Staunton Spectator

To show the spirit of our "brave soldier boys," we publish an extract from the letter of a boy only sixteen years of age in reply to a letter from his father requesting him not to re-enlist--This boy is from Staunton, and belonged to the "West Augusta Guards," which has been recently converted into an artillery company, and he is now a member of the "West Augusta Battery." His letter breathes the right spirit, and we have no doubt that he expresses the feelings of a large majority of the soldiers from Augusta county.--He is an only son, and as his Father thought it probable that he (the father) would be drafted in which event there would be no one to support the mother of this young solder, his Father appealed to him not to re-enlist. This certainly was a strong appeal, and the boy no doubt felt the full force of it, but it was not strong enough to induce him to lay down his arms when his country needed his services. In reply to his Father's letter, he said:

"You and Ma are opposed to my re-enlisting in the army. If every parent gave such counsel, what would become of our country? I cannot consent to leave the army and quit the service when my country is bleeding and my countrymen are struggling for independence, and to leave my comrades to battle with the foe in their efforts to drive them from our land. It may be that you think that there are many who have staid at home who should take my place. If they act the coward and will not come out as freemen and declare they will have their rights, and will not shoulder their muskets and march in defence of their native State, but would rather stay at home, enjoying the luxuries of life and speculating off the poor soldiers who are in the service, guarding their homes,--if they act in this way, is that any reason why I should do the same. No, NEVER. I want to be one of those who, to the last, will rally around our standard to defend our noble and glorious cause, and, with out bright colors waving over us and with our brave General Jackson at the head of us, and with the motto--"Victory or death"--with stout hearts and determined minds, strike an effective blow for the preservation of liberty and the defence of our country. If the soldiers should not re-enlist, we would soon have no country--no home. They would be dishonored and disgraced, and the finger of scorn would be pointed at them. I for one would rather suffer banishment and exile--I would rather fill a soldier's honorable grave and sleep peacefully beneath the green sod of the Valley. These are my true feelings and sentiments. I cannot see how you or any one else can advise his son not to re-enlist--especially at this time, when the tide of success is setting against us."

Camp Alleghany, Va.
Feb. 15, 1862.

Mr. Editor:--You will please inform our friends, as well as the friends of other Regiments and Companies of this command, that if they wish to bring or send boxes of provisions, clothing &c. to their friends in camp, they must know that there is no whiskey in the wagon, conveying the articles into camp, for Gen. Johnson has determined that, in case whiskey is found in a wagon conveying such articles he will confiscate the whole load. He has the boxes opened and examined and though whiskey may be found in but few of them, he confiscates the whole load.

A wagon came out from Augusta county last week in which were boxes, which had been sent to several of our young men from their homes, containing little delicacies and warm clothing, and, although there was no whiskey in the boxes, yet, because there was some in other boxes in the wagon, all were confiscated; notwithstanding the fact that no order had been published in regard to persons bringing whiskey into camp.

The use of whiskey in camp is a great evil and those who bring it here should be severely punished, but we do not like to see the boxes or packages containing provisions and clothing and no whiskey taken and distributed among the soldiers who may be gathered around at the time the property is taken--the young men for whom the boxes have been prepared, not receiving any of the contents. We cannot see the justice in thus wronging the innocent in order to punish the guilty, and cannot want our friends to chose their labor in preparing such articles for our young men as they may think would be acceptable to them. We would therefore advise those who may wish to send boxes or packages to camp not to send any whiskey, no matter how small the quantity, and although it might be for medicinal purposes. And those coming back to camp to visit their friends, and bringing their wagons loaded with boxes, should feel no delicacy in enquiring of those requesting them to bring a box for them, whether or not there is whiskey in it, as a man was placed in the Guard House and his team placed at the service of the Quarter Master for a short time, because there was whiskey in some boxes which he had consented to bring out, not knowing of their contents, but supposing that they contained the usual articles sent to soldiers from their homes.

A.L.R.