The Elizabeth city soldiers.
--We would again call attention to the necessities of the
Elizabeth City soldiers.
As
Jackson was the first Virginia martyr in the cause of Southern independence,
Hampton was the first Virginia town which has been literally destroyed by the scourge of invasion.
No one can think without a tear of the fate of that beautiful village, and of the refined and noble- hearted people who have been driven from its quiet homes, and whose roof trees are all in ashes.
The whole of that region has been desolated by the vandals, and, if any who have suffered in the
Southern cause deserve sympathy and aid, their claims are pre-eminent above all. We appeal again for assistance to the soldiers of this oppressed and devoted section who are now in the
Confederate service.
They have been driven from their homes, leaving all their wordily goods behind them — many of them bringing away only the clothes on their backs, such as were suited to the warm season that had then set in. Winter is now upon us. These soldiers have no fathers, mothers, and sisters at home to call upon; for they, too, are wanderers — A correspondent of the
Enquirer states that most acceptable donations of clothing have already been sent to some of them, but still they are sadly in need of yarn socks and yarn gloves, overcoats, flannel shirts, &c. Some of them are now stationed on the wagon-courses, where the winds are piercing and the frosts are bleak.
We would suggest that all boxes intended for them be directed to the captains of the respective companies, and be sent to the care of
Assistant Quartermaster James White, at
Yorktown.
The
Elizabeth City companies are, the Wythe Rifles,
Capt. W. R. Wills; Old Dominion Dragoons,
Capt. W. R. Vaughan; Washington Artillery,
Capt. C. L. Smith and
Hampton Grays,
Capt. B. F. Hudgins.
The York Rangers,
Capt. Jeff. Sinclair, are also partially composed of
Elizabeth City men. In the 115th Regiment of
Virginia militia are good and true men, too, from the same county.
