Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1861-06-14

CAMP BUTLER, NEWPORT NEWS, VA,
Sunday morning, June I'd 1861.
Dear Friend Lymaan.-Your letter,
your mothers and Mr.. Walkers were all
received and much welcomed yesterday.
They found us all we'll. We have moved
twice since wrote to you before, besides
routing four companies of secession troops
in Hampton which the Vermont regiment
had the honor of doing without the loss
of man, and destroyed large drag can
non by throwing it into the river. The
spot where we are now cncamped is about
II miles from Fort Monroe. 1t is noted
for its being the spot where Lord Corn
wallis landed his troops, but two or three
days before he surrendered at Yorktown,
which is about 20 miles from here. 1t is
on the James River about five miles from
its mouth. At this point the river is six
miles wide. A large secession battery is
directly opposite us here, which will be
taken this week if not surrendered with
out an attack. Our camp is in a field of
wheat and corn of over one hundred acres.
The wheat was beautiful crop, in the
milk a week ago; the corn four or five
inches high, and a small field of potatoes
large enough to eat, which are all des-
troyed now. There is three regiments
here now, but this week there will be l5,-
900 men encamped on this field, as it is
the headquarters of the southern division
of the federal troops. 1t is to be an ell
trenched camp and our regiment have
got theirs nearly finished. 1t is built by
cutting posts nine feet long and setting
them in the ground three feet, then throw
ing up the dirt until there is a ditch ten
feet deep and ten feet across the top. 1t
is about five feet thick on top, and slants
from the top to the bottom of the ditch,
and is slanted on the outside. 1t is i'm
possible for man to jump, or get out of
it, The bottom of the ditch is stuck full
of pointed stakes about three feet long,
which might be apt to prick some of the
Secessionists slightly, if any of them
should fall into it.
The reports which have got into north
ern papers about the Vermont regiment
having so killed and wounded &C., is un.
true, as they have only lost one man and
that by sickness, Benjamin Underwood of
Bradford Company. But very few are
sick in camp and them mostly by the
measels, but all are now doing WE'LL,
We are getting fed little better now
than we were when we first come here
The different towns have sent on some
provisions for their companies which
makes us feel good deal more patriotic.
We understand that the State has lar
ger supply for us on the way, which we
all hope nothing may happen to.
Our rations have been one pint of cot.
fee, two hard buiscuit, a small slice of
pork or piece of meat, one-half gallon
VI beans TO man once week, and rice
twice week. This is not half of our
due to man as we are entitled to three
lourths Id. of meat, one lib. of hard bread
or twelve ounces, if soda biscuit or sixteen
ounces of soft bread, "a thing which |
have not tasted of for three weeks or but
ter since we left Vermont) one gallon of
beans or rice per day. But we have rea-
son to expect that we are going to get
enough, if SO we shall be a happy set, if we
have nothing happen very fatal. 1t is
very warm here but healthy.
Inc terror Whlch prevails througout the
country when any Vermont troops arrive
in their vicinity cannot hardly be des-
cribed, they Immediately fly and leave all
behind. Around and near our camp are
some large plantations. The slaves have
all left and go where they please. Every
one that wants to 60 north can do so if he
wishes, as there is no one to pursue him.
They are engaged in picking strawberries,
and peas, and are killing and bringing
into camp and selling and giving away
all the time Many come up and help on
the entertainments every day. riding in
masters carriage or on his best borse and
perhaps make some officer present of it
before they 60 home. They are great
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