The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-12-27
ARMY CORRESPONDENCE.
CAsp HAMILTON, Va. Dec. 18th, 1861

CANP HAMILTON, Va. Dec. 18th, 1861.
Mr.. EDroR l am most sorry to be obliged
to deny the authenticity OF the story In the
Boston Herald. relative TO our company having
had an engagement with the enemy. Whether
written with malice prcpense or in idle jest. it
amounts to nothing hut tissue OF ialsehoods.
Nothing that has happened within the scope of
my observation could have afforded foundation
for such = story in the slightest Particular
Two oi the names which were appended as mis-
sing from Co. ID are not ON our roll. One OF
the remaining two Is reclining in perfect con-
tentment behind me, and the other is probably
in the same position in his own tent. IL is n
sal task tor me to pour cold water on such a
fattering account Of Co. BIS conduct, but my
yeracity US a faithful chronicler Of events is al
stake. ...... ..Ft n
Six companies OF our regiment went scouting
as FAR as Newmarket Bridge, and almost to
Bethel, returning at night "all warworn and
weary'' without having seen rebel. Almost
every night guns are fired on picket, AID in
nearly every instance, IL Is insisted, Mt ooAd-
Gis rebels, but have never seen one. Ii is not
10 be wondered at, however, If such alarms
prove false. may say TO your readers that
Imagination is very active while engaged on
picket duty. Each noise is invested with nigh
~ portent fancy transmogrihes natural OBJ
jects, such rs small trees, stumps, &C., into adj
vaneing rebels. and an alarm is the result. Do
not imagine by this that we are unworthy to
uphold the banner of freedom, or that our
courage will fail in the "deadly breach" But
love Of life is natural to both man and brute,
and every man, as matter Of course, feels
more or less repugnance to the thrust Of bay
onet or the whirling of minnie" Besides,
the peculiar situation of picket guard at this
season of the year induces this feeling most
powerfully. The rustic of the falling leaves,
the branches Of the trees swaycd by the blasts
Of December, porcine stragglers through the
unier-brush, all combine to heishten his feel
lngs aud quicken his fancy.
We have had new feature introduced into
our drill within the past week. Instead Of bat
talon we have now brigade drill, under Col.
Max Weber. the commander of the post. lam
inclined to think that something is foreshad-
Dwell by this movement. but this, of course, is
but surmise. We have plenty of rumors afoat
in the camp, but we treat them with contempt
until well proved. For instance, when Mason
anil Slidell were incarcerated at Fortress Mon
roe we did not credit il for at least two days az
ter the fact.
The weather has been, chiefly, very mild for
December in this latitude. We had slight fall
of snow once. The nights are cold, the days
quite warm and pleasant. The negroes say
that there will be month and a half Of mud
dy, sloppy weather. in which it will be impOs-
sible to drill. shall not complain n that ac-
count. We were hoping to be ordered to Port
Royal, but have almost given up the idea, and
begin to look upon Camp Hamilton as ourwin-
ter quarters.
regret to say that two Of our regiment are
confined in the guard.house under sentence Of
death for sleeping GU their posts. Another had
sentence OF death passed upon him but was par
donel. ....
Yours truly, W. ii. c.,
Co. i, 10th Reg. Mass. V. NJ.