Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-04-08
2SrH REGIMENT N. @. TROOPS, }

2STH REGIMENT N. O. TROOPS,
Camp Gregg, w., March "a, 1863
Mn EDlToR:-I felt to-day as if l was almost
back in North Carolina, having found copy of
your valuable paper of the 18th instant, directed
to Lieutenant Colonel w. H. A. Spear, of our reg
iment 1t was as if had met one Of my old
friends that had not for long time. didn't
stop at reading the news and other matter in the
paper, but I had to look over the advertisements.
1t is very seldom that We ever see North Caro-.
lima paper here in this army. All the papers we
can get here are the Richmond papers, and they
never have any news from our good old State; and
if they have anything to say about North. Carolina
or her editors, or almost anything else that has
been done in the State it is to SANDER persecute
either those in the State or out of it. 10 read
their papers sometimes, it almost makes man
ashamed that he is a native, or is from the State
Neither does it differ how many battles we are in,
or how many Of the Yankees We slay, or how many
batteries We take. or how many Notifications We
storm, and how many Of us are slain in defence of
Virginia SOIL we can never hear one word of it in
the Virginia papers; and if it was not that it gets
to North-Cmolina in some way or other, We would
hardly ever be heard Of This is all wrong. Some
of the noblest and best among North. Carroll.
mas sons have found final resting place in
the soil OF Virginia. Many, once lively and gay at
home, now lie silent in the swamps of the Chicks.
homny, the fields Of Williamsburg and the valleys Of
Cedar Mountain, or silently they sleep in the plains
and on the heights Of Fredericksburg having fallen
in defence Of the cause which is dear to every pa.
tros heart-the defence Of his rights and liberties
aus truly sorry to see our good old State so per-
secuted, when we think that her sons are buried
from Savannah, Ga, TO the fields Of Sharpsburg,
Nd And here We are, thousands of us, on the
banks of the Rappahannock, quietly awaiting the
onset Of the enemy to die for our country. A. the
same time, our brothers at Savannah, on the other
side of South-Carolna, are waiting to spill their
hearts most precious blood to aefend those who
were the first to cry for blood, and. war, and are
still at home, and will not take poor North Car
olins soldiers money for something to stop his
hunger. All this is not right, and the day is
serts We have just come off picket where We
had the pleasure Of seeing our enemies. Our line
is the bank Of the river this side and the enemys
the other bank-some of us not more than one
hundred and fifty yards apart. They are anxious
to talk to US, but it is strictly forbidden by Gen.
A. P. Hill, and We, of course obey orders. We
had another snow on the Goth and 2lst OF this
month, but to days sun has taken it all of. We
have had hard time this winter. The heath>of
our regiment is very good now, taking into con-
sideration the winter quarters We have. Some Of
us are in old tents with little chimnies to them.
Others have dirt houses while some of US live in
holes dug in the ground. 1t is quite amusing when
the drums beat for dress parade, or to fall in You
may see them coming out of the ground in many
places. and falling into line Our regiment is now
one thousand strong in the aggregate, and 75O men
present. Our men would be in fine spirits if we
only had little more to eat Col. S. D. Lowe is
our commanding Colonel. He is good and efficient
officer, brave man, and liked by all his regiment
He has been fortunate enough to be lately married
to handsome, intelligent and fine young lady, of
whom he is very worthy. Maj. W. H. A. Spear,
OF Yadkin County, is now promoted to Lieutenant
Colonel All who know him at home, know that
he is one Of the most popular men in his section of
the country, and stands high for honesty, truth
and integrity, and it can be truly said of him
in the army, that he still retains his popularity and
possesses the confidence Of our regiment, is a
brave man, esteemed by all, and an honor to his
country. He enlisted. ss / understand, in August,
1861, as private. The Office of Major is not ye.
flied, but will soon be by some one of our captains
We have most excellent Chaplain, T. Milton Ken
+ needy. He is truly pious man, and liked by ALL
It is to be hoped he will be instrumental in doing
much good in our regiment. As soon as the roads
and his horde If vandals; but it is hoped that we
will give them such thrashing that they will never
more return. We are determined to drive them
from our soil; and if the spectators and extor.
TONERS don't ruin the country, and we can be fur
nished enough to eat and wear, and tho women and
children fed at home, by the blessings of the good
Lord, we will succeed in what we have undertaken
1 IF the first war men, who wanted to drink blood
all stay at home and skelk from their duty, we car
settle with them after we settle with the Yankees
uoplng to live to see you in peace am
+ Yours truly, G. D. G.
| FoIT CAswELL, n. c., March a. 1853.
Mr.. MISUNDERSTANDING that YOU have no con
tribuor at this post and, knowing your concern fo
the welfare Of our soldiers everywhere, I have con
cudcd with your consent, to let this be'the begin
ming of an occasional correspondence to The bolsa,u
Of your valuable paper, from here.
believe those more competent to Judge in I'll,
matter than myself, regard Fort Caswell, as we'll
notsccurely fortified; not soinyumerable as Sunni
ter and a few other places on our coast wher
giant military intellects have mastered the work
but sufficiently 3d. it is hoped to rebel an attac,
should one at any time be made. Col. Gwathme,
is in command Of the post and evinces adetermins
ton to- render it as secure as possible; to this en-
he is sparng no labor. The health of the garriso
is very good-the soldiers are in excellent suirits
aud should an occasion present itself, think the
will strikea blow alike honorable to themselves an
and beneficial to their country
Fort Caswel is about thirty miles below Wminf
ton, at the mouth Of the river, and is consequent
the principal key to the Cape Fear region. B,
should the Yankees succeed in bomhardment he,
ct any future time, and take the place, there a,
other nets managed by skillful Fisher men 60
Fisher in which they will be apt to get caught
We think, though, as before animated that "tt
blood of Douglas can protect itself here. -.
In Wilmington recently, stood on board Of Il
, Emma" an English steamer from Nassau that b,
: evaded the ,blockading squadron, bringnga valu
4 BILE cargo for the rebels" yet so frequently do
this occur at Southern ports Of late, that such ha
q ceased to- be q novelty with our people. what
rebuke each stranger vessel is however to the Of
g cheney of Lncoln's blockade Some of our solaie
J.. here today, are using imported articles, md 1
stores in Wilmington are fall ofsueh, perfectly
9 dependent of the '' wooden nutmeg progeny,
st Thesteamer Kate "-ths. same yoa .reusmt
# that carried the yelaw fever into Wilmington
sunnfer, ia sunk in the river few miles abOvShe
I}earn that all the cargo. has not besn rs9o&en
y asARertaps never wiabe. y atsa ve.selY -