Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-02-26

Our Coop OLD Town. The arrival rec ntly OF oil
regiment at this post which, although not raised mainly
or even largely in our Section yet contains among is
officers and men many of our personal friends, ana
friends of our friends has led to comparing notes over
the losses our community sustained during tire last
EIGHTEEN months. To them and to us, wilmington
hardly appeared to be the ilmDgton OF other days
War. pesence famine and refugeeism have deprived
as of the sight of old familiar faces many too many of
which we can never see again. At least SIX huncred
rest in Oakdale Cemetery, while twice many, no
doubt have gone to oer and haze offered their lives
mostly young and always brave-upon the altar OF
their country
And where is such-aud-such an one! Died-killed
at Richmond-at Manassas-at Sharpsburg And
such-a another? Died at home of fever doing his best
for his suffering felIowcitzens And another still died
painfully in hospital And who occupies such house!
Gone-long gone-fugitves from the homes they loved
so we'll Why, to who have been here so few years
to look back upon, it strange to Ind ourselves
among The oldest inhabitants" Strange, new faces
meet US at every turn-he reckless but generous SOL
der-he eager but, fear, not generous Spectator
are mainly those who throDg our streets In the one,
we recognise friend, even though never saw him
before In the other we cannot be brought to recog
Mise any such thing.
Bat There's life in the old town yet Our sur
viving Boys" who come home on thcir unirequent>
turIoughs are full of life and hope, and far fuller of
welgrounded conf lence than they when they first
started out. They now brOnzed soldiers. Would
that we could im0oral;ze all their names-t the living
and the dead Would that there were no dead to irn
mortalize
And the letters set from camp all breathe the same
generous proud patriotic spirit. Defend the old town
to the last brick So have they written at all times
when attack threatened u.s. All their regret that
possibly they might rot be able to be with And
from the quiet homes Of refugees In the interior where
delicate women and helpless children have sought, and
have properly sought places of safety from the mincns
of LIKcoLN-the coaduors of BUTLER, comes the same
Invocation. And the appeal behalf of The soldier or
the sufferer has reached the retreats o. reu
gees without eciting the most prompt aud liberal re-
spouse.
There IS life in the old town. Its people, wherever
scattered look to it with pride and regard it with af
lection. There has been speculation in midst, and
there is now but rot characteristic of the place.
The war and the pestieIce and the comparative famine
may have drawn forth some of the bad traits Of our
nature but they have drawn out many more of the
nobles The old town not perfect but she is OF
the most gallant In the Conederacy and she has given
her jewels not less freely than the freest, not less uu
grudgingly than the most ungrudging. She has lost
hundreds Of her sous. She has still her quota in the
service. Her people are still undismayed.
We are not native WiImingtonians and therefore
have the less necessity to o any apology for this vol
untary tribute to the good old town." We so
long aud intimately identified with Wilmington as to
feel pride in all that reflects honor upon her.