Year: 1863

around again, and being once more on this duty
away out from camp, out of sight of all dwellings
and habtations save a few negro huts, or hog
pens, one can hardly tell which, such as are vsi.
bic throughout the whole of slavery's accursed
territory what could suggest itself, as means
of passing the time more agreeably in a place
so lonely as this than to hold little written con-
versation with you, and perhaps, through your
kindness, speak to many other good friends who
love to hear of our welfare, and on whom our
thoughts will sometimes lnger in spite of the
rough gaety camp life evokes. | cannot tell you
exactly where | am, but it is somev here on the
boundary line between the United States, what
there is left of them, and the Southern Contede-
racy. | need not tell you, Mr.. Editor, that it is
quite romantic place here to sit and talk, or
write, and ones thoughts can hardly help being
inspired by the beauteous scenery so lavishly
spread out by Nature all around. We are be-
tween two hostile armies, both of them drilling
and exercising their men, and teaching them, as
fast as they can, the arts of killing each other, and
practcing those that are already learned, that they
may not forget them. Brethren once, born under
the same flag, reared under the same benefcent
Government and prosperous by the same happy
Union, now at deadly variance, seeking to imbrue
our hands in each others blood, and striving by
all the means we can command to iniure and
destroy each other. Already has mourning been
spread throughout the land, and poverty, suffer-
ing and desolation scattered everywhere. What
fearful load Of guilt the band of traitors who
caused this calamity have to meet at the bar OF
justce when the Father of the fatherless and the
count If there is pit in bell deep enough to
receive them it must be very deep one indeed


Yes, it is beautiful place bere-beautiful to-
day. The forests of pine are beautiful, SO clear
and transparent they look in the bright sunshine
Of to-day, SO soft and furry as they appear when
viewed from greater distance. And the music
is beautiful, Natures own, that comes from a
thousand branches, poured forth from thousand
tiny throats; sweet melodies making cheerful the
passing Spring. and welcoming approaching Sum-
mer. The ground itself is beautiful too, as its
carpet Of green begins to relieve the deafness of
the shrubbery around. The meandering brook,
I that finds its way along the winding valley close
10y, shall not be denied its claim to beauty. Eve
AYthng of Natures make that man has not spoil
I'd is beautiful; and yet, the place is lonely,
gloomy and desolate. Beautiful as most of the


Hms are in Virginia, there seems to be, or to
ave been, but few inhabitants who have occupied


Ire to enjoy it. Few and widely separated are
4 dwellings here, and yet, occupying land that
q Vermont would soon be covered with trim cot


se owned by thriving, happy population


unjust have made great many acres of hand


slorest here in Virginia for nothing, or else


Sode it to look at himself. But there are


&3 we'll cultivated and in high state of i'm


nement. What seems strange to New Eng


41er is, that it should take so much area for so
III wv Inhabitants.


0ne can hardly suppress feeling of regret, to


# and so fair so ruthlessly destroyed by the de-


n'a Of war. Miles on miles of as finely timbered


country as was ever produced, are stripped, laid


waste, barred to the earth wherever the army has
4 Ftn' Fences have been converted into fuel, and


'OseS without number burned to the ground.


'oNasa ruin is marked everywhere. 1t cannot


'OOe otherwise. Soldiers will not respect for


"~nor fences when they are benumbed with


'nor will they be content to take any less


"'u Their needs require for the sake OF economy.