Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1863-02-17

Dear Editor In the county of Caroline, near the
South bank of the late placidly meanderng (but
turbid ard swolen) Rappahannock, ensconced amid
forest of piny cover, the 'old Stonewa Brigade,
quietly reposng rests-aier the arduous and excit-
ing scenes of its recent bloody campaigns. But, as
ever awaits at its commanders call, to add new
aurels to its ooors and fresh pages to its counrys
history. A delightful camp, udiciousy selected and
arranged with all the regularity Of the military pre-
cision-we much pride inspreads itself from East
to West along an undulating ridgc-surrounded, on
all sides, by the well-grown timber that alike Sc
cures safe protection from the chilly blasts of Win
ter and affords plentiful supply of gnarled oak and
juicy pine to replensh the huge, comfortable fires
around which cluster the weather BEATEN honest fea
lures and stalwar forms of he true the Valley
who well clad well shod, well fed and well contented
hurry the Heeting moments on with hearty laugh
merry joke or swift reoinder oblvious of the past
unmindful of the fuure-and like true soldiers live
the present Without the sound of saw, or Ratchet
rude huts, mounds and gopher holes, if by magic
have sprung into form, arranged like the command
S'Into column of companies '-perpendcular to the
''oolor lnen-fronted by beautiful parade ground
prepared by the willing labor of the troops which
daily such exercise is taken-that, while others
tossing restlessy beds of ease in homes of comfort
| arraigned before the bar of that inward monitor
Conscience-fer countless deeds of extorton, here
| C. Natures sweet restorer- balmy sleep
soon closes the lids and sweey watts her votaries
the realms of Nod notwithstanding the vigorous efforts
of army beef to halt them on tbs deceptive plains
of Dream-land
spacious log church lifts its clap board roof amid
the timber to the g God of battles and humbly
there the grey back of Freedom bow the head and
bend the knee to the great Arbiter Of Right and
Wrong in meek submission to His will.
Bible classes have been established by the agency Of
the chaplans of the different regiments, apd Sabbath
after Sabbath to groups of attentive hearers, the
Word is expounded and the way explained with all
/ the earnestness of faith,--when the Southern mel
odies, SO beautifully descriptive of the land We
love, and the ncbe daring of her that, nightly
through the week, are sung by vigorous voices around
the blazing eamp-fres-giye place to the hymn Of
prise, and tits felt to be day of rest.
A theater, with green-room, private boxes, &c. Ca
lpabe Of accommodating three hundred visitors, has
been erected by the untring energy ofthe members
i company (hiaricn Rifes) and company K, Morgan
Continentals, of the regiment from Winchester and
tri-weeky, the ssStonewal Minstres," led by Noble
T. Johnson of company A. enact of tragedy and
farce before audiences from this and other brigades
! Ills no humbug but worth your dollar to hear Of
"Billy Barlow" and his visit to 'Uncle Abe-t see
| the ssBlack BARKER and his duped victim-and be-
hold the awful effect of the 'Railroad Collision" Nc
matter how great your gravity, the rsbes will draw
the teeth will show and the side will ache-undel
the effects of these nimitably performed, laughter
producing farces and the happy hits at the expense
of various incidents that in camp: the drilling
of the ssRaw Recruit and the ssMe. ical Examining
Board y
4 L Al,
tresome march by its stirring music adds to the
tertainment of the hour as we'll as dispes, through
the day, the tediunl, engage in what sport we may
will cling around winters camp life.
The raised by the ssMinstrels averaging from
S170 to $50 per night. to be appropriated under
stand for the audabe purpose OF uniformlng the to
refugee companies from Winchester May they be al
successful in this object they have been in contrib
uting to our pleasure.
From lofty pine in the centre of the encampment
sthe prayer believed flag of Jackson, that ever has
seemed but lead TO victory floats to the breeze OF
heaven begrimed by the smoke and ridded by the
bullets of many hard fought and blood stained field
The old hero himself close ny, mpatienty awaits the
advance of the perfdious foe ready to hur destruc-
ton amid his ranks and dismay to the hearts of trem-
bling fankeedom
| Our camp has been designated ssCamp Winder" after
| the lamented General Charles FL Winder, who so
balls at Cedar Mountain; and, nobly there, gave his
life for countrys good. Tread lightly on the turf
that hides his sleeping ashes "a hero lies beneath.
! Our present Brigadier- Observation-Disclosures absent,
SICK and the comm and of the brigade devolves the
senior and our worthy Colonel j H. S. Funk-the
successor of beloved Baylor who fell SO heroIcaly
on the bloody plains of Manassas the last though not
the least of our gallant leaders who have so bravely
sacrificed life at the ssshtine Of liberty
| Although we have marched over 1900 miles during
the past yearfought in eleven hard contested battles
and numerous skirmshes-with ranks thinned by the
loss of twelve and twenty of our brave comrades killed
and wounded-we still .'hold our own - and offer
unbroken front-as extensive at the commencement
of this memorable year ready to strike another blow
| for Freedom
The .sbloody Fifth with Lieutenant Colonel Will
Hams and her five hundred and twenty present send
yon greeting and trust that ere long, as the begn
ming of the end becomes visible may standing
more amid the fertile valleys and blue mountains of
"West Augusta drop tear to the memory OF our
one hundred and seven comrades who have fallen IN
our ranks different fields of carnage died in hos
pitfalls during the past twelve months and now sleep
the silent steep of Death in soldiers graves meath the
green sods of the Old Dominion congratulate the
three hundred and forty two wounded their hon.
orable scars and give three such lusty cheers the
success of our glorious will make the smerry
welkin ring again.
Our staff, consisting of J H. S. Funk Colo mel; H
J. Williams Lieutenan Colonel; J. W Newton .se-
nior Captain, acting Major; ]. W Walls, Surgeon
E. W. Brevard, Assistant Surgeo and Chas S Ar
nall, Adjutant and all the boys with but four ex-
ceptions are well and hearty. In fact the health of
the entire corps and army is arkaby good-better
than at any time during the W..
N B. Of the 107 who have died, ffty-three fell in
action and fifty -four died from wounds disease in
the hospitals