Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1863-02-27
FROM THE FIRST DELAWARE.
CAMP NEAR FALMOUTH, Va,
FRIDAY NIGHT, Feb. 20, 1863.
FRlESD EcKEL /;

FRIEND EcKEL;
After short respite from our
labors in the field, we have returned to our ordi
mary rations, with better defined ideas of the
merits of civil and military life the
features Of the former of which, from protract-
ed exclusion, we had almost entirely forgotten
We had an iudistinct remembrance that people
at home slept on soft beds sat ut table and Gu
joyed the luxuries Of the market, but we had
become oblivious Of the peculiar sensations af-
fOrded in the enjoyment Of such privileges but
we discover that this renewed knowledge does
not by any means, detract from the just appreci.
alton Of a hard couch in canvass tent, aud OF
commissary stores served up in camp style, or
lessen that cougTatulatoIy feeling Of being sat
home" which nearly all experience on their re-
turn to their Regiment.
We Loft the Army of the Potomac in the mud,
and when we returned, We found it very much
in the mud the occasional SHOWS and oft re.
peated rains had not improved the condition of
the roads in the least or assisted in the florida
bility Of streams, as we learned very much to our
cost in attempting to cross one which disported
itself in n turbulent manner between us and the
camp beyond; our boots were warranted water
proof but the maker never as much as init
mated the liability of the water to run into the
tops, il the wearer should get beyond his depth.
We scrambled out the best We could, impressed
| with the conviction that Government routes were
all mugnfed JOrdans, which were hard to
travel, and that leaves of absence when accom-
panied with the privilege OF travelling back in
crowded and disagreeable boats, ia freight cars
filled with oak boards, sat sacks aud stone coal,
and of walking n few miles in mud of unascer
tanned depth and in rain of ! very penetrating
character, were not such glorious things After
all.
~ 10 "a ,f 10 4.
soldiers nature he will risk much, and undergo
more, in order TO get away from camp, aud viii
subject himself to all kinds of annoyances to gel
back. We saw another instance of this incon,
sistancy year ago. Divine service was to be
held III camp in the afternoon, and some good
singers were desired, and one of the men inter.
ested in the matter approached Corporal whom
he saw Mt work fixing up his shanty Sunday Il.
it was, and asked him if he wouldn't assist in
singing the Hymns! The Corporal responded
"Why d--n it man, don't you see am build
ing me house y He was engaged in secular
labor and ready 10 raise the hymns,
On the same day We witnessed an instance il
not Of this kind, at least Of decided forgetiulness
Several Of the Hospital attendants were hammer.
ing away and hewiug logs 10 erect house oil
very rough and unique architecture. We in.
quired il they were not afraid that the establish
ment would iall since it was put up on Sunday
one of them dropped his axe looked up an dryly
asked sis this Sunday ?" certainly it is reflect.
ing moment he inquired 'why didn't you tell
us that before ?" They thought they were
avoiding the example of the foolish man who
built his house in the sand, for they were laying
the foundation of theirs in the mud, and the fol-
lowing morning We noticed that quite q sheet OF
water covered the ground floor.
The weather is sensibly changing; the robins
to-day have been piping their pleasant songs at
the prospect inaugurated by the first gentle and
softened south wind day the music was CRATE
full. cheering and inspriung, for the song was Of
coming spring, OF vernal days, freedom from
SHOWS, and q general tearing and rending of the
icy bonds of old winter which have frightened un-
pleasantly about us at times during the season,
causing US to fancy more than once that gene.
raj order abolishng ali inclement weather, for
the benefit Of the soldier, would be q good ldea
and that journey TO Richmond by subterra'
mean passage, thus avoiding the bad roads.
would be more feasible PLAN aud that il avail
able means of transportation were desired, the
old Eastern method Vi employing elephants was
the best that offered. But here a new difficulty
at once presented itself; might not some pupo-
tilious patriot object to elephants being used in
war? for were not such modes of carrying on n
campaign unusual IL civilized countries, and
barbarous in tie extreme; and might moi
secesh take ouence at II indeed might not some
stoutly retreatiug reb be Overtaken aud trampled
under the huge foot Of the beastg Besides Pro-
violence hos placed these animals in the East.
and it is not proper to remove them from their
sphere, except occasionally to add to the at
fractions Of mauagerie and Providence or
some other agency has planted the negro in the
cotton aud rice fields, and it wouldn't be meet
that he should be at all instrumental in settling
our difficulties, however much he may have been
the unwilling cause Of them.
On the same principle it wasn't right that We
should have fclled and burnt up all the timber
in this vicinity, the past winter, to prevent our
perishing with cold, simply because we haven't
left enough wood to enable our enemies to fence
/ their farms with but we haven't acted on that
principle of humanity which appears to be pre-
dominant with some in true Yankee style, we
have cut down more timber and cleared Of brush
a greater area of land, this season, than the
original prOprietors would have done in the
space OF fifty years. 80 much for northern enter.
prise.
| The Regiment is III fine health and spirits
since its organization, probably, there has not
been less sickness than at present, there is not
patient confined to his bed in Hospital. The
men generally are making improvements in the
domlcils, TO render themselves comfortable until
the time comes when more exciting labor will be
required ny them. Yours, BILLY.
No.