Thoughtfully curated historical journalism
Camp of 2d N. H. Reg., Hill Top,
St. Charles County, Md., Oct. 28.
Since my last letter, the 2d Regiment have made considerable change in the locality of its camp. We are now encamped about 45 miles below Washington, near the Potomac, opposite the formidable line of rebel batteries extending from Mathias Point, several miles up the river. The division here is under the command of Gen. Hooker, now acting Major Gen., and comprises Sickles’ brigade and Hooker’s Brigade, (now under command of Col. Cowdin, of the Mass. 1st,) with a formidable force of cavalry and artillery. Our regiment occupies the left of the line. We have with us Doubledays’ battery of heavy guns, with the greater portion of the defenders of Fort Sumter. Our march here was a very interesting one, to us, and we will give your readers an account of it.
Major Russell, of Osage, ten miles below Humboldt, arrived here on Monday night. He gives the most distressing accounts of affairs on our South-eastern border. He and his family have been driven from their home by rebels. A party of Secessionists, said to number 437, are now in Allen and Woodson counties, overrunning those counties and threatening to sweep thro’ the whole Neosho Valley. Major Russell fears that our next news will be that Iola and Leroy have followed the fate of luckless Humboldt. Citizens are leaving that portion of the State in the greatest haste, leaving all their furniture and goods behind. Scouts from Leroy report a force of 1,200 Missourians within thirty miles of Humboldt with the avowed purpose of making a raid upon Kansas.
The Camden Volunteers, Capt. Kennedy.—The health of this Company has greatly improved. Lieut. Niles, who has been home since the last of August, having left the company on account of sickness, returned on Monday last, with a full supply of clothing, blankets, &c., for the men.
Capt. Cantey’s Company, we are glad to learn, is much improved in health; and are happy to say have not been forgotten by their friends, the ladies—of the Camden Association. Yet, so far as we are aware, there has been no uniforms sent them from here—owing to the difficulty in getting goods suitable to make up, as the Confederate army has engaged all the mills in Virginia and North Carolina. We hope they can and will be supplied there.
Sergeant Smith of the 4th Regiment, took back with him on Monday to his company a vast amount of comforts and luxuries for “the boys.” He had Hams, Cheeses, Tubs of fresh butter, Crackers, Shirts, Stockings, pipe and cigars, amounting in all to three large dry goods boxes and one barrel full! Something over seventy pairs of good, thick, warm wollen stockings were sent. Notable mothers, sisters and grandmothers, habituated to such labors, have plied their needles during the past fortnight more industriously than ever, and dainty fingers which never before manipulated anything harsher than Berlin wool, have bravely toiled over the heavy blue yarn, anxious to contribute something to the comfort of their brothers in the distant camp.
It is with much regret that we have to announce the continual ill health of our troops in this department of our army. There is now prevailing in camp, mumps and fever from both of which, many valuable lives are lost. It is useless to consider the cause of disease among our troops, or to enquire why so large a proportion of the sick die.
Fort Tillinghast Va., Oct. 10, 1861.
Editors Mineral Point Tribune :
It has rained most of the day, and as darkness slowly comes on, all wonder how the night will pass—whether we freeze, or be dampened and chilled by the cold blasts of the Old Dominion. Well may the gallant crew wonder ; for within the last two weeks we have experienced more or less of cool nights, and are anxious to know how Uncle Sam will manage with his grand army of children as winter approaches. The 2nd will return thanks to the aforesaid Uncle Samuel for the nice over-coats he has been pleased to distribute among us ; and if you would just walk into our quarters, you would readily observe the plenty of everything. The 2nd has been newly clothed throughout, and it is with pride they don them and appear upon dress parade, with eyes front, body erect, and a sober, benign countenance. We calculate the 2nd capable of “dressing up” to any of the volunteer regiments ; and, upon review, parade, or in the camp, their actions bespeak for them a well disciplined and sturdy set of “Badger boys,” capable of going through all manner of hardships.
Washington, Oct. 25.—Commodore McKean’s dispatches are received at the Navy Department. Capt. Pope of the Richmond, reports the hole made in her by the ram was two feet below the water line and five inches in circumference. At the first alarm, the crew cooly repaired to quarters, and as the ram passed abreast the Richmond, the entire port battery was discharged at her, with what effect, it was impossible to discover in the darkness. A red light was shown as a signal of danger, and the entire squadron was under way in a very few minutes, the Richmond covering the retreat. The Preble went over the bar while the Vincennes and Richmond grounded.