Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-05-16
LETTER FROM THE 1NFANrRY-No. Is.
FEDERAL HILL, BALTIMORE, May IA, 1861,
Camp Sixth REGIMENT. N. V. NJ.

LETTER FROM THE INFANTRY-No. Is.
FEDERAL HILL, BALTIMORE, May a. 1861,
Camp Sixth Regiment, NJ. V. NJ.
Dear Spy: No doubt the telegraph has in
formed you of our arrival here, so | hasten to
give you the details of our march. Yesterday
afternoon we had orders at the regimental pa.
rade for prayers, TO be ready TO fall into line
for the usual afternoon drill at O'Clock but
early i'll the afternoon the commanders of the
companies received orders to have their men
in. readiness for a march at instant notice.
Immediately the camp was all hustle and in
due time the whole regiment was ready. One
days rations were served to us all, the food
being rice, sweet raw bacon half a pound of
soft bread, and a canteen full Of coffee
OF. course our destination was unknown, but
most of us supposed it was Harpers Ferry
while Others said we were to intercept an arm
ed troop conveying food from Baltimore for the
Virginia troops but the boys were lively, and
all were glad TO move. We sang the old ina
tional songs" with redoubled ardor and hearth
ness. Accompanying us was section Of Maj.
Cooks battery, Light Artillery he COM
handing in person, and also the old members
of the New York 8th regiment, in all about
$50 men. We soon filed into the cars filling
two long trains, Mayor Cooks battery having
their pieces loaded on the open cars, while the
New York Sth filled the second train, they GOV.
ering also the tops of the cars, and presenting
as we looked back on them very pictur-
esque appearance. Before the regiment start
ed some fifteen men were taken from the com
panies to act as pioneers, they preceduo the
st'oV- TIL the tram was fairly under
running speed that we knew we were ''off for
Baltimore; !" and need l tell you how we
shouted for JOY when we knew the cod
Sixth" were to show their teeth again to the
rufIians who murdered Whitney, Needham,
and Ames Just before twilight we reached
the city, and the streets bordering on and
around the depot literally swarmed with peo-
pie, and our company was ordered to form on
Henrietta street and protect Major Cooks
battery while his command were unloading it
from the cars, which was speedily done. Then
we resumed our place on the left, and the col
umn began its march, preceded by Capt.
The march to this place was splendid one.
Twas dark andnot star was visible. A lit.
tie to the west and north of us were black, heavy
clouds, constantly lighted up by heat and
chain lightning, every flash of which G stened
on our bayonets and along the barrels of our
guns, revealing on the sidewalks thousands of
people, who crowded all places on the
lines of march, at some points cheering
US most loudly, while the tap of our eight
kettle drums, the heavy tramp OF 1900 men
with arms sat will, . and the artillery of Major
Cooks battery, following Capt. Simpsons
company, made it seem, even TO us who are
accustomed to such things, most impressive
and grand display. Never did our regiment
march better, or look more warlike. Every
man had on gray knit round; bout jacket,
while strapped to his back were knapsack and
overcoat. Our haversacks and dishes hung
on our left, cartridges and cap boxes well to
the front ON our right, bayonets fixed and
pieces loaded, capped, and half cooked.
Not Il word was said to us, as we marched
on, through street after street. on uur way to
Federal Hill. No sooner had we formed iro.a
column into line than the shower re, ched us,
and there we stood in the blacklist darkness,
every Hash of the sharp lightning revealing
our three well formed lines, and showing us,
right at our feet the splendid bay, and East
Baltimore right in our front. On Tie hill here
is flagstaff, and by tie flashing of the light
ming we saw running to its top the "Sar Span
gled Banner" and such cheers as then rent
the air you cannot imagine. he rain kept
pouring down on us, and we had no tents nor
houses to go into so we got well damped and
wet, but Gen. Butler, ever prompt and ready,
soon found quarters for us, and the Regiment
were soon all quartered in a splendid engine
house near by, it having two large halls, and
the engine room below, where our company
was TO quarter tor the night.
The citizens and police treated us very
handsomely, bringing us water, &c., and just
as we were ready to lay down to sleep, orders
came 10 "tall in, instantly" for rumor said
that the "rougls" were attacking our guard
on the hill, and were endeavoring to seize
Cooks battery. We were there insianter;
anu with the rain pouring i'll torrents, 1900
men laid or sat down to nights rest, and
thousand Of them had no covering whatever
over them. Blazing ON our lines were seUeaty
monstrous camp fires, and around them were
men sleeping in the mud and rain. By
board fence close to the fires, and open 10 the
rain, were the "old Infantry" the men sing
ing every song they ever knew, and cheering
as loud as they could their Baltimore funioll"
friends who came into the camp.
In this way we passed the night, and when
morning came we were "wet set of ducks"
Yet all stood it finely, and now, in the warm,