The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1914-03-06
WAR PERIOD LETTER
An Interesting Communication Of
Fifty Years Ago.

The following letter, written for the
Southern Rural Gentleman, a newspa-
per published in Grenada in the years
of long ago, will be interesting reading
to many, and especially to the older
citizens:
Virginia Tent, Camp Cowder,
Near Grenada, May 81, 1861.
Eds. Rural: AS we have been called
upon to pull up stakes and leave our
pleasant grove, our friends and rela-
tons in Grenada, l have concluded to
write you kind farewell.
1t has now been more than three
weeks since we came into camp, and
nothing has occurred to mar our happi-
ness-the company has been blessed
with health, kind friends, internal order
and decorum. The gentlemanly and or
derly bearing of the members in camp
gives pledge of good report in future.
Camp life has always been accredited
with many temptations to vice and dis
sipation, and the recruits, many of
them separated for the first time from
the benign influences of home, often
fall into idleness, recklessness and
crime. l am happy to believe that such
has not been the case with US. Our Of
ficers have wisely ordained camp regu-
lations for the exclusion, as far as pos
sible, of all vicious and immoral tempt
ations. But the kind advice and virtu-
GUS example of officers could not alone
have produced the quiet demeanor, the
gentlemanly bearing and correctness of
morals, which have characterized our
company in camp. Much of the good
behavior must be attributed to the be-
nefcent care of parents, to home disci-
pline and instruction. Gentlemanly and
correct department is no less an orna-
ment to the soldier than to the citizen,
and virtuous and industrious habits lead
to success and eminence in military as
well as civil life. Prince, monarch, or
potentate has no higher or nobler duty
to perform than has the private soldier,
who, in the full panoply of truth, JUS
tice and duty, marches forth to battle
for his country's rights.
During our stay in camp we have had
everything to cheer and comfort us.
The sweet smiles and attentions of the
ladies, the solid and resolute counsel of
the men and the blessings of ''the man
of God" have all been showered upon
us in the most benevolent profusiOn.
Our rough tables have literally groaned
under the weight of dainties, prepared
by fair hands, while our citizens seem
to have We'd with each other in minis
tering to all our comforts. Our CRATE
full memories will ever twine with de
light to the general hospitality of Gren-
ada to the whole company, but "Vir-
pinia Tent can not bid final adieu
without acknowledging particular in
debtedness and heartfelt thanks to Miss
Jennie Lake, the Misses Hankins, the
Misses Abels, the Misses Granberrys
Miss Sallie Mullins, Mrs. C. d. Ora
ham and Mrs. Green, for special anc
unremitting favors and attentions.
We bid adieu to our homes AM
friends just as spring takes her de
parture. Our tents have been strewl
with bouquets of rarest flowers. Rose
have. indeed, bloomed upon our path
and we have been reminded that whe
another 'spring time comes," instea
of rich exotics blushing at our feet
and perfuming our rude boudoirs, Tn
nymphs of distant woods in generou
sympathy with their absent and NOR
cultivated sisters, may twine wild nov
ers above the green sod which mark
the fate of an unknown soldier.
And now, dear Rural. and you, des
readers, farewell! With so much in tn
past to nerve our arms and 80 much
the future to beckon US on to duty, "
can not but welcome the shock ths
shall attest our feslty to our country
rights and liberties, and our willingness
nobly to "do or de-" If the sacred d
tense of our homes, our altars and o,
firesides, demands our sacrifice to Il
inexorable Abolition Minotour, the'
it shall be done. ;.
"And life shall yield its highest, holie
zest
And loftiest summit of our hopes
won,
Our fondest wishes blest.