Of the enemy.
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