Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-07-11
VOL. XXVIII.
II II T. w \ r..
NEWPoRT's NEWS


The following letter from Henry j. Raymond
to the New York Times, written at the camp
at Newport's News, June So will be read with
interest by the friends of the 1st Vermont
Regiment:
came over here this afternoon in conse-
quence of report brought to the Fortress by
two dcscrlcrs, that the rebel force was moving
down from Yorktown, with intent to attack the
camp at this point. Newport's News is about
eight miles in direct line from Old Point but
the steamer Cdtdiine, which ran up. is forced to
take a circuit which makes the distance about
twelve We reached the camp at about .
o'clock 1t is beautifully situated upon high
plateau of open fields, some 90 or 80 feet above
the level of the water, and backc by woods.
We have five regiments here-hrec from New
York, Coils. Hawkins, Bendix and Taylor; one
from Massachusetts, Col. Packard and one
from Vermont, Col Phelps. The latter has
command of the whole camp. Upon the water
front they have thrown up a fine earth work.
and have mounted three heavy guns, besides
one of Sawycrs rifed cannon. which has been
put up within few days. Along the rear of
the camp within about 40 rods of a marshy
range of ground backed by woods, and running
along the whole line of the camp, they have ex-
tended n very long and admirable cmbankment,
with ditch sme 10 or II feet wide, in part of
which pointed stakes have been inserted, so as
TO render it almost impossible for an enemy to
PASS These bitches are enf!aded by two can
non, planted at an angle so as to command
them and heavy siege howitzer also COM
mards the field by which alone an enemy can
approach the work. Two of the New York
regiments are outside the works; the other
forces are encamped within.
| learned from Col Phelps that yesterday
(Friday) morning two men in Zouave uniform
came from above and entered the camp without
being challenged, and announced that they
had Just arrived from the Sccessionist Army.
They said that they had been stationed at York
town,-and that on Thursday about 5000
troops were marched down from that point with
the intention of attacking as an advance, the
camp at Newport'S News. The day was ex-
cessively hot,--the hottest of the season here,
and the men having very little to eat were
completely worn out. At 10 at night they had
reached a point some three miles from the camp,
but many of their men had fallen behind from
fatigue. Their progress was still fnrther i'm
peded by very heavy ain, which began at
about 10, and continued all night and all the
next day. They found it imposs Bile to march
and went into the woods for shelter. Many of
the men crawled under the bushes and slept.
In the morning the expedition seemed TO be
abandoned BY general consent, rather than by
any explicit order, and the troops went back.
These two m n remained in the bushes until
nearly all the Others had gone away, and then
made the best of their way to Newports News.
Their arrival at the camp created good deal
of excitement, and Col. Phelps Immediately
sent out two companies to reconnoitre. They
went some five miles, and did not return until
after dark.
They reported having seen no force, but they
fell in with scouting party and captured two
of its members who had fallen behind. These
men also belonged to Louisiana regiment.
They confirmed, in the main, the story that had
been told by the deserters, rs to the intended
expedition against Newports News. They said
that n force of three hundred cavalry came
down the day previous within two miles of the
camp.
The two descrters were both Germans-one
of them Prussian and very intelligent man.
He said that he had been living in Quincy H.,
and went to New Orleans, where he worked as
a printer. He was there called on by the Po-
lice, and forced to enlist in Zouave regiment
then in process of formation. He came with
his regiment first to Pensacola, and remained
there until the men were almost in state of
mutiny, because they had received no pay.
They were each then paid five dollars, and or
dered North. He said the men were nearly all
either hostile or Indifferent to the cause for
which they were forced to fight, and that, for
this reason, their treatment at the hands of
their officers was very severe. He made up
Lis mind when he started, to leave the service
as soon as he came near enough to the North
ern forces to make it safe, and this was his frs
opportunity. He says the rebels have about
10000 men at Yorktown,--that they are toll
erably well cothed,-that their supplies of pro-
visions are casual, relying mainly ON the coun-
try around them, and that their military drill
and discipline are very bad. So far as he
knows, none of them have received any money
since they left home, except the little that was
paid them at Pensacola.
All these persons concur in saying that the
rebels at Yorktown intend to make an attack on
the forces here very soon unless they are them
selves attacked. But little weight, however,
can be attached to such an opinion, as privatcs
in their condition would not be permitted to
know anything of the intentions of the leaders.
| am quite sure Gen. Butler has no intention of
making any attack at present,-and | am but
little less confident that none will be made up
on him within short time, except by guerilla
parties as hitherto.
The deserters referred to were brought over
to the fortress, where they are now in coniine-
ment.