Suffolk Christian Sun
February 14, 1862
Page 3
3RD REG’T. N. C. VOLUNTEERS
(Camp
Ruffin, Va.)
Feb.
4th, 1862
Mr. Editor:-- For the last several days we have had cold rainy
weather, indeed I have never before witnessed such an abundance of rain in the
same length of time. The weather
continues, also, very changeable, far more so than we have ever experienced in
our section of North Carolina. We have February and May weather all jungled [sic]up together in this
part of Old Virginia.
The question of
reenlistment is beginning to be discussed among us of late, though I am not
prepared, at present, to risk an opinion as to what will be the result. We have however heard not a few say, and with
no little emphasis, at that, that when their present term of service expires,
they are determined once more to grasp the hand of relatives, friends and “sweethearts”
at home, before kissing the book again.
This is a privilege which we deserve, and claim.
It would be doing
the volunteers injustice to even hint that we are going to leave the fields for
good, no such thought however entered our minds. If Lincoln, or any other would be Tyrant,
ever predominates in Dixie’s Land, it will be
after the volunteers, now in the field, shall be laid low in the soldiers
grave. If coming generations are to
clank their chains of despotism, as they now tread our now free and honored
soil, it will be, not in our hearing but over our slumbering ashes.
These are the
sentiments of our volunteers. We hear
nothing interesting from any of the camps in this division of the Army. All seems to be quiet. We learn that the 14th N. C. and
Col. Pryor’s Va. Regiment are in a healthy condition.
The health of our
regiment continues good. Very few in the hospital. All in good spirits.
Respectfully,
A REGULATOR
[Transcribed by Sharon Strout]
