The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-11-13

YORKTOWN, VA, Nov. 8 ISL
Called by the sickness of a relative from t-B
calm quietude OF our country home 10 IN inK e
once more for a short time in the falniiiGr,
but stirring scenes of army life We hasten 70
drop you line, With the hops that our III;
Wiii be recognized aud welcomed by oSr
former friends.
AT West Point we found the Logan totally
disabled by the recent storm, and were til us
forced to take passage with abou forty others
ON board of IL small sized river pungey or
sloop- Our crew consisted only of Il Captain,
Crockett by name, and another, Il son OF
Ham, whose Scriptural title, Lot, contrasted
strangely with that Of our Captains.
In u few minutes our canvas was spread
and Hlied with propitious breezes, which
bore US swiftly over the placid bosom of the
broad and beautiful York. About night we
found ourselves in a dead calm The sails
hlpped laZily Hgainst the mast, and our little
schooner lay sweetly asleep on the breast Of
the peaceful waters.
Thus we dragged through the long hours
OF the lonely night, and reached our des tina
ton about two o'clock the next morning. But
We found 1t utterly impossible to make 81
landing. To remain longer on board, with
out nythiDS to eat, and no place on which
TO rest our weary head, was more than our
patience could bear; SO, with Lotas our pilot,
We left the schooner, and, passing the sentry,
soon We're surrounded by The 'miliar scenes
OF the HOwitZar encampment. Yet how great
We're the changes which few weeks had
wrought. Nothing met our eye but the
spot once filled with white e-rOwed tents. The
view of an encampment at such an hour of the
night was peculiarly impressive. Not & sound
WAS heard The stiffness OF death hovered
over the entire face of nature. The dull,
heavy tread of the faithful watchman, as the
aim outlines of his receding form faded into
the distance, fell upon the ear with peculiar
loneliness. The heavens We're lighted up
with the pale glare OF the dying watch fires.
which gave them the appearance of the
dawning of day. The setting moon shed a
pale silvery light over the placid waters,
whose melancholy splashins on the beach
str tnseiy mingled with The surrounding
scenery.
few hours rest and the bright rays of the
rising sun awoke us from our peaceful slum-
bers, our eyes to rest upon even far differen,
scenes from those which met rs by moon
light.
The Howitzers had struck their tents and
were far down in the Peninsula A few
struggling soldiers, here and there, met the
eye; some detained by sickness, others by
business. The Majors (now Colonel's) head.
quarters We're alone left to tell us of The de-
parted. Two noble men whom had known
and loved from early boyhood. during my
absence had hean laid III a soldiers grave
The noble hearted Stanard who commanded
the third Howitzer company, and my beloved
friend, Reylold Kirby, had p seed away from
earth, both in the prime and Yigor of an ear
ly manhood.
Every thing about Yorktown has undergone
change. New soldiers have been moved rap
Idly into the places Of those who are farther
down the Peninsula, and scarcely a familiar
face met us. Col. Colquitt now commando
the post in place of Gen. Hill, who has beer
transferred TO the defence of his own State
We did not see General Magruder, but sup
pose his headquarters are where they hav,
been during the campaign, in the saddle.
Col. Crump, the Com mniandunt of the for
at Gloucester Point, we also saw. The Colo
mel has won the heart of every soldier under
his command, and the hospitable citizens o
the county literally burden him with Oh,
good things of life, of which he is peculiarly
fond, we take it.
We saw a large number of servants be-
longing, we learn, to the citizens O
| Gloucester, busily engaged in throwing u,
breastworks at the Point, and their happ,
| faces and merry jests, and jolly laughter In
dicate plainly that they are heart and soul IL
| the work.
The accommodations at Gloucester Poin
| for our soldiers are far superior to those thi
side OF the river. Why General Magrude
has postponed preparing winter quarters fol
his men until SO late a day we cannot say.
CHAPLAIN.