Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-12-16
Letter from First Delaware Regiment
LETTER No. Sc.
CAMP MEAN FALMOUTH, Va.
M0NpAY NIuHT, Dec. 8. lsG2.

CAMP MEAN FALMOUTH, Va,
M0sDAY NIuHT, Dec 4, 1862.
FRIEND EcKEL
Talk about the Sunny South ."
the designation is misnomer 20 far as the Old
Dominion is concerned. Why they fabricatc
cold weather down here just as successfully aud
at as brief notice, as in more northern cllmcs
Balmy days, rose buds, Indian summer and
green leaves are not the fruits Of the present
season in this section. Winter has asserted her
claims, and the snow-coyered hills and the ice
bound in streams around US attest that they
have been recognized as valid while the pun
gent, piercing frost which nips the shiyerng
soldier as he runs about the camp in quest OF
warmth, makes him mindful how slight is the
tenure with which be Possesses the small de-
gree of comfort which through much effort he
has secured.
With emphasis, we assert, that latterly we
have had un atmosphere that seemed to lie n-
different to tue purposes Of an army in a cam
paign. II has been cold, bitterly cold, aud
many have been tue ongiugs for cheerful fires
anI extra clOthiug- Tue snow fell, AMI tile
tents looked like So many sharp pointed snow
banks The occupants emerged and the pros
peet opening, was not Invited fur it pointed TO
no little suffering on the part of all
whose habitati0Hs were teuts and whose facili-
tics for providing cheer were merely those al
lotteil 10 the soldiers with whom such little,
literally ventilated lomieils are synouomous
with everything pleasant and luxurious, even
should they boast carpet Of cornhusks, pine
boughs, oak leaves or old broom sedge The
frosty air Of the night will enter and the uneasy
sleeper be conscious Of the sensation, as he folds
his blanket more closely about his shaking limbs
The primary object with all of us has been
to find little warmth aud numerous have been
the e1pedieuts resorted to in order to generate
heat iu our tents. The nights have been clear,
aud the sound of the bugle and drum to denote
tae hour Of sleep, rang out with an icy reso-
nance, while the hoon with pale and fiipid
face looked down upon the wintry camp scene
The stars seemed chilly anl the entire atmos-
phere appeared possessed Of tangible, acute
points Of extreme codness which were appliel
to US numerically, A fifteen months round of
military duty in Virginia, Lad rendered US uu-
duly sensitive to these northern Impressions.
for we had been led to anticipate from our ex-
perience more genial temperature.
Would you have comniseratel us, or would
You haye laughed nj the ludcrousness of our
situation, could you have rntercd our tent at
night mud seen the solicitude with which several
of Us were watching and nursing a modest. sluln-
hering little fire, built in the hole in the corner.
with tiue in tie shape OF n trench to commu
nicate with the outside world? You woull
doubtless smile, forgetting the necessity Of calarc
to our systems, to see US on onr knees, blowing
the coals to arouse a ittul blaze uud feeding
and stimulating il with persistence equal 10 the
efforts of the physician when sinking patient
demands his assiduous care and could YOU oh.
serve the intense satisfaction with which we hail
the first evidences of vigorous aud henlthy
flame, You would share with US in our estimate
Of tue agreeabieness Of even limited supply of
heat, when the cold has given an extra pinch y
And it is under such circumstances, and when
we look Mt our blankets spread upon the ground
floor inviting to restlessness and rheumati.m
aud to the exercise of patience and philosopbv
that we are apt to indulge in memories Of scene,
in civil lie much at variance with our preseu,
surroundings Of houses not made of tent cloth
of CHEEKY rooms warmed by coal fires or by III,
spirited blaze Of au old fashioned wood fire on
the hearth, Of comfortable beds, and of the ct
ceteras Of well appointed households generally
Reyiying such memories is universally forbidden
in camp, but despite the peualties--an exclu-iy,
diet of army fare-these remembranees will &C
casonally force themselves upon the minds
The cold does not, however, abate the patriotism
of the men, though it may perchauce cool thei
arlor. They are ever faithful and prepared Il
do and suffer.
The troops having received permission t.
stockade their tents. will shortly succeed in Of
fering some little resistance to the power of lhr
frost. The collection Of logs and slabs in til,
camps, shows that the men will soon have strue
lures, that ii they will not defy cold altogether
will at least be more suitable as abiding place.
until the call to arms is again resounded.
Yours, BILLY.