Spirit of the Times Batavia, Genesee County, New York State August 24-1861 Army Correspondence. We publish another letter from James M. REDFIELD, a private in the 4th Regt. of Michigan Volunteers, to his father, H. J. REDFIELD, of this village. The letter is interesting in showing the privations and hardships of the practical patriotism of the young Democratic soldier, who determined to earn a Commission before asking for one, shoulders his knapsack and musket and marches to the battle field, in contrast with that sentimental patriotism which is satisfied with an exhibition of flags, cravats and songs of the "Red, White and Blue." It is but a few weeks since these sentimental patriots involved the public indignation against an old and respectable citizen for non conformity--i.e., putting the stars and stripes out of the window of his house, and, at the dictation of an insolent rabble, join in singing, in the dead of the night, the "Red, White and Blue." How few of these sentimental patriots have assumed the duties of the soldier. Listen and you may hear them whisper--"were it not for these vile guns, I myself would have been a soldier." Camp Union, Va., Aug. 13th, '61. My Dear Father, I received your very kind letter of the 9th inst., yesterday, and I assure you it received a very hearty welcome. I can scarcely thank you for publishing my poorly written and composed letters, still do as you have a mind to with them. you flatter when you deem them fit to appear before the public. I have received the papers you sent me, I only wish I could express to you my gratitude for them--anything in the shape of reading matter, especially newspapers, is highly appreciated by us soldiers, whose stock of reading is so small. You will see from the heading of this that we have changed camp grounds since last I wrote, and that we are again in Virginia; the advance Regiment. We left Meridian Hill about six o'clock last Thursday morning, on an order the day before, and are now encamped about two miles and one half from Georgetown, nearly west. Our camp, which we have styled "Camp Union," is very prettily situated on a clover patch near the road, and I judge it will prove by far a healthier one than was our last. Already in fact the men have commenced regaining their good spirits, which when we were on the Hill, they had quite lost. Just before we came here we were Brigaded in Sherman's Brigade, with three other Regiments, a body of Cavalry and what was formerly Sherman's, since Ayres' Battery. We have been furnished with a blue uniform in place of our grey one, which bore too close a resemblance to that of the Secessionists; also new guns, with which (being minie muskets) I think we can do better execution that we could with our old Harper's Ferry muskets. We have had very heavy rain for the last two days, and our camp, now is almost afloat. It is raining so hard we are obliged to be in our tents, and in order to keep our few little articles dry, to pile them up in the wter on boxes or something else, and cover them with our rubber blankets. These tents of ours are not of the best kind. They leak like a sieve when it rains hard, and sitting in them under such circumstances, is like taking a shower bath with our clothes on. I was out on picket guard night before last. On our last picket 2 1/2 or 3 miles from Falls Church, it rained very hard all night, which made guard duty an arduous one. We were posted in the edge of the woods near a barricade across the road, and I stood nearly all night with the water as high as the tops of my shoes; I came back a little the worse for wear I can assure you, and have no desire to go picket again when it rains. We are constantly expecting an attack from the rebels, and are obliged to be constantly prepared to repel one. Last Friday night we were alarmed about 10 o'clock, and in seven minutes the whole Regiment was drawn up in line of battle; ours was the first company on the ground. Saturday, as we were on dress parade about six in the evening, we received orders to march to the railroad, near which one of our pickets had just been severely wounded, to repel an expected attack; marched there, 2 1/2 miles, in quick time, laid on our arms nearly two hours, and returned again to camp without getting a shot. J.M.R. ++ The People Moving--Meeting in Darien. A meeting was held at Darien Center, on Saturday the 17th inst., for the purpose of consultation in regard to the condition of the country, and the circumstances in which we are now involved. It was understood that those who initiated the movement, were decidedly opposed to an unconditional prosecution of the war, and it was expected that the meeting would be composed mainly of those who occupy this position. At the hour appointed for the meeting, a large and respectable gathering of the citizens of Darien and adjoining towns had assembled. The meeting was called to order by Alanson FISHER, Esq., on whose motion E. LOSEE was called to preside, H.M. McINTYRE appointed Secretary. On motion of Jas. G. SHEPARD of Alexander, F. TENNY of Alden, C. PEARSON of Benington, D.J. LEE of Darien, and A. WEBB of Pembroke, were appointed a Committee to prepare Resolutions expressive of the sentiments of the meeting. Mr. SHEPARD, from the Committee, presented the following Resolutions, which after an elaborate and earnest discussion, in which Messrs. PERRY, SHEPARD, KIDDER, GRIFFITH, LINCOLN, and others participated, were unanimously and enthusiastically adopted: Resolved, That the unnatural and fratricidal war in which our country is now unhappily involved, has been brought upon us by the unholy ambition of a few men at the North and at the South, who by appealing to the passions and prejudices of their respective sections, have aroused a spirit of hostility to the government and its institutions, which threatens to involve all in one common ruin. Resolved, That the legally constituted authorities of the federal government, are entitled to the support of the American people, for the purpose of maintaining the unity and integrity of the government, and for no other purpose; that in the prosecution of the war for that purpose, private rights should be scrupulously protected, and all of our constitutional obligations sacredly maintained and discharged. Resolved, That the call of the New York Independent, and other official organs of the National Administration, urged by a large portion of the Republican press of the Country, and by the Republican Central Club of the City of New York, for "immediate and unconditional emancipation," is treason to the Constitution, and must, if persisted in eventuate in the overthrow and destruction of the best government ever instituted among men. That if any such effort should be attempted by the Administration, it will be the duty of the citizens, as it will be the dictate of patriotism, to rise in the majesty of their strength, and hurl from power the men who have obtained it, by a betrayal of the best hopes and dearest interests of the human race. Resolved, That our government can be maintained and perpetuated only by administering it in the spirit of conciliation, concession and compromise in which it was established, and has hitherto been sustained; that the Republican organization is based upon opposition to the Constitution, as expounded by the authority of the Constitution itself; and without this position is abandoned by the party now in power, all hope or expectation of perpetuating our government must be at an end. Resolved, That this war with all its attendant horrors and sacrifices of blood and treason, the destruction of commerce, prostration of business, bankruptcy, poverty and crime of thousands upon thousands, with the grinding system of taxation that must fall upon future generations--could and should have been avoided by such concessions as true patriots and real statesmen are ever ready and willing to make, and that such concessions must yet be made before we can expect a termination of the war. The evidence which is rapidly accumulating, of a determination on the part of a large portion of the Republican party, if not of the federal administration itself, to make the war a pretext for the emancipation of slavery, was forcibly and earnestly presented by the various speakers; and on this point there was but one sentiment manifested by the meeting, and that was determined opposition to any and every purpose of this kind. A desire for a restoration or reconstruction of the Union, was strongly manifested by the entire audience, but it was thought by most of the speakers that this result would be much more likely to be accomplished by propositions of peace and reconciliation, than by the unreasoning argument of war. An excellent feeling and general harmony prevailed; altogether it was one of the most interesting and respectable political meetings ever held in Darien. On motion of Mr. GRIFFITH, it was ordered that the proceedings of the meeting be furnished the Batavia 'Spirit of the Times' for publication, with a request that other papers that sustain the positions here taken, copy. E. LOSEE, Chairman. H.M. McINTYRE, Sec'y. ++ A Short-Way to Make Money.--The military chest of the rebel General GARNETT which was captured by our troops, was found to consist of the unsigned notes of the Fairmount Bank. The president of the bank accompanied General GARNETT, as one of his staff, signing such quantities of the notes as were wanted from time to time. +++ The "Regulator's" New Version of "Old Dan Tucker." We've often hear it said of late, That the Cheapest Store in New York State Is kept by Bierce the Regulator, Who for cheap goods knows how to cater. Get out of the way, you old slow fogies, Get out of the way, you old slow fogies, Get out of the way, you old slow fogies, You'r only fit to sell fresh porgies! This Miles for business ne'er relaxes, Nor gives a thought on the high taxes; While the Old Fogies they are croaking, He's round New York for bargains poking, Buying his goods at panic prices, Buying his goods at panic prices, Buying his goods at panic prices, Sugars, Teas, Nutmegs, and Spices! When Colonel Miles went into battle, And while the cannon loud did rattle, To buoy his spirits he kept handy A bottle of the best pale brandy. He kept himself in such seclusion, He kept himself in such seclusion, He kept himself in such seclusion, That he could not see his men's confusion! But Yankee Miles is the commander, That stands the fire like a Salamander; And while supported in Batavia, His cry is "friends I ne'er shall leave you." Of our Captain daily we feel prouder, Of our Captain daily we feel prouder, Of our Captain daily we feel prouder, He's plenty of Hyson and Gunpowder! He's just returned from New York City, And all agree that it is a pity, To see so many merchants breaking-- And all by rebels---our flag forsaking. But from such traitors as Jeff. Davis, But from such traitors as Jeff. Davis, But from such traitors as Jeff. Davis, And Beauregard, Old Abe will save us. For all your folks about enlisting, My camp outfit there's no resisting; And e'er you start to kill those varmints, Just call and get some under garments. Plain and ribbed, both wool and cotton, Plain and ribbed, both wool and cotton, Plain and ribbed, both wool and cotton, By Miles you see you're not forgotten! Now girls stop a while from flirting, And make your brothers lots of shirting, They should be supplied in the best manner, To support that glorious "Spangled Banner." Those sons of freedom sent to save us, Those sons of freedom sent to save us, Those sons of freedom sent to save us, From rebel traitors like Jeff. Davis! Now parents you whose sons are leaving, Caution them for to be saving, And ere they leave Genesee County, With the Regulator leave the Bounty! Before they move to put down traitors, Before they move to put down traitors, Before they move to put down traitors, Supply them well with Boots and Gaiters! Miles H. BIERCE. +++ submitted by Linda C. Schmidt *********************************************