Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1863-01-06
FOR THE SPECTATOR
CAMP SD Va. RECT,
(Near Port Royal
naoaTa haI. Dad 1852. u


Mr.. Editor You requested me, some time
since. to furnish you such accounts, as conve-
nience might allow, of our Camp Life, and act
ings and doings: saying that such communica-
ton would prove interesting to yourself and read
ers. 1t would be impossible for me, even If de-
sirable, faithfully to deineate all the features OF
g grim visaged war" as they are presented 70
as. The groans of the wounded-the carnage OF
the battle -feld-the cries for assistance when
hostile armies stand confronted on hard fought
field, and no aid can be rendered-bodies man
ged out of all form of humanity these are sights
and sounds with which we have grown familiar
They furnish much food for reflection to the So
Der mind, but they are too painful to dwell upon,
and we instnctively turn to the more cheerful
aspect of the soldiers toilsome life. Behold US,
then, in camp, resting after wearying marches, or
the struggles of battle. The encampment is
reached, the arms are stacked, the lines are
broken, and a shout goes up from the men at the
prospect OF rest aft er their tolls Forthwith
| they dispense themselves-some to erect rude
shelters happy are the few who 6" dwell in
tents ''--some to bring water-son.e to 6 lift
NJ axes upon the thick trees soon hundreds
| Of camp fires are in cheerful blaze, around
which the men gathcrin groups, and. if net too
weary make the woods resound wit. their mer-
t ry laughter, and vocal with songs and hyrnns.-
You would be astonished at the observation-disclosures
of 8 the boys" could you witness what we un-
dergo. Could you butTkeep out Of view the
deep tragedies Of the battlefield, the pelting
storms and harrassng marches, and look in upon
us only on bright day 81 clear night, the CON-
edies Of camp-life might induce you for while
to regard g soldering as pleasant pastime.-
A rain is nothing utter fellow has gotten warm
ed and dried wearisome march is a trife after
one is well rested; and af er a battle, 10 those
who come out unscathed, there is sense ofdeap
relief-a joyful rebound of feeling, and, let US
hope, flow of gratitude to Him who has been
ga shield amid the iron and leaden hail of the
storm The soldier in camp, therefore, is, for
the most part, full OF fun and frolic; reckless as
you please; and wagglsh when occasion offers,
and, sometimes when it doesn't offer. You are
walking along, for instance, and see parcel OF
fellows chopping at a tree; you don't particu-
| arly regard their motions, because you are as
well assured as if they had told you so that that
wood is not for your fire; presently you hear the
beginning Of crash, you hear voices at the same
time shouting-ss call the ROLL" and, locking
around, you behold sturdy monarch of the for
| est tottering on his throne, and holding most
ominously at you as familiar acquaintance a.
bout to become a partner in his ruin; you, of
course, accelerate your gait-not that you think
it would mako the least difference to the benev-
client wood. choppers whether you did or not,
but because Just then the images OF that loving
wife and of those blooming cherubs, of whom
YOU were thinking, are presented more wildly
than ever to your mind. Pleasant, isn't it, to
have, under such circumstances, the assurance
rendered you, that If you killed, the roll will
be called, and your absence duly noted by &c the
Orderly ~
Last Winter our army on the Allegheny was
probably the best provisioned in the service
We had plenty of everything, and Of the best
Sort Plenty of coffee, plenty of sugar, plenty
of fine bacon and good beef, and beans, and
what not besides the advantage Of supplies of
butter, and cakes, and pies, from home. Now
we are utterly swallowed up, merged, lost in the
&C grand army y of which a part and we
are far away from home besides. Ii consequence,
bread and beet, or occasionally bacon, may be
said to be Only rations; but what of that
< The boys cat all they can get and sigh, as
Oliver Twist did, for g more.'' The serving OF
rations is the great order of the day. One is
never at a loss to know when 1t occurs. Almost
visible sensation stirs the camp. Loud shouts
rend the al. 6 Here's your crackers here's
your -four cry fifty voices; while many
more are proclaiming-ss here's your bull - a
classic form adopted to describe the quality of
| the beef.
! heard the other day an incident of the battle
of the 18th, which, in support Of my allegation
/ of the wagglshness of the soldier is woi thy
of record. II is said that General Lee, at some
stage of the battle, saw one of our soldiers max
| ing rapid tracks to the rear. g HalIoo! you,
SIR said the General, {. Where are you going
are you hurt?' g No, Genera,'' said the fel-
low, * not hurt, but I'm one of the worst demon
Giised men you ever did see -
! have spoken of the tragic and comic features
OF our life: it has its melo-dramatc moments,
too. These ate when we think of these old folks
at home,'' whose staff and pride many of US per-
haps are; when we bring to our minds those
smiling homesteads scattered over the hills and
| in the valley Of dear 6 Augusta where we
have so long lived, and loved, and labored. The
hearts OF some of us yearn towards parents whose
| forms long bent with years, incline still more
under the weight of present cares; some towards
| those tender wives and rosy cherubs to who /
have already alluded; while others younger
bat not necessarily happer--are lost in pleasing
dreams of those lovely lasses who, half in smiles
and half in tears, babe them adieu, and sent with
them a tress of hair speaking likeness, -
which they vowed to g cherish and TO prize
though unnecessary as remembrances to hearts
already deeply devoted"
Thus far I have dweit on the general features
! of our life, and have, no doubt, wearied you.-
Pardon my dttusiyeness, and will at once 70
coed to PARTICULARS
Thursday evening, the 18th instant, fr,una no
snugy camped some five miles or no ore from,
ort Royal A little after midnig5 4 wa ,ara
aroused by 9 Orders,' which had t,een received
| by Lieutenant Colonel Skinner, that wa sha,Id
cook rations and be ready to ID owe at davI;aht
Accordingly, we had but little, more sleen fha.
night. All day Thursday the cannonalinc in the
direction of Fredericksburg had been very heavy
Oa FRIDAY morning at sunrise We started. bnt
had gone put a very short distance when we were
ordered to about face, - return to cnr CAM,
/ finish cooking rations, ard hold ourselves n
readiness TO move at a moments notice. We did
SO, and the orders to move came about O'Clock
T. NJ. We moved towards Freder OK sbnrg =
Night soon overlook us our march Ahont
| 8 O'Clock we passed immediately through the
grounds in front of est. Julien, y the antioue
| and attractive residence of the late estimable
| and learned jurist, Judge Brooke. It's nresent
proprietor, Mr.. Francis Brooke we learned was
at his estate IN Louisa and the piaca-wboses
beauties we had better opportunity of admiring
afterwards, on our return-was apparently. in the
charge OF servants. We canlped that niaht in
the woods, about a mile from g ST. Julien and
having built blazing fires, were soon slumbering
soundly
Saturday morning (13th) we started about
o clock, and marched raDidlv To Ham;Iton,s