The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1867-02-16
The circumstances Of the Fed
oral and Confederate Armies
H,,,or nd

The circumstances of the Fed
oral aud Confederate Armies
Compared y
Here stands the Federal camp. A
thousand and ton thousand snow-white
tents sweep farther than the eye can
reach. The star. spangled banner Of
richest silk floats on the breeze, which
swells with the "FIail Columbia" or
Yankee Doodle" Of some grand
band Of brass which has figured in the
saloons of the metropolitan cities
Sleek and we'll fed war horses neigh
and prancc; great herds oflowing cat
tic are seen in tho rear. In yonder
tent officers with blazing insignia and
rich broadcloth send the jest around
over all the visnds of Fulton market
and wines Of France. The champagne
pops. The fumc ofrcgalias scents the
air. Vclvcty mats and cushions, and
cunningly devised camp eqnipage, are
spread around. Books, newspapers
and stationary, maps, charts and pic
lures! Enter again. This time you
are in the soldiers tent. What COM
Portable blankets and oil. cloths and
~overcoats, which might defy the SHOWS
of Greenland what well-flled haver-
sacks; a little stove warns him, good
coffee cheers him, all Of those oxen
bleed for him, and well baked bread
crowns his board! See that yellow
flag. 1t covers the hospital. Enter
if you please. These are piles or ban
dagcs, pills and potions, and specifics
in neat boxes and vessels OF glass
crown the shelves. Those cases are
the most exquisitely fine instruments
of surgery. Those surgeons and
nurses are practiced and expert. There
are cordials and wines in those bottles.
There are lemons and ice, and all the
delicacies of the tropics in those en-
closures. Those sick men arc clothed
In fine linen, and repose on genial
oouches' That body is being em0a'"-
Oh, the drcary coatrast! We are
now in the Confederate camp. No
tents are here; war has worn them out.
No silken banner foa:s-it is in shrcds
and patches, and cannot be replaced
The solitary fife and drum, discourse
the inspiring strains OF" Dixie" Lank
and worn, the wal horse plucks the
leaves and barks the trees a few COWS,
tough and old and %attenuated, await
their fate. Under that tree grey frocks
faded and worn, with some lace and
embroidery, an old newspaper printed
on one side, an old map and a spy
glass which was used in the Mexican
war, tell that Stonewall Jackson or
Forrest are there. Around the fire.
smoke dried, reclining on the naked
earth, two or three on . blanket, as a
matter of economy the overcoat is in
tatters, the havers. OK is turned inside
out, the canteen has been traded for
from a Yankee prisoner, the cloak has
been picked up on a battle 'tield-you
have the Confederate soldier! Those
boots cape, and let in the cold and
rain that hat has been shot to pieces,
those pantaloons have lost six inches
of the extremity, but when can they be
replaced7 The soldier cooks his hard
meal bread and toasts his bacon on the
embers, and ia his tin cup he has con-
trived substitute for coffee, which is
not honorcd by either milk or sugar,
Noble soldier! He is not cursing the
commissary or the quarteripaster, but
recounting the adventures OF yester-
day, in which many o dear comrade
went down; telling trough joke of the
day, or rejoicing in the glorious con.
fict of arms which the morrow will
bring forth.
But we have said nothing of our
hospitals. Seek not to recall the sick
ening picture. At first we did very
well, but soon even ordinary comforts
were impracticable, and thousands died
from the mere want Of those ministra-
lions of medicine and genial ~stimulants
which it became impossible to provide.
DE BoW's Rer'ew.