The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1863-06-04
From the First Michigan Cavalry.
CAMP First MICHIGAN CAVALRY,
Fairfax Court House, Va, 7
Nav 25th. 1868.

Z" ne Wedtner lot tDe last tWo W0chS
has been extremely warm here. warmer,
we are told, than has been experienced
for many years past. Our camp is now
situated about three-fourths Of mile
from Fairfax village, or Court House,
as it is commonly called 1t is a
dingy little place, of perhaps a score of
houses, located on the pike IA miles
from Alexandra and miles from Fair
fax Station, on the Alexandra and Man
assas Railroad. 1t took its name from
Lord Fairfax, who settled here in an
early day, and was known as rich and
opulent planter, owning many thousand
acres of land and hundreds of negroes.
Since the breaking out of the present
rebellion it has been subjected to the
TRADES of the two opposing armies, and
has, as a matter of course, sadly de-
generated in point of respectability and
Importance. In its "palmy days."
when peace and harmony reigned su-
preme, it might have furnished pleas
ant, quiet retreat for him who sought
the ease and comfort of secluded, un-
austentatious life. But now the i'm
press of poverty and desolation is plain
.ly stamped upon it, and many years
must necessarily elapse before it will
entirely recover from the devastating
shock it has been the unfortunate re-
|cipient of. bead 17ai7 ai He
On Saturday, the 23d inst, we were
honored by a visit from His Excellency,
Gov. Blair, of Michigan, accompanied
by Gen. Stahl and Staff, Col. Price
(acting Brigadier) and Staff, Col. Bry-
ant, 9Th Pennsylvania Cavalry, and
other military functionaries. We were
reviewed by the above distinguished
visitors, and then passed in review be-
fore them, first at walk then on the
trot, gallop and charge, left wheeling
into line on the gallop. The manner
in which we executed the different ma
neuvers, the alacrity in the execution
thereof, the efficiency displayed therein,
and the manifest good discipline evil
IDENTIFY attained, called forth high and
flattering compliments from General
Stahl and Staff, Col. Bryant, (both edu-
Gated military men, of the 9Th Penn,
Cavalry, and in fact all present. Col.
Bryant said: & never saw anything
in the volunteer or regular service to
compare with it." Gen. Stahl said ''it
beat anything he ever saw on the
American Continent" With such fiat.
tering testimonials as to the high state
of proficiency we have attained in drill
and discipline, coming as it does from
men of lifelong military experience.
and whose opinions are certainly emit
tied to respect, we cannot but fully fee
proud. The Old First, notwithstand.
ing its ranks has been decimated by
the casualties incident to two years Of
active service, in battle aud otherwise
can yet present bold front and are
prepared, should an occasion presen,
itself, to deal out upon the heads of eul
traitorous foes, that just penalty which
is SO richly merited by all who raise the
recreant hand of treason with the fou
purpose of blotting out, if possible
those fundamental principles which
underlie, and are the only true guaran
tee of free and righteous government
The Governor also called on US yes
terday, the Oath inst, and made us {
neat little speech. He was looking ex
ceeding hazel, but to US soldiers, in hi.
citizens dress and "stove pipe" hat
rather rusty. Some of the boys were
so impertinent as to assert that he hat
on the &c same old coat" which he uset
to wear years ago. His recent cam
paign," however, to the Bull Run Bat
tie Field on horse back, may satisfac
torily account for his" dirty" appear
ance, inasmuch as the roads were il
capital condition, to furnish an mex
haustable amount OF that commodity
In his remarks he paid touching tri
butte to the honored dead who fell Oh
that mortal field. He remarked tina
he had made a solemn vow, as he stoo'
there upon that sacred soil-made sa
cred by the blood of scores of brav
hearts-surrounded by the graves @
hundreds who fell in defence of thei
country's honor, murdered martyrs t
great and good cause-that he woul
use every means in his power, expen
the last dollar to prosecute this war t
the knife. He saw enough upon ths
one battle field to wildly impress hir
with the solemn and responsible dutie
which devolved upon him, and