Staunton Spectator

We feel proud of "Old Augusta"--her noble conduct challenges the admiration of all brave and patriotic citizens. She contains sons as patriotic as ever sacrificed their lives and fortunes for liberty, and as brave soldiers as were ever commanded by Caesar or Napoleon. Her citizens are the sons of brave and patriotic sires, and they have not degenerated. They are ready at all times to respond with alacrity to the call to arms, and are animated with a firm and determined spirit to strike till the last armed foe expires. When their State calls they hesitate not to strike
For their altars and their fires,
The green graves of their sires,
God and their native land.
They in the same patriotic spirit which animated the "Father of his country," cherished a cordial and habitual attachment to the Union, and, with deep and heartfelt devotion, labored with all the earnestness of their natures to preserve it as it had been bequeathed to them by their ancestors. As long as there was a ray of hope, they stood firmly as the friends of the Union and the advocates of a just, honorable and peaceful settlement of all our national difficulties. When others despaired, they still hoped; when others yielded, they still stood firmly. They had the high moral courage to stand firmly where their convictions of patriotic duty commanded, though their motives were impeached and their loyalty distrusted by those who did not appreciate their noble characters.--But as soon as the last ray of hope had been extinguished, as soon as they had seen the President's proclamation, the herald of civil war, and heard the call to arms, they sprang to their feet, donned their military dress, shouldered their guns, bade their fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters a hurried and affectionate farewell, and marched with speed to the place of rendevous. They did not stop to consider the consequences to themselves individually--they were willing to sacrifice all they possessed--their lives and fortunes--in defence of their native State.--Many left their families almost entirely unprovided for--there was no time to consider individual interests when their State called for their services. Some left sick wives and children, and some sick fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters. It was almost enough to melt a heart of adamant to witness such scenes as were present just before the troops left this place. One would call upon his physician and say: "Doctor, my Dear wife is sick, I hope you will attend her carefully." Another would say, "Doctor, I have left two sick children, and request you to see them daily." Another would say, "Doctor, my father is old and feeble, I fear I may never see him again, I desire you to keep him alive if you can till I return." Another would say, "Doctor, my dear mother is nearly heart-broken, I hope you will console her as much as possible."

The same patriotic fires which glowed in the bosoms of their noble ancestors, in 1776, burns brightly now upon the altars of the hearts of the brave and chivalric sons of Augusta. This county, we have no doubt, will send more soldiers to the field than any county in the State, though Rockingham and Rockbridge will nobly do their duty. These three adjoining Union counties, we venture to predict, will furnish more soldiers than any other three adjoining counties in the State. We feel convinced that all three of these strong Union counties will do their whole duty. We are sure that the brave and patriotic Union men of these counties will forgive those who, in ignorance of their true characters, charged them with being "submissionists" and "sympathisers with Black Republicanism," and hope that those who did so will have the candor and manliness to acknowledge that they wronged as brave and loyal citizens as ever breathed the air of freedom. Let all feelings of alienation and party spirit be buried, and all stand together in harmony and friendship as a band of affectionate brothers.--"United we stand, divided we fall." In "Union there is strength," in division there is weakness. Let all stand together. We are still for Union--a Union of brave and patriotic men for the defence of our State.

The Town Council on Wednesday, the 17th inst., made an appropriation of $3,000 for the purchase of 100 fire-arms, equipments and ammunition, for the use of the "Home Guard" in Staunton, and $500, to be applied to the wants of the families of the soldiers who have been or will be called into service, and appointed a police of ten for each night till the May Court.