Delaware State journal and statesman., 1863-05-19
Letter from the First Delaware.
LETTER No. GS.

FRIEND ECREL

MVhhNy NlghIi May III 1866.
FRIEND ECKEL:
Qnietude again prevails. The
little tents have rep0ssesscd the hill slopes. and
the camp fires glenn from their nc ustomel
places. The county which tho late move de-
prived of its animation, has become repopulated
and the Union soldier has insensibly fallen into
his old habits, seemingly unconscious that he
has been manufacturing history at an astound
ing rate. The drums whose sounds were busl,ed
in the din of battle, have recovered their fncul-
ty for making noise and now tell us when il
10 time to go to bed and when to get up. The
bands Of music indulge in operatic airs by night.
serving to repel the indigo imps" that are 50
prone 10 iavade onoampments Mt times.
The frogs in tho shallow ponds chant their an
probation of established Spring. The Martins
arc joyous in their songs; the forest oaks are
putting on their vernal attire, and the apple
trees are in full blossom, while the grass ~
springing from every spot not matred by deem
wagon roads and camp sites, The scene is as
peaceful as though no fierce battle of Chancei.
lor-ville had been waged, as though in the still
ness of the night could not be heard, from our
present localities, the roar Of the River of DEATH
whose dark floods have borne the buoyant non
toons with passing thousands, and along whose
shores the deep reyei berations of cannon and
musketIy, told of sanguinary conflicts, of dead
and wounded.
What does all this silence portepd? Does it
mean energies exhausted. material depleted
means wanting or sill repressed No. Does
it point to On abandonment Of enterprise. TO n
long continued inactivity or to the absence of
hope and trust in our ultimate success? No.
IL is but lull in the Storm and likely 10 be
succeeded at any time by hurricane that NAV
oVerwhelm our enemies The men now sleenIng
as 1t were, will rise. as one man, with zeal and
patriotism undated, and refreshed and equipped
for the struggle. Slight dsnppoiniments do not
constitute decentralization, neither do failures to
accomplish everything that was hoped for. de-
prive the soldier of all faith in future movements
Perseverance, is an attribute with him, and his
ardor is hard to check or dampen A falling
back he does not magnify into rOut or an in
efectual attempt into defeat When he ia
directed to advance again, he will cheerfuly don
his acooutrements, full of faith in his soliierlv
qualities, strong in confidence in his leaders and
trusting in the righteousness Of his cause. He
Is not the one to give up in despair or to waste
his timeln gloomy antieipatons and forebodipps
He maintains spritedly that our forces eau con.
quer their foes and that they will do it vet
that there is not the least question as 10 the tina
result
As to the First Delaware, there is no diminu-
ton in its devotion TO country or of its readi
ness to prosecute the labOrs Of another and then
Ahother campaign. IL has suffered little ia de-
preston of spiritsi There ia fight vet in its
thinned ranks the boys have the pluck of game
chickens as they are, and will stand up as long
as there is spur or feather left With them
there is not the fAnest symptom of that demon
alizaton which we hear so much of, but which
is most generally fanciful they will, with alnc.
rity, resume offensive operations, and gaily sing.
As we go marching along"
To-day we had the pleasure Of seeing portion
OF the Cavalry come in from their famous raid
Jubiant with success and rejoicing in the posses
sion of captured straw hats, turbaus and other
articles from Southern store houses, and bein,
followed by quite number of the peculiar
institutions" dressed in the bulternut style.
The officers of our Regiment, a few evening,
ago, presented Major General French, yerv
handsome set of silver spurs, as a testimony Of
the estimation in which he was held. The