Smyrna times., 1861-08-29
WHOLE NO., 700
Written for the "Snyrna Times"
Letter from the Potomac.
HosrITAL DEPT. CAMP OREGoN, J
August l7Lh, 1851.

AuguSI 1(t0s 1COl.
Friend Times Having q few moments
leisure on my hands. thought would occupy
tue Tune 10 pennlng YOU few lines.
am soldering now IN good earnest-hAve
oeen IN the service since The 4th of June. I
joined this regiment at Fort SCHUYLER, in the
State Of New York. We renamed at the Fort
until we got the requisite number, (ten com.
paA'es, one hundred and one men each1 and
then we started for Fortress Monroe, encamp-
my al Suffolk Park, near Philadelphia, five
DAYS and then proceeded forward, arriving at
MoAi' e on the morning of the fifth of July.
we men proceeded to our camping ground, q
distance oftwo and half miles from the Fort,
on Hampton Creek, opposite Hampton, which
has been ouTnt by the rebels since we left
During our stay there we were under very se.
we're discipline, having drills Ct eight hours
daily. We were not allowed to leave camp,
eeIn3 Kept IN BY PICKET guards. That was the
hrst camp duty, in fact, We had been subjected
TO- and tell yOu II was tough. Guard duty
was the worst part. We mounted very large
guards, Owcnty i've in a relief, and three re-
leIe)' The guards are posted every two hours,
SO that each relief has two hours on, and four
Cf On the opposite SIDE Of the road from us,
on the g'ounds belonging 70 Elk President Ty-
Ter, the German Turner Rifles had their camp,
commanded by Frank Weber, and are as fine
looking set Of men as most ever saw; also,
lac Louavcs, DeWers, and several others.
Ine soiIIers life is no easy one. For in.
stance, he rises at halt past four, drills two
hours before breakfast, and Immediately after,
again and so on through the day, making in
o.! about eight good hours by shutdown; then
comes tattoo al nine, and roll call, five min.
Utes after supper, which means lights out and
quiet n camp or the parties not doing so will
have the pleasure Of a visit of the Corporars
guard, 10 escort them 10 the guard house.
Il happened 10 be the WRITER'S duty only
once to mount picket away from camp. We
started IN the morning, with tour Companies,
Immediately after breakfast, equipped fully
knapsack, haversack, canteen. ETC., on a very
warm day, to relieve part of another regiment,
who stood guard the dey before near Fox Hill,
on Back Creek, distance Of seven miles from
camp, almost in sight of the rebel pickets, but
nothing Of any Consequence occurred.
We are now encamped within one and q
hNlf miles OF the C:y OF Washington, a very
pretty place, and we'll euted Tor q camp, ex.
cept water, which has TO be carried half a mile.
The camp is pitched on gradual slope, which
70 OF much advantage in drying the grounds.
AT Hampton We suffered much from the rains;
twice We we're flooded from our tents.
There are n number Of Delawareans belong.
ing to this regiment; Two from Smyrna, VIM.
Richards and Misunderstanding who served
his time with John Lavender. Bill and be.
long to the same company. and messed togeth.
er Eco. y until was appointed Hospital Stew.
, art. with The rank of Orderly Sergeant The
health OF the camp has been excellent, none
but slight cases. such as are incident TO camp
life. We have had but one death since we
LETT Fort Schuyle-, and that by sccideni-a
young man belonging to company Fl was shot
through she thigh, from the effects OF which he
died.
Our commander (Col. Baker, has not his 50.
perlor. The men are very much attached to
him, and he to them He is absent now, re-
crultiNg III Philadelphia. We number fifteen
hundred men, and expect by this time next
week TO ndmbe; Eve Thousand, and Baker to
act as Major General. We have a chaplain
with us, and preaching twice on Sunday. ]
must draw TO R close it is late.
Truly, yours,
THOMAS MAGKHa