From York county.
the health of the troops — the Motives which prompt the Enlistment of our soldiers — the ladies of Northampton county, &c.[correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.]
Camp Martin, York County, Nov. 30, 1861.
For the benefit of those who have friends and relatives in this regiment, I will say that the men are in excellent health.
In fact, the North Carolina Fifth is all right, and in good fighting condition, and I consider them interior to none on the Peninsula.
We have every confidence in the valor and efficiency of our officers; and, if necessity requires it, we are willing to follow them to the cannon's mouth, and even board the enemy in their strongholds.
We are now encamped within a few miles of Lincoln's hirelings; but yet it does not prevent us from sleeping soundly; and, if they dare to make an attack upon us, I guess they will not catch us napping.
The men who are in the service of the Confederate States are men who have not enlisted for filthy incur, as the great majority of Lincolnites have; but we have come to defend our homes, our firesides, our institutions, and all the rights which were guaranteed to us by the old Constitution.
The Northern fanatics have been endeavoring to oppress the South for a number of years.
We have borne their oppressions until forbearance has ceased to be a virtue.
We have kissed the road that smote us; and they expected us to be as the worm that would not sting the foot that crushed it. We have now given ourselves to the cause of our ‘"Sunny South;"’ and before the Vandals of Lincoln shall desecrate our homes and our firesides, we will leave our bones to bleach upon the battle-field.
We intend to know no such thing as subjugation, but intend to defend our soil to the last foot.
Our motto is liberty or death.
I like to have forgotten to tell you that, from some cause unknown to me, this regiment has been changed from the Fifth to the Fifteenth North Carolina Regiment of Volunteers.
I saw a communication in a North Carolina paper giving the positions of the companies of this regiment, which is incorrect.
It gave the position of ‘"A"’ to the Chatham Rifles; that position is occupied by the Northampton Guards.
I know this to be so, for I have the honor of belonging to the latter company myself.
We received several boxes of good comfortable clothing from the ladies of Northampton, and you may rest assured that they were very acceptable.
The ladies of the loyal old county of Northampton are noted for beauty, intelligence, and liberality, and we appreciate this donation the more on account of its coming from the source which it did. May their pathway ever be strown with thornless flowers, and may they all be successful in procuring worthy and those who are already married live happy and contented.
M. 