Delaware State journal and statesman., 1863-11-20

mas learned lesson on many field and march.
But IN all this strong casing of fortiude which
invests his being, and renders him proot against
me agencies which are oil tho time assailing
hiu' there is Que tender spot which Is sometimes
touched, uniting him partially for the exercise
oil those qualities which have so richly endowed
MN AZ Il soldier He may fight courageously,
and stand firmly by his post; he NAV suffer de.
ieat and rally his spirits and those Of his COM
rades by his honor; may suffer hunger without
e4calhlng, hard tack when the Quartermas-
ter rides by may wade streams whist deep,
chilled by the frost, and laughingly shake hun
self when he ascends the opposite bank, and
comfort himself by the remark that he needed
washing he may have to await his turn at the
nttle spring an hour in tue morning with his tin
cup IN hand, before the crowd gives way suli-
cienlly to allow him to secure water with which
to make his coffee aud without growl; he may
have to sleep in the rain aud say il is all for his
country; he may be reduced to the necessity, as
sometimes on the Maryland campaign, Of pulling
splinters from the rails Of loyal owners to make
his evening fire, without grumbling ut the re-
strlctioh he may, 10 his rambles, fluid pig, tho
speed of which forbids its capture and his indig.
nation may be confined to Il few expletives; he
may be reduced to his last chew of tobacco. or
his last pipe-full of "Lynchburg," and not
abandon himself to despair but when home
sickness invades his little domicl, his philoso
phy oitenlimes forsakes him. and leaves him
prey to the consuming fever which the emotions
excite Separated from home, the endearments
OF which he has long been stranger to, having
stiiied feelings which after being intlamed, burn
the more brightly he dwells upon the scenes Of
the past, and contrasts them with the present
Here his heroism becomes apparent again,
for by au effort of the will, such as soldiers can
make, he suppresses these morbid feelings aud
rise5 superior 10 them he shakes them of as he
would drowsy tendency at night on picket,
banks up the fires Of memory, to sumber not to
die, and TO be re-kindied only when the moral
force of his nature is proof against tue flame
which would impair his vitality, destroy his en-
ergy aud dissipate his philosophy as false one,
aud not worth cherishing.
Amid all the depressing influences of cruel
war, there is fruitful source of cheer, and the
soldiers spirits are rrepressibe, rising to the
surface, hubbling and sparkling 10 crystal clear.
ness, like the waters of streamlet over rocky
bed. Tapley-ke, with the increase Of perplex-
tiles, they reach out and draw in resources equal
to the occasion. Seldom abandoned to the
dumps" which they abhor as they do a COD
perhead at home, they keep strict sentinel over
the avenues through which the enemy might
creep in to assault their philosophy which has
always served them. Ever hopeful, they have a
stimulus in that hope which bouys them up and
inspirits Them hope with them is their guardian
deity.
We have said that the soldier was endowed
with power to endure, and blessed with a pc
cniar faculty for adapting himself to his sur
rounding, and making himself generally at home
whenever he Isl in his daily life, tue greater the
difficulties, the greater the energy that is called
out; he never thinks of being conquered by cir
cumstances; he controls them as far as ho is
able. The agencies that produce sickness arc |
naughtto him. but influences nseparable from
a soldiers life, for he resists them as he does
rebel advance, by the proves, not of arm, but |
of character never yicltieg until the pressure |
becomes extreme.
Having pride in the profession of strength, |
and the exhibition of manly attributes, he often
keeps pace with The advancing column, when his |
fatigue would prompt him to halt; foot-sore and |
weary he plods on, with determination EQUIV |
alent to rest, or stimulating cup of coffee.
With happy organization, he is ever ready to
draw pleasure from legitimate sources he can
be happy without any assignable cause can ex-
perience during these soft, lazy Indian Summer
days, when lying with his cigar between his lips
On messy bed, under and old oak ia the woods,
4 degree of satisfaction, whilst almost uncon-
'cous Of the poetry Of the influences which are
around him, and which go to make up his sensa-
lions of the fur nieate.
Ii he cannot procure pine browse or sedge for
lis bed, he can lie on the bare ground if he
'annot, from the scarcity of timber find poles on
which TO suspend his tent, he can use his gun
f he cannot get soft bread, hard-tack is accept
lble. No material may exist apparently from
which to build husband chimneys, this does not
rouble him he knows his sef-reliance, and &C.
,ordingly he improvises the material; water
nay DO scarce aud abundant, with pick and spade
le prospects for the vein, and reaches it after
ielving through hard clay and a rocky stratum;
lie may be sadly deficient in camp kettles aud
ness pans, but he don't starve for the want of
hese culinary vessels with his tin cup and
ection of canteen, he cooks his breakfast, din
Ter and supper. With an inventive power which
you'd do credit to the universal Yankee nation,
md constantly brought into exercise, he seldom
inds himself at fault; he is ready for emergen-
lies, aud meets them as they arise.
Yours, BILLY.