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VOLUMES. CAPE ISLAND. "NEW JERSEY, THURSDAY. DECEMBER. 18. 1862. NUMBER 29 : I, ■ - - mm — T BMB— -111 I I I I

Stltrt Pisrtllann. hstumwo Ham. Din and gray the October nightfall descended on tba sullen Crn^of aanset, and all along the lonely hollow* of the woada dead lure* ttirrtd Idly, and the tiny tread of bright eyed aqairrelt made a nulling ndiee among the fern* and noaaea. It aeeded not tbe chill white frost* at night and the crlmsonIng forest* by day to proclaim aulamn'* reign — yon might f*el it in the miily ■air aod fragrant breath of fallen leave* I Like a solitary eye of flame, the gable window of Silas Brown's old rrd farm hoarse glimmered across the darkening valley, and it was a pleasant contrast to the October gloom to gaze within the' bright room whence the ruddy light ^streamed. There was no carpet _ on the floor. Silas (Qrown believed in noguch newfangled notions — but tbe boards were white as the petals of a lily ; the very knots shone like rdbewood, and a great braided rag of scarlet and bine was laid directly in front of the stone hearth. And tbe hasp of pine logs in thai yawning Qavern of a fireplace was bright with shooting tongues of merry flams, and musical with the hobbling drip of resin abd the crmukliog of dry bark I Silas Brown aat in front of the cheerfal hearth, one brown band between the folds of the weekly-i>aper, and a little three footed stand beside hiiA, laden with a plate of red cheeked applea and a atone pitcher of aparkling cider, while, directly* opposite, his wife was placidly knitting and awaying in an old rocking chair, cashioned with crimson moreen. The clock in the corner pointed to tbe hoars of seven, and the room was abder a sort qf enchantment of silence. Ah ! who would bare dreamed that the gray old walla once jang with the merry tone of. children's voices; that the old floofa echoed to the light fall of children's fset ? And no,w Silas Brown and his wife sat there, all alone, while ths autumn of tbe year closed darkly round the autnmn of their lives. Tap, tap, tap ! was presently- beard at tba door. Silas started from his chair. "Wife some one knocked I" "Who can it be ?" said Mrs. Brown, uneasily. "Don't open the door, 8ilas —I would not I" "Silas Brown langhed. "Seems to me your getting nervons, . Eliza I I wouldn't keep a dog onUide of my door this frosty night, let alone a Christian; neither would yon, if yon thought twice about it. Tba chill October gust rushed in as 8ilss opened ths door, making tha candie flicker and the fire blase np in sudden brilliance ; bat, instead of tha band of robber* Mrs. Brown folly ezpectad to behold, only one parson stood withoot, • tall, swarthy stranger, mailed to the vary eyas. * "I believe, air, I bava' missed my way,'* was his half apologetic, greeting "May I come. in and raarawhilaf' "And in welcoma I" was 8ilss* hearty answer. "Tbia ia my wife, sir I Take a chair np by tba fire I" The stranger, with a bow to Mr*. Brown, obeyed ; drawing bit sent into the shadow, as if tba ruddy brightness V Utf tbe blazing logs made his eyes aehe * "Save a glass o' cider,— it's my own maka?" said Silas, on hospitable tbottgbts intent, 'Or may be yoo«d take - on* a' thoae red apples ?" Bat tha sew comer steadfastly declined nU oftri of refreshment, alleging that all ha required was a little real. "TMa aatms to be a fta« eld place f" he aald, looking rawed at the timl em- \ browned walla, and low; raftared eeii*Hk ■; • "Wa that, tbr, and more," was Silas' hearty rrfcrfnder. "8i*ty years I've

lived under tbe shadow of this roof-tree and I ought to know." "Sizty years ? that is a long time I" VI kqow'it," said Silas, thonghlfply ; 1 "hot it seems short to look back upon. I wjs born here, and I ask nothing bet1 teriban to be barfed in tbe old cbarcli1 yard at the side of the bill I" 1 "And do yon live here alone f" "As you see, returned Silas ; Eliza ' and I. There was a time," he added, i mechanically wiping the giauea of his J 1 spectacles, and looking at, the fire as if: be aaw pom* fair vision f«^ beyond the J ted glow of the dropping cinders, ' "when it wasn't quite so lonnomf." "Ah T" questioned the stranger, fixing his bright eyes on -Silas Brown's withered face with an expression ofin- ' terest. Mm. Brown had stopped knittiog with a half poczled look. "Six children we've had playing round us first and last," resumed Silas, 1 thoughtfully, "k-gu may think what a , different place ti% made of tbia old j 1 bouse. I shut my eyes sometimes, and! try to fancy they're all back again, but j it's no use trying." "Have you lost them all t" "Four of 'em died young," returned | Silas, looking into tbe fire throogh an ! unwonted mist. "They were little chil- : dreo, when we carried them throogh' yonder door, and left them in the churchyard." "And the others?", ' One was my yonngest daughter. She married 8qnire Lee's son, and died. 1 a'most before the rosea in ber bridal wreath had withered. The other— tbe 1 last one — my son Philip " 1 Silas stepped and drew a sobbing 1 breath. "Our son Bhilip !" Mrs. Brown bad spoken the wordi in 1 a cry, that had something of appeal or ' entreaty In. its piercing accents. Silas looked up in surprise, but assented. 1 "Our son Philip — well, we didn't ' agree. He was wilful apd spirited,, as 1 boys will be ; I was a little too obstinate, r aud it endetf in his leaving horn* one 1 dark day. It teems as if the sun had f never shone tinea. I was to blame — I ' hade him go ! but *1 never thought. <jod help me ! that ha would take me at ' my word. II* listed, and marched 1 away with the army, a year ago ; and we got tbe news, last June, that he was killed in battle-^my brave, noble Philip. > It well nigh broke ray heart. If we 1 conld have seen his body — If be bad only been buiied Reside the others ! Bnt we never heard how or where they laid him • in tbe earth, or ^ "Silas!" iaterrnpted Mrs. Browik 1 seating her husband's arm — "Silas, b* 1 liallnl" "Alive, wife 1" The old man gazed a . 1 her as If he doubted bar saaity. "He is alive, and in tbe same room •vlth as ? Philip— my boy, my boy 1". 1 Her arms were ronad the stranger, ' her tears dropping fast opoe his breast. '"Father, do yon not know m* ?" 1 - Tbe muffled wrapping foil from Phillip Brown's face, leaving it pale indeed, ' with the deep battle scar actios the brow but the same face that be bad held on bit breast a thousand times. "And yon have forgiven ma father ?" " Forgiven , dear boy 1 There was ' nothing to forgive. But tell roe how this comet to pats." And Philip told tbaatory of his' wounds and captivity 1 and draary prison life, while bia parents 1 listen*! with eager interest.' "Mother," ha said finally, "I have 1 learned the value of a horaa at last I ' think that when wa reach tha happy ' shore of heaven, we thai! have oo greater joy than in feeling that we are once more little children at kon u /" ' Aod ia that cbUl October night, the glory-of a deep peace spread its brightness over the humble roof tree of Silas Browu ! A flash of hope rvndert toil and trial ' beautiful, as tha sunbeam gives %, aptiWa »1 to the mister's frost. • *

Ob* CA*I" COXJUBrONDXNCX Vrua fthr "Old Krwa WtW*." Csur 7th Btmtamrr. K. J. V"«. ) near Falmouth. Va., Dec. 3. '63. ) | Dear Wave: — Thinking tba peopl* of , > Capo May ara atill interested in the doings , . of this celabrstod division, sad believing a | short history of the tauie would be interest- , ing. I will endeavor to giv* it. j k On the morning of lb# 18th of Septem- , ber. 1861. we left Camp Olden tor the sent , ' | of war, all haads in high spirits, and soger 1 1 for tbe fray, singing tba ' Star-flpangled i ^ • Banner." and evary one resolved to defend ■ i , it to the last man. On that occasion tbe , , ' beautiful little banner that drat presented to the Cape May boy*, by the ladies of , Cape. May. was carried by lb* colur aer- . . gea nt of tb* regiment, and was used for weeks after by the regiment, until the State colors were presented to us. as tba regimeutaV^olors, and since, that, our company has tbabolors, and while its graceful ' folds srv waving over our little tent*, our thougbta Will involuntarily revert to the ■ memorable nig^I when U waa presented to | us. And I ceo assure you we guard it with I | Jraloer care ;xbut its tattered folds sljow it has saen service and vtrifa. And if any of | as should liva through this terribla war, to | • get it home, it* history will be intensely in- I larasling. I j .Onth# First of Decembar, 18G1. we were ' , I detached from Gan. Casey's Division, and ! , . attached to General Hooker's, then lying | , I on tha Lower Potomac, opposite Cockpit , , iPoirfl. We there performed important du , j ty. by preventing tha blockading of tha Po- , I tomac by tbe Rebel*. On tbe fttls of April, i '62. we left '.be Lower Potomac for tbe Pa _ , • in-ula. 1'hen commanead u series of bard- , > ships and fighting anprtw*4pnted by any , I other division in the army, as tba sequel , i will show. We have been constantly on , the move aver tines i<4 organiastion; we . . hava participated in nine different engagement* in Virginia, via : Siege of Yorktown- , from April 9lh to May 4ib, '62; Williams1 burg. May Sib ^ Fair Oaks, May 31st j Seven Pine*. June Ninths Battle ef 1 Richmond. June 25th; GUodale, June 30th; Malvern Mill, July Ui; Bristow, l Aug. 27th ; Bull Run, Aug. 291b and 30th; I Chantilly, Sept. 1st. And in these several t battles our brigade, (the 3d New Jersey , Brigade.) suffered more than any other briI gade in tha division. Through battles and disease wa have been reduced ti^l30Q men; and. be it ra- ■ msmbered. sine# wa bavV been brigaded 1 we baye hat! two regiments added to ns. I namely, tba 3d New York joined us at Fair t Oaks, about the 5th of June, and tba 15th I Pennsylvania, at Harrison's Landing. Oar regiment, (the 7th K. J.,) one year . ago could muster nearly a thousand strong. Sine* that tints w* have bad added to our regiment 200 men, by recruits, but through 9 casualties, sickness, and discharges from 1 physical disability, wa are now redoced to 382 man fit for doty. Out of tho bravo 39 I who loft Capo May about 15 month* ago. i '.ad joiooa Co. A. to help protect tbia glo rioaa Union, " Oat and Inseparable," there are'bet 16 left to do duly ; a«d as soma of youi readers w sold like to know tho name* of these, 1 will give them. Tbey are : 1 Geo. W. "Smith, 1st Lieu't, Jas. T. Smith. Serg i; V* m. S. Hooper, Jo*. W. John-on, > Charles H. VVesks, Swain 8. Reaves, Corporals; Jobs. Stevens, Moses Mathewa, Owen S. Clarke, Jamaa T. Flavagor. John } Reelha, Wa. Kimsey, Geo. W. Winchel, W». Kerbery, Thomas T. Van Winkla, ond Charles Hays, private*. Bat hers I am forced to feel solemn, for ' I mast ask myself whara are tba absentees? Ala#! tarn* of tha bravest are lyiog be- ' neaib the " clods of ths valley," in Virgi I nia, where tbe cold winds era singing a r». t quiem through the tall grass that grow* ] raak over their lonely graves, there to lis r unlit the " Last Day," when Jh# " reveille *• or that morning shall auminon them to fall in to the ranks of„tb* -*rmy that is marching into Heaven, there to raeoivo r their reward ; wbil* others ara in boapilals, I and olheif still ara discharged, r Since the 1st 0< November, 1862. we r hare marched over a hundred miles, over t the most abominable roads, and amidat the most pelting rosea I ova: experienced. — And here I will give you ad account of our 8 march, from my memorandum book, just a* 1 took H down along tba road, a* follow* ; « - Manassas, Nov. 20th, 0 o'clock, A.»M.— Broka camp at 6 o'clock. W eatber rainy, and tba road# most horribly muddy. March>1 ad at 7 o'clock ; Cot. Revere in command a of tho Raft. General Patterson ia command of tlv Brigw*. art VRBh ia

! command of (he Division. i I "Centrerille, | o'clock, P. M. W# h^u i now halted for a few minutes, to rest and i to take a bits of hard tack and pork. It H(till raining. .We look like drowned rat*, i aod are as muddy as pigs, bat aro in. good ■ spirits. 9 I*. M. Dark aa a dungeon; just arrived, nearly fagged out. Hit ' still raining, with tb* prohpect of conlinoall night. We are -cow within two miles ; of Fairfax. I think tber* will not be much sleeping to night, ** tb* mud looks any- ■ thing but inviting for a bed ; bag* fires sre - burning in every direction, and men are > , Hitting around them trying to gvt a little > < dry and warm. > t " Nov. 21st. Passed a most dismal night. | I But could not stand it np all nigbfc; it wpt | « tno.-u than poor old nature could stand, af- j • Uf so bard a day's march ; so about mid- j < night we laid oor'blankeu down' aud laid j ' onrselvup on ibero, with our feel to the firs, ! I and ware soon lort in sleep, to dream of j ' loved ones at home. "Nov. 22. At day -break reveille bentti j I and all hanBs are on thair feet, rolling up ' i our muddy bl.nkat#, for another day's-; ' march. 1 think »h«o these woolen blao-p ket* get wet they weigh very little lets < than twenty pounds ; but they must be car- ' I ried. or you wMI freexe, tbe next night.— i I Then commence* thy - preparations fop i breakfast, which consist* of making a little j i I coffee in a tin cap. with a lew. hard crack- i era and a piece of pork ; and whilst tkeie^ i preparations were going on. I heard a good j 1 mary of the boys wish the rebels to a da- j i cidadly warm place ; but notwithstanding 1 1 all this, the boys are in good apirits. i I " 8 o'clock P. M. We have now pitched | i our little tent* near Wolf's Run Ford II about ten utiles from Fairfax, all hands i completely wore out, and muddy from bead I to foot. We have made very slow progress. I i owing to tbe terribly bad slate of the roads 1 1 and the teamsgatting stalled almost everv j hundred yard*' 1 never heard so much ; i swearing before in my lire a* there was - among the driver* and artillerymen. I 1 j Cau'l see how wa are going to carry on all winter campaign in Ibis conn try If the wea-' jl ther keep* this, way ; for just aa soon as it ' rain*, tbe mud becomes of the consistence 1 of pntty, and a whetl goes ia almost up to tha bub. Why we hasn't all got the rheumatism I can't understand, but many are getting it ; but nil this we could stand if j , we knew onr aerticea were appreciated, hut we knew while weSre battling the wretch- 1 es that world destroy ths noblest Govern- i ment on earth, that we have enemies at tome. " Sums Place, Nov. 23. It (s quite like ly w# will stay here two or throe days, in order to dry onr clothes and get a little rest. "W# were all greatly startled Ibis morn- ; ing by the death of our beloved Brigade Commander, General Paltersou ; we ail feel as ihoogh we had lost a brother, a friend, and a good commander. He was a* brave as a lion, and as kind aa a father. It ' has indeed cast a deep gloom over the whole brigade, and we can only say, the ' Lord giveth. um i-thi Lord uketb, and biassed be th{nam*.of the Lord." Last night Lad. Revere of tbe old 7lb received a commission as Brigadier General. He is -now ia command of tbe Brigad^ ' He ia a Jsraeypaa ; and for a wonder the Government ha* listened to tbe claims ef oar gallant littlo Bute, and yoo may >est assured ba will never tarnish tbe flkrels which ahe ba* an nobly won through her " son. He was educated for tbe Navy, aad served in that capacity ior twenty-five years, and had raised himself to tbe post- ; lion of Lieu'L(aomma|ding. In 1867 he waa | a Lieut in the United States Ship Cyaoe, j' ' und was detailed to command tho land for- ' , ees in California, whore victory crowned bia avary effort. He ia a strict ditciplina- , rian, but with all. a true gentleman and solt dier. This promotion has left a vacancy in our regiment, but. without doubt, LiooC-CoL Louis R Francine. lata Captain of Co. A, 'will fill that vacancy, as it is a unanimous ! wish in the regiment. t About three weeks ago the offlcara or tba , regiment presented him with a jiaodsomn sword and tasb. and horse eqoipmenta. costr iog aboot two hoodrod and fifty dollar* , ,1'bo blade is of Damascus stool, handsome ly inlaid with gold, with the following in- . acription handsomely frvvted on It:— "Presented to Lieat. Cel. Louis R. Fraocin*. by . tb* offlcwra of tha 7th Beg't N. J. V." I Yaw recollect of my speaking Is so* sf . my former letter* while lying at Camp Cm I acy, a j**f *|*. that this gstlaat, *sang ' ' ">

ofitcer would aoou rise in'Lbo military scale; and I will bare vents** tbe Msertiotr that irthia trar lasts another twelve-month. ^even lea*, ba will be one of the bright BrigaJiSir General* of tbr army, a* merit in the army 1* beginning to ba appreciated. We'ajp now lying near Falmouth, »*- front of Fredrickaborg, and it is the opinion of mtny thai we will lay here some time yet before we take it, Jredrfcksburg is a very pretty place. It appear#' to be aboot lb* six* of Caradeo, N. J. The Rappahannock river, which mo* in front, is about a bundrod and fifty yards | wid0- The •• gray backs " picket all along the othsr tide of it, whilst onr boys picket this side, but neither party fir* on the ulhI er. though it i« easy shooting distance; aui I ones in a while they halloo across at eachj other, and call each other vsry ugly name*. . Tbe other day some or the gray backs hJl- | across *1 some of oar boys to kaow what regiment it wut on picket. New our " blue jacket " thought thie a good chance | show off big for the True Blue State." J he answered. •• the On* Hundred aod j Regiment, N. J. V's." It trems | 'the rebels have a great desire to go int«- . winter quarter* ; so they have on white ; flag on the other side-" IJow are your winI ter quarters?" This will be a very hard jdaes to take, j as (bay have earthworks thrown up in every direction on a high range of hilla. about ,1 a mil* buck or tbe river.: There are but • j few rebel soldiers in.Fredricksburg at this lime. It looks like a very poor piece of ! generalship, to come here and ait down amjI at the Rebels entrenching theiuselree j right in oor v.ry faces. If ©en. fjookar | bad boo allowed to cross the river aboal . twenty miles above, as he wanted to. with his Central Grand Division, the rebels today woald have been driven back tremtiiog j behind tboir breastworks. Wo are nor In his Grand Division, lie is a great Gon- | oral, and a gallant officer. sWe were reviewed hy him yeslerdap. aud^Wforn ha ap | reared upon the ground, in our front, the j ■ division broke out in ilia wildest aatbusi. !%an». Ho hat named ue the "Old treo DiI "iaion." This it orrtainly * compliment to- | which few attain. But I must close, as I find 1 am gelling | too lengthy. | But, Mr. editor, before I close, I wish to call yoor attention to oo* great imposition upon the soldier. It baa now been over ■ five months since we have been ^aid acent of money. Now with the hardships ond privations which we sre ghing tbroagh here in the field we have no fault to Bod, as some of these can't be helped, although others could. But what we complain of ia. that some of our families sboald be brought almost to the verge or starvation* wlieb we • have money coming to us. and can't-g«t -it. ' I heard a private say this morning, that he I bad a.lovelyflittle daughter who died a few ' days ago, and bad to be buried by the 1 overseer or tbe poor, as his wife bad not 1 ibe mesas to do it with hsrself, although 1 he had over five mooth's pay coming to him- > Tbe distress of the poor fellow was beyond 1 | description. We caii stand hardships and ; privation* here, hot to know that our loved ■ one* at lionie ara suflenng for tbe aeccs- • ' series of life we cannot stand awtbout say. J ing something. ■ 1 aaw a communication in your paper of r -last week, calling on tha friends of Co. F I of tbe 25th, to send lbem#a box of good' i tlings. Now this is all very well, tot r "don't forget the brave boyi of Co. *, of I tbe old 7th, who baso stood tbe brunt of i the battle and brat of tha day. • i Truly your*. »i cm W. SMITH. SHOWING THS WHITE 7ZATHEX. I ; A phrase expressive of cowardice ; used, . ; fop instance, when a person has notoriously . shrunk from tba performance of soma duty throogh fear, when he has said to have - shown tbe white feather. Origin : Among , gam# cocH* a cross-breed bird ia known- by , a white feather in the tail. Anciently, tb# i breed of game fowl# was strictly preserved io England, for, thoogh birds of all descripi tioa were roared in tb* farm. yard, special i oar* wet taken that game fowili did uat mix . with them ; bat this woald occasionally . happen, and while tbe ticasarwd birds w#rw . only red and bufck. white (gathers would . naturally appear where there was any , crosa. Tbe slightest impurity of breed it , said to destroy tba bird's courage, >bd the half-breed* wer* never trained for the pit. * . k became an ldaga that any ooek would fight on bis own dunghill, but ?t must be . • *oe irithnct * »Wte 'es'her •wiiaht fo. . rth.