The southern aegis, and Harford County intelligencer. (Bel Air, Md.) 1862-1864, 1862-11-08
From BlackVood's Magazine.
The Confederate Army.


and even sorry appearance; about his per-
son any kind ii Goat, or more commonly
nothing hey ohd shirt and puu,aIoous; on
his head, as tie case might be, cap, IL
straw hat, y sirutled hat, or,no hat at all.
A closer scrutiny, however, showed that
essentials were well provided. Besides his
musket and carrrdge-box, every man had ID
canteen, most men blanket aud ha-
versack. a more suitable equipment for
summer service in Virginia could hardly
have been devised. What gives peculiar
interest to the Confederate soldiers dress
is the individual history which attaches to
each separate article. From the blanket
he sleeps Oh to The cartridge he shoots with,
almost everything has been appropriated
from the enemy al one time or another -
This rifle was exchanged for the old flint
luck ON the field oi Manassas that canteen
Was taken at Sn'lon; the grey mare yon
der, with Mcclellan saddle, Was captured
in the cavalry charge at Williamsburg ];
these boots We're taken out Of the Yankee
stores at Winchester The negro who is
following with lie saucepan an the extra
blanket, being wiser than his master, has
consulted comfort rather than prejudice,
aud prevailed upon himself to wear Il
Yankee uniturn, in considt ration that the
f, rmer proprietor was a full colonel.-
Entire batteries pass down the road with
"U. s." in prominent white letters ON the
cassons. 1t is no exaggeration to say
that great part of the Confederate army
have been equipped at the expense Of the
United States Flint locks aud fowliDg
pieces have been exchanged for good MIME
rifles. There was however still So great
want of small arms, that "a considerable
part Of the army were armed with smooth
bore Of hone manufacture, loaded with
ball aud three buck shot This deficiency
has, perhaps, not been altogether disad-
vantage, inasmurh as the necessity OF get
ting to closer quarters, in order to put
themselves on an equality with their OPP
pouents, has in III shall degree produced
amongst the Contederates that habit of
closing with the enemy which has proved
SO Inconvenience to the Northern troops
1t seems iucouceivable until witnessed,
that the same men who have been march
ing, or rather carelessly lounsing, along
the road in lonse and sloveuy array,
should, at the sound of the first shell
that whistles overhead, form up at the
words of their officers, with ease and IA
pidlty, into line so close and compact,
that the sight Of it would give joy to
martlnet's heart. The soldiers of the
Southern army were scrambled together
in few mouths, aud the greater part of
them'never have gone through any regu-
lar course of drill, and are, therefore, want
ing in the snartncss and precision which
distinguishes good troops in Europe
Men take off their hats instead of salu
ting; orders are given in loose CONVEX
sational tone, aud the gunner in battery
will suggest an opinion to the captain
But though, for these reasons, the troops
might not be presentablr on parade,
years hard service has rendered them eft.
tcient, for the field. The very high STAN
dard Of individual intelligences moreover,
supplies the want of order in great mea-
sure. Things which. in other armies, if
not done on strict r,:le would be altogeth-
er neglected, somehow "get themselves
done" In this vrlun'ecr army. Neverthe-
less-and it may be mentioned as ii hint
to our own volunteers-the want of strict
organization is greatly felt, and more so,
on the march than on the field. The
great strength and power of the Southern
army lies in the individual resolution OF
the men. Every private feels determi-
nation, not ouly to carry his regiment
through the tight, but to see his country
through the war. Boys of Is may be
seen by the side Of gray haired men -.
Men who could not obtain arms have
been known to fellow in the rear rank,
and go into actinu 90 the chance of pick
ing up musket IN the first opportunity.
1t has been described how, at the COM
amencement IF the war, all the wealthiest
men crowded into the ranks; there has
been time for tile first enthusiasm to wear
away, and yet there are no signs of any
fiinchiUg from the contest. Scores OF
names could be mentioned of men who
after having served out their FIRST enlist.
ment Twelve ,nonths1, spent week with
their relations, aud then returned to vol
unteer for three years or for the war. In.
deed, no man who siruDk from the war
could ever again ycnture t, address u la
dy.
y- Whoop.ag Cough may be greatly reliev-
cd and entirely cured BY the free use Of Hoof-