American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1863-05-08


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fsrv aattw H.n tfs I.' pressed 81 te mma.
.rs ttH.Ht rl.tts which h.vs ta.a E0.t OBJ hya.
twaf tht fiiy aret tm1Hs as Wde-y Being
ans IF III. s.s,s- sor. your humble correspondent.
tat not Hla.eal h.s TfHt.bHslH propensity
though fl times te bls f't Hat excitement of any
trH would ta preferable ta fha nto.eriHe ,rmu
ph|eH tbe DAN DIE te have been lt4dng produces
Bat the soldier IS never satisfied Whist engaged
in en- aetiye nmrltn marching lrd lighting every
DAY. Sc long. ior quiet and comfortable quarters
where he would have mo- fears Of his rcpose being
disturbed by the shr.'l scream Of a teniuch nail
| Reg then again when he - thas pleasantly sItua.
/ ted he sghs for the season of active operatous-of
I long marches and hud GgbtIng that the sluggish
blood in biz veins may he quItsenel by the new
scenes which will he daily presented to hs view,
and the anticipation Of again meeting the enemy
10 the deadly breach.
We were oh thrown into slight fever yesterday
D., the report sent up by Gen Jackson TO the effect
that the enemy we're crossing 10 force below Pllt
Royal. by means Of boats, We waited til this
morning to hear something more reliable when,
receiving nothing further we bad begun TO think
it was merely one Of those many rumors that are
always adoat in camp but about moon orders were
received from Gen. McLaws for Us to hold ourselves
in readiness to march ut a moment notice that
Hooker had certainly crossed portion Of his army
below Port Royal at point below the extreme
right Of our lines Then there was hurry ing to and
fro-bankets and baggage we're overhaucd; arms
and ammunition inspected and knapsacks packed.
Quartermasters and Commissarie3--the business
men of the army-might have been seen mounting
in hot haste and galloping through the streets, as
il the fate of our army depended upon the celebrity
4 of their movements
Notwithstanding all this excitement, do not
think there are twenty men in the city who believe
that Barksdale brigade will be ordered away from
o this place as long as the Yankees show themselves
on the hills in our front Somebody must stay here
and it is reasonable to suppose that the men who
. have held the town ever since the Yankees FIRST
made their appearance in front of it, and who have
become identified with it, as its defenders, will moi
be removed unless an extraordinary occasion sholl(
demand their removal. AS for my own part, how
ever, am ready to 60 or stay, a. the case may be
y have learned, during my soldierlile, to bear phi
u osophicaly whatever fortune (or misfortune) ma.
Il bring. If we are ordered away from here tomor
row-good; if we stay here till next fall--betteI
% On inquring Of young friend Of mine (whos
; black eyes have been immOtaljzed by "a fair CORE
. spondent Of the Ctizen) the other day as to hi
y choice in the matter be replied that it were bette
to bear those ills we have than fly TO others "
d know not Of" He very frankly expressed deci(
+ cd preference for remaining and this, doubt no
Is would lie the choice Of threeourths of the brigade
1t is believed that Hooker is going to put his me
:" into a fight before the middle of May, rs a gref
. many of them will go out of the service at thi
time. As no efforts are being made by the Lincol
Government to fill up the ranks of the army, We al
!" rather in the dark as to what they intend to DO.
~ they hatter themselves that we are going to Star'
~ this summer, they are leaning on broken ree
d We. the soldiers, firmly believe there il plenty
~ eat in the South, and that there is necessity f
Vi suffering in the army if the Commissary Gener
w. will only do his duty. But that the army of vi
VI gina have suffered for food during the past wnte
ii" and are still ON short rations, cannot be denie
~ But this will do the invaders no good, as hung
men fight more desperately than well fed ones
IA. All eyes have been turned for the last week
a" two upon Suffolk and Washington, \. c. 1t VI
"y reported that both those places were invested
TIC our forces under Longstreet and Hill and that bo
III would certainly fall. But it seems that notwit
standing they we're beseged by two Of our mo
" sagacous Generals, our forces were compelled
~ retire without accomplishing any thing. The hop
of the country were excited by the sensation repoI
'"' in the Richmond papers, which had Longstreet
quiet possession of Suffolk before be was with
- six miles Of that place.
'' We are expecting 10 hear some stirring nev
from Tennessee or Mississippi, but it is difficult
'e' tell where the first big gun will be fred which W
"' open the Spring campaign. few days will Y
the tale. Yours &c.
4 Letter from Madison Light ARTILLERY