Newbern weekly progress., 1861-10-29
COMPANY X, 2nd Infantry \. G.. S T, }
Fort Saith, Virginia, :

Oct. II, 1861.
Dear Prcercss :-IIaving nothing to do to
night Thought my time could not be employed
in a better manner than by putt;ug into execu-
ton what | have Intended to do for some time
past-that is to write you a letter. Your paper
is received regularly every mail day and If our
dear friends at home could see with what eager
ness and anxiety scan the local column, L
am sure they would feel lattered to know that
they occupy such large share OF our thoughts,
aud if they are but half anxious to hear from
us As we are to hear from them, | feel assured
that this or any other letter from Regiment
will meet hearty welcome. L DO not promise
any new interesting item relative to the 'at
fairs on the Potomac, as am not at Liberty 10
disclose anything concerning them, so L mast
content myself with "matters and things con
nerted with our immediate company and resl-
meut
1t will be gratifying to many OF your numerous
readers to learn that the health of our Reglment
has greatly improved and doubt not after The
first good frost the sick list will be comparatively
small We are greatly blessed IN having good ana
efficient surgeons and men of untlring cnergy.-
Our principal Surgeon, DIR. James Hughes, Is t o
we'll known in our community to need any enco-
MUM from my pen. We have had the mlstor-
tune to lose two young men from our company
recently. One well know II in New bern and
was young man of many estlmable qualities
and by his strict attention to his duties had won
the entire confidence of his officers. HIS name
was Andrew Ball, and he died with consumption.
He was at the Hospital near this encampmeht Tor
entertained of his recovery. But alas poor tel
low his was the fate Of many others who left
their homes at the commencement OF this strug
gle to die in the land of the stranger, away from
kindred and home. He is the fifth that we have
lost since we have been i'll the service and God
grant that it may be the last. Some companies
have been much more unfortunate than ours.
Our company has been detached from the reg
iment and stationed at Fort Smith-one OF the
batteries that has been erected since the com,
mencement of this It was not hnlsheu
when moved in this neighborhood but Col.
lew has completed It, and i'll a manner, too that
would do credit to any officer III the service 1t
is very pleasantly situated at the mouth OF the
Potomac Greek aud commands splendid view
of the river and were 1t not tor the fact thaI IL IS
such serious subject I'd write something aoout
..beautlfu scenery .'rppling waves, and all
that; but you know it won't do to poelze when
YOU are writing about The Fort Is under
the command of Capt. Smith, an old Navy 9TH
Ger, after whom it named, and our boys are We
! ry much attached to him.
Several large steamers are constantly lying
| abreast of the battery. and to day we were Ger
tain of having anice little fight. One OF the
vessels steamed up and stood directly LII TOR the
| battery. Immediately every man was TO his
post guns run out, and everything put in ship
| shape order to give them proper reception, or
rather, decent thrashing, but we were doomed
| to be disappointed. Before she got IN gun shot
she bore away and left to utter anathemas
against the whole Yankee race for being such a
! cowardly set of rascals. They will never hSh'
unless the odds are greatly in their favor
1t was with no little degree of pleasure that saw
| III your columns notice of the "Craven County
| Aid Society," and how keenly alive they are t6
| the interests of the absent soldier. We hearo
here that nearly every one had become ''panie
strickt n and left but am truly glad that 1t /:
not so bad as we had imagined. The dear ladie:
of New bern have always had the reputation of be
ing foremost in the al tdvamcemenAand promotion
Of good deeds and confident that none have
been more a?ous!y engaged in helping on OH
glorious cause than they If our company shouit
be the recipients of any favors from them i
would be deeply appreciated Cold weather Ii
rapidly coming on and they are in very grea
need of suitable underclothing, and if they sent
any fos Company K, it had better be directed tt
the commanding officer of the Company.
We are going into Winter Quarters at this place
and Col. Tew is doing everything in his powe
! to reder his men comfortable.
BY the way, / communication in th'
Raleigh Standard some tim ago from this Regi
/ ment, in which the Col. was done great injustice
and feel confident that the writer of that article
was some disappointed aspirant for one of the of
fees that the Col. has so iudciously filed.
It is getting late and must bid you gooe
night with the promise Of a more Interesting let
ter next time. MOAB.