The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-02-09
The Two Armies.

! DOT hecleE:
Here stands Il Federal camp. A
thousand and ten thousand snow
white tents farther than the eve NAV
reach. The Star Spangled Banner
of richest silk floats on the breeze.
which swells with the ''Hail Colum-
bia' or Yankee Doodle" of some
! grand band OF brass which has
figured in the saloons of the metro
poltan cities. Sleek and well fed
war horses neigh and prance, great
iierd> of lowing cattle are seen in the
rear. In yonder tent officers with
blazing insignia and rich broadcloth
send the jest around over all the
vlands of Fulton market and wines
of France. The champagne pops.
The fume of regalias scents the air
Nelvety mats and cushions and cum
mngiy devised camp cquipagc are
spread around. Books. newspapers
and stationery, maps, charts and
pictures! Enter gain. This time
you are i'll the soldiers tent. What
comfortable blankets, and oil cloths
and overcoats which might defy the
SHOWS of Greenland; what well-tillel
haversacks; a little stove warns him.
good coffee cheers him; all OF those
oxen bleed for him, and we'll baked
bread crowns his board. See that
yellow flag. 1t covers the hospital.
Enter if you please. There are piles
of bandages, pills and potions and
specifies in neat boxes and vessels of
glass crown the shelves. Those
eases iii { the MOST eXquisitriy fine in
struments of surgery. Those sur
$rons and muses. are practicei and
expert. Incre are cor,ii3ls and wines
III those bottles. There are lemons
and ice and all the dclicacies Of the
tropics III those enclosures. Those
| sick men are clothed in line linen
an, repose on9rnial couchcs. That
body is being cmbaimcd to be son.
home
Oh, dteary contrast, W. are nov
III a Confederate camp; 40 tents are
here; war has worn them out. No
s!iken banner fioats-it is in shreds
and patches and cannot be replaced.
The solitary fife and drum discourse
the inspiring strains Of ''Dixie."
Lnnk and worn the war horse pluclls
the leaves and barks the trees; y 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 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 u blanket, as matter Of
economy; the overcoat is in tatters,
the haversackis turned inside out,
the canteen has been traded for from
Yankee prisoners, the cloak has been
picked up on a battle le-field-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
when can they be replaced? The
soldier cooks his hard meal bread
and toasts his bacon on the embers,
and IN his tin emp he has contrived IA
substitute for coffee, which is not
honored By either milk or sugar.
Noble soldier! He is not cursing the
commlssary or the quartcrmastcr,
ont recounting the adventures OF
yesterday in which many dear com
rade went down, telling rough Jokes
OF the day, or rejoicing in the
glorious conflict OF arms which the
morl ow will bring forth.
But we have said nothing of our
hospitals. Seek not to recall the
sickening picture. At first VIC did
very we'll, !ut soon even ordinary
comforts were impracticable and
Thousands died from the mere want
Of those ministrations of medicine
and genial stimulants which it be
came impossible to provide