Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-05-27
From the First Delaware Regiment
FROM our Special Correspondent
NORFOLK, Va. May ls, 1862


NORFOLK, Va, May ls, 1862.
FmENp EcREl:
Is it not udicrous to think
Of little Delaware becoming an active in
strument in keeping one OF the chief cities
of the Old Dominion in the traces But it is
palpable fact, however unpaltable to the
citizens of this recently conquered locality.
| The First Delaware is now stationed In
Norfolk, discharging provost-guard duty
keeping affairs in quioscent condition, and
endeavoring to dispossess the people of the
cherished idea that the Coniederates who SO
incontinently departed on some urgent bust
ness the day our army came, ARE coming
back Mt some indefinite time to retake the
place, for with all the accumulated igno-
rance of our strength means and purposes,
the belief appears TO have obtained with
some of the residents, that those whom
Longlellow would class with Hiawatha, -
as "swilt of foot have just loaned the city
to us for Il short time, until they have ac-
complished some big job which they now
have on their hands.
Our companies are quartered in the large
public buildings in tile immediate neighbor-
hood OF the City Hail the quarters are for
the most part comfortable, and the men re-
gard the change from Old Point a good
one; but it is amusing to witness the means
resorted to by some in order to render the
invaders dissatisfied with the place for in
stance, one of the prognosticating kind will
very seriously tell you that he is afraid it is
going to be very sickly season. for the
moon last night looked very red another
one has observed that the flies are becom-
ing very numerous--a precursor OF the vel
low ieyer--all very consolinE hut we tell
these Jobs comlorters that if The fever
makes it approach, there will be no ncccs
sity for our staying for il will garrison the
place and keep of invaders that We have
domestcated ourselves and intend to remai
until further orders. In this connection, We
may say there is less sickness In the Regi
ment than at any time since is organi2a
ton.
As 10 the order preserved now, many o
the citizens admit that it is far better thar
it has been for several months before in
deed our Regiment has acquired quite re-
pniation for orderly, quiet conduct thu,
far no difficulty has arisen, though the pro
vocation at times has not been nconsidera-
he, causing us occasionally to think that W,
are all endowed with more philosophy ant
lorhearance than is usually allotted 10 man
kind, for We can't get all OF our newly made
acquaintance 10 acknowledge that they ars
I
believe ourselves in foreign country.
The men in the city, generally speaking
are discreet indeed II has been our priyi
lcge TO meet with a number Of The lovers o
the Union who now experience mneh re-
lief at being able TO express themselves bu
the majority of the females evidence by theil
acts, that our welcome is not q warm one.-
Scorniul looks meet one al nearly ever
turn faces that might be pretty are spoiled
in the contemptuous curlings Of the lips. anl
ugly ones are distorted By grimaces tha
show what an extreme degree Of uglinesl
the human face may be made to assume --
hut all connected with the Regiment have
determined that when a lady turns up hei
/ nose, or crosses over the street 10 give then
II wide berth, as the sailors say, Of saws ~
their hearing some uumeaniug thing abou'
Southern rights, to pass on apparently obi
vious of snch, and IN bllsstul Ignorance d
any intended insult, but carrying lhemselve,
us Independently rs though they owned
block and half of aristocratic brick houses
ON Freemason street, and had a score Of us.
groes to wait on them and help them keer
their swords bright. This provokingly cool
indifferent manner is probably the best under
the circumstances.
Many Of the inhabitants entertained Q
curious idea of the appearance Of the Yam
kees, so it is said some supposed that they
had horns on their forehead but that notion
is exploded now, and we believe that some
: are disappointed in finding that no such ap.
pendages We're there. We are irving 10
concillate all classes by an uniformly calm
and courteous demeanor how it will sue
ceed, we are unable TO predict We shall