Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-07-19
[Our Army Corrcspondence.l


Dear Free Press:
Tbera is nothing new here. All
there is going on, is scouting parties and sRir-
mishing; hardly any Of that and that little emf.
nontly unsuccessful and unsatisfactory.
We met with great loss in the burning of the
steamer Catalina, Tuesday of last week 1
happened to be down to the Fortress at the time.
We had Just turned in, the hospital, at about
quarter past O. when the familiar cry Of Fire"
startled us from our beds. The steamer Lad just
arrived from Newport News with Gen. Butler and
ladies, and was turning around to return to
! Camp Bu Ter, when she was discovered to be On
fire. The FIRE bad then made great progress, so
that those astcrn could not 80 forward, but were
obliged to remain. One Of the gun-boats lay close
by, aud she Immediately steamed up and came
around, took those on tho bow of, and then those
that remained on the stern. Several jumped
overheard, without any thing .hcm and swan
ashore. No one saved any thing, save what they
wcro wearing at the time.
Nothing on board was saved, with the single
exception of a rihed cannon, with which She was
armed, and chat they went back after, some time
after every one had left her once.
1t could not have been We minutes from tho
first alarm, before there were from 20 TO 80 boats
around her to pick up any that might be
overheard. Every one escaped without any injury
save to his purse. 1t was of the finest sights
ever saw. But one could not help thinking how
different the result might have been, if the fire
,,l f,+or sI,ab b,l
part Of her passage up. The Captain told me he
could not tell how she took-that he could not con-
ceiyc am way except that the steam pipes burst
and let the dro out.
I had the pleasure Of seeing tho famous steam
gun at the Fort; but had not time to study out
the principle of the thing I am thinking that
1876 inch-iron-missiles in a minute, would be apt
to 90 some execution at a respectable distance.
The lth Mass. Regiment left here on Tuesday
for the Fortress, aud from there, l understand,
they wcrc ordered 70 New Market Bridge, to
throw up entertainments. Col Aliens Regiment
from New York, take their place here, though, of
course, they are not under his command. They
prove be very good neigLbors So far.
4 skirmishing party from the Z2uayos consist
ing of about twenty-five, were cut Thursday and
remained all night. In the morning (FrdaD
they found themselves surrounded by body Of |
scocssonists Of l2j to $50, consisting of cavalry
ard infantry. They Immediately made a charge,
and their Internal yell, together, and broke
through the cncmy's lines, getting away in good
order aul Hlins three certainly Of them and /
Fouuiioe more One ofthe Killed was an officer. /
They rctrcated in good order and came back t. |.
camp. a party consisting of five companies
Of Zouaycs, and three from the Vt. Regiment /
ttho Br4uien, ST. Ab,ns AID Burlington Com
panies), went cut Immediately. under Lieut.. Col. /
Belts If the Zolavcs, ard Maj. Worthen Of tho
VT Regiment. They went up the river some
eight OF nine miles, but did nothing worthy of .
record, - though, under some circumstances. l |
think they might have dine something decent
and worthy of cur name.
There as grand review Of al the regiments
in camp on Friday afternoon by Gen. Butler and
staff Secretary Cameron, Col. Dimmcl, and sew
eral distinguished gentlemen from abroad, -
including halra dozen white women. You can
hardly conceive the pleasant remarks made Icy
the soldiers at the sight once more of civilized
lldy,-something We have not seen before for
nearly two months. But to return to the parade.
Il was a splendid sight, l assure you. There
were about 3 800 men, all in marching order,
knapsacks, haversacks and canteens all on. The
soldiers looked very we'll, and all marched first
rate.
We had cur accustomed inspection this morn
ing, and it went of quite easily. We are begin
ming to calculate how many more We shall have
to pass. The weeks are slipping away quite ra-
pidly low.
They commenced making the telegraph to-day,
hoping to finish it by Tuesday morning.
It is now ten o'clock, and am somewhat fear
ful I shall hear the cty Of Corporal Of the Guard
No. B. if don't put out my light
ours i. Z.