American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1863-03-20
IL cAHFs, NEAR FBASELTN. Va.
March Sd. 1868


IL CAMrs, NEAR FBsSKLIN. VA.
March Sd, 1868.
FRIEND BoswoRTH After twelve days travel
ing. that portion Of company which came by
the country roads reached our present camping
ground in Southampton county. Va. near the con-
fiuence OF the Blackwater and Nottaway rivers
which unite few miles from this and from the
Chowan river Our trip from GoIdsb0ro' North
Carolina, was quite pleasant, aud as passed
through the most wealthy portion Of the State we
of course Jared sumptuously. aud passing. we
did through historic ground, were continual y
seeking those places of interest which made
attractive by the strange spell which sti fingers
around them. At Halifax, " c., shown
the old house beneath whose roof the Mecklinburg
Declaration Of Independence written 1t was
removed from its original site and is now used as
hotel As we stood lingering around this old relic
of revolutionary days thinking of those bold spir-
its who first dared 10 defy imperial authority aud
throw of the yoke that bound them to an oppress-
i've tyranny, We were shown cluster of trees be
meath whose shade large portion OF the army of
CORVALLIS encamped they retreatig
To Yorktown. What train of thought this infor-
NATION brought with it Here we stood as if
in the cradle Of liberties. and almost
within stones throw once encamped the army
WHICH htu come 10 feJfeSS Tue feItIlOn WHICH HFst
began beneath this same old roof We could
almost the rebels they retreatsd Hnorganized
and undisciplinsd before the relocated veterans OF
royalty. Driven from theft homes, they toiled on
brasey with the spirit of liberty burning brightly
in their bOsoms /; beaten every battle field and
hunted tor ia every wood and copse that would
give them temporary hiding place but though
foot sore and weary they fatered not but periIed
all in the sacred cause of Freedom We INDUCED
these pleasant recollcctons until we were ordered
u - fall in - which reminded that the
test for freedom was being waged against more
Infatuated. implacabe and inhuman foe.
At twelve o'clock tonight the Yankee Congress
wi. be dissolved hy constitutional limitation. The
Senate having passed the Conscript Bill, it will
doubtless meet with the concurrence of the House
OF Representatives and three million of soldiers viii
he added 10 those already in the field to crush the
accursed rebellion What comment on hu-
man foresight and Judgment! What a contrast to
the seventyfve Thousand called for at the begin
ming of hostilities, and which was to sweep like
some dread simeon along tue length and breadth
Of the socalled Confederate States - But sup
pose their army is recruited to three millions of
fighting men. how long the government sup
port them? A financial crisis viii come within two
months which will caHse the bulls and hears of
Wall street to grovI B4ost p:tcously. Where will
they obtain subsistence The moment they are
mustered into service the pIow and the scythe will
rust in the fields for want labcrers to till the soil
and harvest their crops But suppose they are
ganzed and drilled, what theng There is no his
torcal evidence TO make believe that there ever
was mind Of sufficient capacity to maneuvre sue
cessfuliy such mass of men. Their movements
m Ist be heavy. slow and cumbersome, while a
small drilled active army in f;0hf
order under sagacious leader strike terror to
the entire army of invasion. The battles of Canuae
Marathon and Thermopyle are familiar to the stu
dents Of history; how they were fought and won by
insignificant numbers against well appointed ar
mics of invasion. To conquer such army as
threatens US will be the pride Of our land and we
will buckle our armor yet closer around and
march eheerfuy to the appointed task. We look
upon this movement in the North with no feelings
of alarm. for it we trne to ourselves and have
firm reliance on Him who gveth the victory. all
will so well with This is the last spasmodic
effort of our enemy and look for grand mp
heavng of the foundation of Northern society aud
it's institutions.
We all notice with pleasure that several of our
Mississippi journals are pouring hot shot into our
State authorities for their lavish expenditure of the
public money. 1t is burning shame. TO say the
least of it. for body of men who claim be intel
1gent. to appropriate $500 to the Major General
OF tine Militia. whose command in the feld at no
time amounts to full brigade of infantry. The
system is a dead expense to the State and the men
should either be dishanded and permitted to return
TO their homes or be turned the Confederate
authorities.
Our company is in good health and fine spirits
A few days before left Goldsboro', Mr. W. J.
Harold had his left leg accidentally broken below
the knee whilst wrestling with of his mess
mates He is Goldsboro' at private resi-
denoe and was doing wen when we last heard from
him. Alden. CHARLIE.