The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1862-01-11
ARMY CORRESPONDENCE
RoMNe4. Va. January 5, 1862.

very pretty day it is. I therefore avail
myself of the opportunity of dropping you
line, from the sacred soil of Seceshdom.
I received a file OF Journals a few days
ago, in which it was announced that the
14th Regiment had gone into winter quar-
tiers at Philippi. 1t was true that we were
CHARTERED there for few days, and not ad-
mirably situated, but soldier is used to
disappointments, and this was not an ex-
ception. We had only got snugly fixed, be
fore the order came for US to report at this
place, which we did on regular time
Romney is the seat of justice for Hamp-
shire county, and is rather pretty town
for Virginia, situated on the east bank OF
the south branch of the classic Potomac
river. 1t once contained about one thou
sand inhabitants, but Immediately upon our
troops taking possession of the place, its in
habitants decreased at least one-half. The
town was laid out in 1855, consequently is
now one hundred and seven years old. 1t
boasts of a very fine and substantial Court
| House, built in 1852. There are also two
respectable churches-one Methodist and
the other Presby terian-which, from APP
pearances, would seem to have been wen
attended in the days of peace and quietude
/ There is also a. very, creditable Seminary
building, beautifully located at the end Of
the principal street, on the east side of the
town. There are also several very neat
residences in various. parts OF the place,
! Eh5ch gives it the appearance of ease and
comfort, but much the greater portion OF
the buildings take after the Old Virginia
style, many of which are over one hundred
years old. and, as a consequence, much de-
lapidated. The scenery around the place
is decidedly beautiful. The lovely POLO
mac, with its clear and silvery waters, wind
ing its rapid way through mountain crsg:
on the west, with hills of every sizs, and APP
parently of every shape, in all directions
renders the scene most beautiful indeed
and particularly SO to-day, for the reason
that all Nature il covered with a mantle O
snow
i The people hereabouts, are very nearly
/ all secesh. The men that are left prete nd
i either to be Union or neutral, but yon cap
not find a woman nor child. but what viii
tell you they are against the Union. Even
the negroes are seeesh. .s-s-e -~as
Christmas and New Years have passed
and nothing of much Importance ranspiret
on either day. On New. Years day many
of the men were a little tipsy, notwithstand-
spirituous liquors are not allowed to CONS
into camp. Scarcely an officer knows
where single /" drop" can be had, yet there
are dozens of soldiers who can getisswbea.
ever they please. Those who have deter
mined to traiic in the creature, have q way
of getting it, and they know who to.seI to
Five large cases Of oysters have been known
to come 10 :, 81, nd, upon examination tbs
cases, proved 10 10 fall Of whisky. s.. %
There are no rebels, in any considerable,
number, nearer than Winchester, distance
of foIty-two miles, yet we keep a guard o
one thousand men out, every day. Phes
men start ont at 8 o'clock in the morning
: and remain on their posts for ,twentY-fou
hours. Why the necessity of so large
;. guard is unknown to me. Yet it may b
necessary. The general feeling is, however
that the men had rather settle the matte
by fight than to be killed off By heaY,
picket duty. - ~ ~ y
We have a pretty large forcs. here, of in
, fantry, cavalry and artillery, principall.
!, from Indiana, Ohio and Virginia. tn
Ohio men have never. seen a battle, an,
their officers do play The Sunday soldier
with all the variations, very extensively
, They do not like to associate with -sbe Indi
ana officers, for the reason that our uni
IOrulS are CODsOeFaDty SOHeu, The cODSe
quenee of which is, that we do not make 8
, good an appearance as they desire thei
associates should do. [ apprehend, how
ever, that if they had staid in the woods o.
Cheat Mountain as long as we did, tina
much of the starch would be taken out c
f them.
The Crescent City Guards are well, ex
cept colds-not man either in the hospits
or guard house The officers are bcardiu
{ at private houses, aDd the men oecupyin
r houses that have been vacated. Neare al
| having as good time SIS possible. Lieu
Ballinger rooms at one house and boards a
> another; yet he is always at his post whe
? needed. Ches. Davis is with his men, al
e tending to their wants, and making ther
t come as near up to orders as he can. Che!
IS a good officer, and does his duty prompt
ly. The balance of the officers are layin
: around aloose, the most of whom do thei
t duty well, but as there is but little for ther
Y to do, they seem to enjoy their inactiyit
:. exceedingly well.
= We have given up all hopes of going t
d Kentucky, SO we may be set down as PAT
r of the grand army of the Potomac.. ~
: More anon. W.