The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-02-23
Correspondence Of the Western Democrat.

CAMP LANES BRIGADE, Feb. IA, 1864
MR. YATES: Since my last letter our quiet life
was disturbed fora little while with apprehensons
OF move. A beautiful spell of weather lasting
week or ten days, dried the roads and started the
yankee cavalry afeld. They had scarcely saddled
their horses before we had orders to prepare ra
tions aud be ready to move at any moment. Never
were orders more unwelcome. Pork, potatoes,
sorghum fruit, butter and all sorts Of good things
from home abundant in every tent and shan
ty, and the prospect of good living better than it
had been for long time. To leave these things
would be terrible, and tg have them hauled was
impossible, SO that very profound solleitude pre-
vailed throughout the camp. On Sunday the 31st
ult-, intelligence reached us that the cavalry Of
the enemy in heavy force had crossed the Robson
River were at Madison c. H., and were probably
advancing upon our pckets the opposite of the
Rapidan The pckets were Immediately tripled
and everything gotten in readiness to punish their
temerity, but the day passed off without any ap-
pearance of Yankees, and the next morning
| learned that this heavy torce had crossed the
Rapidan satisfied with the capture Of few of the
6th Virginia cavalry, who We're picket, aud the
wife of deserter, whose renewal within their
lines said to be the motive of the whole demon
stratlon Our position the extreme left wing
of the army is unpleasant in. consequence of the
constant liability of annoyances from the enemy's
cavalry They will in all probability tease rs all
winter, though there is little danger of their in-
fetlng any serious danger in this brigade, or any
point Immediately in its rear.
The spirit of re-enlistment, invoked by the no.
BILE troops from Tennessee, is rife in this army,
OF the re-enlistment OF this brigade there is no
doubt. The old 26th Regiment, originally CON-
nanded by Gen Lane, the first, and save one 9TH
er, (37th,) the only regiment from State to
re organize for "three years the war antece
dent to the passage of the Conscrpt Act, has again
testified Its devotion to and confidence in the
Confederate cause by re-enlisting for the war.
The other regiments have been so crcumstanced
as to be unable to try the question yet, but the
universal conviction is, that there will be no fall
terng, and that the batte-scarred heroes who
have blazoned upon their banner the names of
many OF the hardest battles of the war, will con-
tnue to strike for liberty urt the Inst armed foe
expires or is driven dlscon,fitted from Southern
SOIL The voice of North Caroiiua's soldiers will
be manly and indignant rebuke to the craven
spirit OF those at home who are crying for peace,
and urging terms with the enemy, lest later than
this we may get less mercy at the hands of the
enemy than now. North CaraDa soldiers accus-
toned to driving the enemy before them res
tive under propositions to cringe before the vile
and hated Yankee and beg terms of peace at his
hands. Brigade after Brigade they are wheeling
into line under the coors they have carried through
the storm and smoke of a score of battes and ,as
they range themselves under the folds Of those
tattered standards they express the unalterabe
determination mcrer to lag darn thcir arms until
Confederate independence is won and North Caro-
INA politically, commercially aud socially emanei-
pated from all dependence upon and intercourse
with the most talthess, iiagtious aud despicable~
PEOPLE upon whom the shines The buoyant
faith Of our brave soldiers in the ineyitaJle sac
cess of the cause is exhiIaraing to one who has
witnessed the dependency of he people at home.
The fact is, Mr. Editor, this is the place to stife
apprehenslons Of subjueation they can't live in
this atmosphere, and any mae who vii! come out
and go through this army will go back home re-
inforced in faith aud completely satisfied that it
amt in 1ankeedom to whip this army and over
run this country. The spirit and temper of the
army are admirable;-can you say so much for the
peUfle at home OCCASIONAL
He DID RIGHT. While company of the Sth
n. G. Regiment was marching through Petersburg