Worcester daily spy., 1861-12-18
FROM THE rwENrY-FIFrH REGIMENT.
IA 1AAA4 1 W A-Aa L - - go
CAMP Hicks, Annapolis,
1acnu,hpr IL 1851


CAMP Hicks, Annapolis,
December is, 1861.
Editor Spy; We are still here, which proves
that the rumor in circulation in regard to our
leaving, when l last wrote, was false AS
matters now stand, my opinion is that New
Years will come before our departure from
Annapolis. Still, we may receive orders soon
and start on ''short notice" We have fresh
rumors as to the time of our departure, every
day, and we have got SO now that we place
very little reliance upon them.
The regiments now ,ncamped here passed
in review yesterday-Gen. Foster, commander
of the first brigade in this division, being the
reviewing officer. Tile regiments passed in
the following order, first at quick time, and
then at double quick The Massachusetts
twentv.ffth, twenty.third, twenty-seyenth and
Connecticut tenth, under Col. Upton, forming
the first brigade I; the Connecticut eighth, New
York fifly.first, Pennsylvania eleventh, and
Massachusetts, twenty first, under command OF
Col. - of the Connecticut eighth, forming
the second brigade the Pennsylvania fifty
cavalry (l200 strong), forming the third brig
ade. The review was fine one, and passed
of to the entire satisfaction OF the officer in
command Our regiment lost none OF its Iau-
rels on the occasion, but gained more-at
least, we get the credit OF doing as well as any
on the field. Our lieutenant colonel was IN
command of the regiment, although unable to
use his right arm, having met with an accl-
dent while on brigade drill, a few days since,
occasioned by falling from his horse, The
bone was fractured, and he is compelled to
keep it in sling. 1t will probably require
three or four weeks t. heal it so that he can
use it.
Private Wm. C. WisweIl, of company b.
also met with quite a serious accident while
out on target practice on Friday last He
rested his rifle against tree when some one
i'll passing knocked it down, when Wiswell
sprang to catch it, placing his hand on the
muzzle of the piece and drew it towards him,
when the hammer was lifted by being caught
upon a twig, and in slipping off the twig the
hammer shut down and the gun was discharg-
ed, and he received the contents III his left
hand just below the second finger, nearly tear
ing it from his hand. Surgeon Rice amputated
the finger aud Mr.. Wiswell is now doing well.
The "boys" have now been in the service
three months, and as yet have not seen or
heard from the paymaSter, and some little
grumbling is heard in regard to the 'dollars
Il, vic cd
Washington on Friday to ascertain, if possible,
what arrangements, if any had been made in
regard to pay. He returned yesterday, and
informed us that the pay master would be here
on Tuesday next, when lie would "walk up to
the captains Office and settle"
The Massachusetts twenty fourth, Col. Ste
veuson, arrived on Friday, or, should have
said, a portion of it did. The regiment left
Perrysvie on Thursday. in two steamers, for
Annapolis, and when within eight miles of the
city, the boat containing the right wing ran
upon a sand bar, where she remained until
yesterday morning, at which time she floated,
having been discharged of portion Of her
her cargo, and reached the naval school wharf
y
tailed to perform escort duty, and this morn
ing they went to the city and escorted them
to their camping ground near the twenty third,
and about one mile from US. The twenty
fourth has been the recipient of much praise,
and think justly SO. 1t has been placed in
the same brigade with us, on the left flank,
The brigade surgeon made our camp visit,
few days since, for the purpose of inspecting
our tents. He condemned them at once, and
says we will have new ones ; so the probabil-
tiles are, that, upon leaving here, and perhaps
before, we will get them. OF what pattern
the tents are to be, l am not informed
Our camp has been visited, within the past
few days, by many Worcester gentlemen,
among whom were Messrs. Lamson, Thayer,
Flagg, Holhrook, Shattuck, and Sessions.
They received hearty welcome as will any
one coming from home. Hope we may see
many more before leaving here. D. NJ. c. NJ.