Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-06-01
No. IL.
FOR THE SPIRIT or THE AGRl
The Demoralizing Influences of the Camp.
BY R.

BY b
In considering the calamities attending revolutions
such as is now scourging the Southern people there
IS one evil overlooked by many or perhaps its blight
ing influence is not sufficiently estimated by those
who have never been soldiers It is the demon aiznr
teruencleS OF the camp where young men are almost
entirely shut out from the hallowed associations of
home, and the refining influences of woman. There
no parental counsel poured into the listening ear of
the yoyager on a bloody sea-no sisters admonitions
can be heard by the belcagured spirit but the Young
soldier is LETT by circumstances to contend as best he
can with the many mptatons and allurements which
daily threaten him. And alas how many have We'll
ded to the devices of the wicked one in this way
since this war began. Thousands whose hopes took
6old OF Heaven-whose life-barques were sailing
down the stream of time, prepared to anchor at last
IN gorys haven, longer Soldiers of the Cross
but have forgotten their God in being called away as
defenders of their country.
The world has never witnessed more exalted pat
rictism or commendabe valor than has been DISPLAY
ed by the sodlery of the South during the present
conflict Yet while they have thus been true to their
hag and the cause in which liberty and our very ex-
lstence as people depend they remembering the
God who should be refuge, who is able to smite
our enemies and give ultimately the victory p
Does conscience with our soldiers, like careworn
sentinel. half sumber while it watcheth We fear
this is too often the Our experience teach
es us that many when they assumed the uniform of
the soldier, threw aside the habilments of the chris
tan-that many purely conscientious before their al
with have aeuated themselves from toe fold of chris.
tanty and given loose rein to their impulses as if
there was no God to serve, no Heaven to obtain
And we are sorry to add opinion prevails with
Some that lnaSmuch as they have sacrificed the CON-
forts of home and counting danger in the strife
with the of equity and Justice ON their sde that
they be drunken, guilty of profanity and the many
vices prevalent in camp, with impunity and if they
fall, twill be as the martyr, who yieldeth his life
rather than abandon his creed. In feeble Judge
ment, while all honor is due the patriotic soldier, and
the graves of our noble dead should be haioweo
through all coming time the mere fact of having fai
len thus will per SCI insure happy immor'an-
Z ty in the great Hereafter. :. a.,
llnstTasive Of the we VIII relase 'ng
in tse present strogge and S ssh
teered in the Reg in the Mississippi Ar
my. Time passed on, and we both became officers in
the same company, and constant friends. A frater-
nal attachment existed between u.s. and we mutually
shared the prvatons of the march, the fare
the camp, and the horrors of the battlefield had
known nay friend in civil life and though acquain
tance limited, had learned to respect him for his
exemplary conduct and conscientious department..
His faith appeared unshaken and his pety SEEM
ngy shone brighter amind the surrounding irreligion
and vice. for some ..onths after entering the army.
But in ungarded moment he fell! One sin was
| but the harbinger of another-prayer soon ig-
| nored and home influences forgotten-all remon-
STRANGE was in vain and reckessy onward and down
ward he went. Twas mortifyng to see his generous
nature almost buried in the ruin, and conscience
| fickering in his bosom like candle dying in its
! socketl
At Corinth just before the memorable battle Of
Shiloh he was stricken with disease. All saw that
he must die. l stood beside him and though he was
fast sinking, remembrances of his past conduct seem
ed to pass like black cloud across his mind. He
said in tones never to be forgotten: Ali It's toe
latc!" The iron grasp of the destroyer was on his
soul, and with convusive throe his spirit passed
away.
Reader, doubtless many such SCIENCES as this have
occurred-let it admonish you, then, if you have th
privilege of attending divine worship and waiting up
| on God in His sanctuaries when you ask for tn
success of our arms to pray also that the soldiers
the South may be shielded by the All-powerful arm
from the demorazing influences of the camp.
Fort Caswell, n c., May 1868.
HISTORY OF THE WAR.-We learn that 1t. NJ. j
McSween has been collecting material for history
allth in this Officers