March 19, 1863, The Charleston Mercury
We are rejoiced to hear from all quarters of the wonderful healthfulness of our soldiers in the field. While the enemy is from time to time shipping from Stafford and Murfreesboro’ such large bodies of sick and demoralized troops as to induce the belief that he is changing his base, our men are enjoying a vigor unprecedented. This difference in the sanitary condition of the hostile armies is easily accounted for. The Yankees are unwilling warriors, and they sleep in tents. The hearts of our soldiers are in the contest, and having, fortunately, worn out all their tents, and being unable to procure new ones, they take their rest in the open air, with nothing above them but their blankets and the canopy of heaven, and in their universally robust condition is seen the wisdom of the words of the great NAPOLEON, that […..] destroyed armies, and not artillery.’