Delaware State journal and statesman., 1863-10-06


CAMP IN rnr FIELD, CulrgprEq Co. Va
Monday SEPT. rs, 1863. !
FRIEND EoKFL
III '.- On
separates us from ou ,... ..umpnlenl
our travels though not extended, have
been varied On our march from the
river to this locality, through the Cul-
pepper, we traversed Il section Of country
more beautiful than any we have seen in
Virginia, There was a constant success.
sion OF hill and vale to charm, and especi-
ally are we reminded of the views afforded
us from Slaughter or Cedar mountains, on
which we eneamped one evening; stretch
of country miles in extent opened before
us, with the variety Of cultivated fields,
wooded belts and mountain spurs the
"Pony Ridge rose in front of us, while
the battle ground which Pope contested
was just below us. The sombre shadows
of the mountain trees under which we
JigOuacked, were in accord with the pic
ture of desolation which was made up of
the deserted "Slaughtern mansion and
its neglected and weed choked terraced
yards and gardens, Il sad but Oft repeated
commentary on war, while the sunlight Of
a setting sun that was diilused over meadow
and farm, conveyed to Us who were in
such an elated position, impressions that
eflaced for the nonce all thoughts of our
belligerent mission
The line of our duty now confines us to
n scope Of country no less beautiful the
Blue Ridge skirts us, with its billowy out
lines looking like the floods of old ocean
after a slight storm, some Of the many
peaks rising up sparked and Offering ad
vantages as Rebel signal stations, from
which by day their telegraphic flags are
swayed to and fro, and by night their
signal lights FASH here we enjoy the fine
landscapes with sufficient houses showing
their tops above the trees and shrubbery
to give an air of vitality from any hill
top, you can overlook corn fields valleys
of considerable breadth, patches Of woods
and thin line Of trees that skirt a narrow
stream where rebellion commences, and
across which the enemy and ourselves,
like Holmes churches, are trying to stare
each other out Of eountenance. To make
the scene more interesting you can observe
on gentle elevation Il rebel cavalry picket,
or the butternut relief going to an old
straw stack behind which is a station
Speaking Of the pckets, we must tell
you Of some OF the amenities of this kind
Of duty. The day before yesterday our
Regiment was on picket and confronting
the enemy. Barney our Sergeant Major,
who by the way is quite an institution,
espied a COW which had just escaped from
the rebel lines, with a reb in hot pursuit,
both coming towards neutral territory.
"Baneyn seizing his sword rushed to-
wards the scene secesh seeing the ad-
vance halted ina agine his surprise when
Barney ran up to the COW, and waving his
sword, gave her gentle poke with it and
started towards our lines, the rebels as
tonished at the audacity, cried out, Halo,
, 'you Yank, bring that COW back here she
belongs to u.s. Barney 0ourishing
his sword, stopped and looked back to
wards him, and responded "who are you
o cusing, you darned rebel the animal
I. has seceeded Giving the COW anoth-
= er reminder with his sword that She was
!, needed in our bicouac, he brought her iu
. triumphantly, several Of the rebs who
j had be drawn out by the colloquy laugh
ing at the signal discontinue Of theii
Z companion in arms. '}arney" having
MIXED the COW and obtained about {
gallon and half of the lacteal fluid
enough to supply the entire picket reserve
turned her back towards the rebel linei
and cried out to the defeated johnny tina
he might have the beast now that h,
s 4 didn't need her any longer, the last seel
ID of her, she was vending her way slowl,
= to the enemy in quest of her calf whicl
Z; was tied to tree This, to say the least
was handsome piece of strategy, to sa,
e' nothing Of the milk it was a coup d
y main Merit will be rewarded and fey
" more such mastery strokes will ear
x "Barney" promotion,
to Our boys are n2toriously fond of fres
pork, and will risk no little to secure on
D of these pedatory animals u few day
ago, one OF the boys chased a young pi
inro field and before he was aware hoy
n far he had proceeded he found Il rebC
le picket confronting him, at once deter
e. mining he didn't like pork, he beat a II
a. treat The pickets Of both sides hay
+. gathered corn from the same field an
q. withal have shown very amiable dispos
t. tion, neither party firing upon the other
ID familiar chats ON kind of neutral groun
y were quite common for awhile, and ther
Mt was an irregular exchange Of papers II
Richmond prints reach us frequently, bl
= all this interchange ofcNilties is now pr'
hibited.
We have a very pleasant camping pla'
,es in the woods, and are enjoying the presel
quietude, the labors are slight and ratiol
ii. lie abundant Ifyou could see the big pi
IT. of corn-cobs lying about the camps, yC
iSo ~, would suppose that latJening swine was
an, business here; young corn abounds al
ss' answers a very good purpose to vary Il
. diet and it is not issued by friend Eu
land the best OF Commissaries, but
o.9 e9 drawn by the soldiers method, from t
fields contiguous.
t. The nights are becoming slightly co