The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-08-01
Camp scenes NJ vIckshurr.
ViCxssURa, July l8, '63.

IN
idea that soldiers life is one Of oontin.
ssd privationand hardship, never enlivsn.
cd BY various little scenes of Wit and hu.
NOR, fun aud frolic, engenderiug feeling
OF liberty. which makes ono feel good and
everybody enjoy themselves, forgetting
for time the many long miles intervsn-
ing between himself and friends II home.
Often when enjoying the fun Of camp
l have wished
"soa'e power the gin. to xie 'sa 20 see oar,el.s.
Just imagine the smile which would
break the sombre visage of many an anx.
ious friend At witnessing some Of our
many somersaults of orthodox dignity.
You at home must think that the soldiers
are strictly orthodox in their opinions and
actions. They are open to any opportu.
nifty of fun that may present itself to their
m'schievoss and vorsOious appetites for
hearty laugh. ready to engage in any
plan of operations and will tax their fer
tile brain for any piece Of strategy which
will accomplish their ends or desires.
They have no conscientious scrpples
about adopting any guise for the purpose,
assuming the garb of citizen, guerrilla,
officer, and not even refusing 10 assume
the surplice. Q. how / wish our friends
could zee and enjoy some Of our prsnks,
could be present at some of our wedding
parties for instance, but distance being an
obstacle to notes Of invitation, they must
be dispensed with. and satisfy ourselves
BY telling you of them.
We bad observed the growing intimacy
and tender feeling Of young lady whose
bloom reminded oae of the color Of . new
saddle and young gent Of ebony quali6-
cations. Last evening We were surprised
by an invitation to honor the knot-tying
process with our presence. To be fash
ionable We managed to be- little late,
just little. arriving on the fsld Just as
the process was about to commence. Az
ter some desultory remarks the pseudo
chaplain requested the groom to assume
m upright position, which he did by
placing Is inch pedal organs on the
ground and pulling himself upon them
With the aid of stout peach tree. "Hold
up your leti hand" said the sweating of
hcial. "You, Henry, do solemnly swear,
in the name of the Declaration of Inde
pendence, that you know OF no legal im-
pedimsnt to this contemplated union. -
The groom sigui6ed his inability to des
ignaie any such speei6ed impediment.--
Having succeeded in getting the bride
and groom in vertical position. "Hsnry
and Emma, you, and each of you having
BY mutual consent agreed to unite in the
holy bonds of matrimony according to the
Coastitation Of tie Uaifed States. and it
having become my duty to perform the
services Of the occasion, do, By the eoa-
secrdted power assumed by me for the
purpose, pronounce you. in the name of
the Secretary of War, husband and wife,"
1t is hard to tell the feelings OCCASION
ed by the ceremony. Long faces and
down cast eyes would lead one to sup
pose they were of SOLEMN inclination,
but the significant twitching at the cor
nerof spectators mouths would Danish any
such supposition. With heightened Wis.,
age the chaplain proceeded: my young
friends. the ceremony which l have per-
formed in your behalf has, accoro,ng 10
the laws of the Msdes and Persians,
changed your relative positions in life
from state Of sin gle blessedness to the
sacred vice Of matrimony. II becomes
your dnty TO love, cherish and provide
for each other. and in strict performance
Of this duty the blessings of Father Abra-
ham will rest on you. Your destination
will be high and your ends glorious -
The chaplain now administered the RS.
kiss" which be did by cracking his lips
directly over the huge nasal protnbsraDce
Of the bride. After which the smiling
pair sat down to receive the congratula-
ions Of spectators, while the marriage
scrti6cate vas being prescribed. The
is = copy verbatim:
HEApR'Rs 7TH Division HosrlrAL,)
l7rH Army Coaps.
VIcKsnuRA July l7th, 1858.
This is to certify that / have this day
spliced 10 the war like bands OF matrimo-
ay Henry Ebony and Emma Sable, both
of the United States army.
VIM. II. D W.,
Surgeon in charge.
JoHN F--R, Clerk.
MILros Sw, witness.
MILT, Co. FL. 5th Iowa.
H~~- AfsA