Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1861-07-18
LETTER FROM A VOLUNTEER.

The following Is from private letter writ
ten by young man formerly resident Of
Rutland, now member of the 22I y. \
Regiment He writes from camp, at Wash,
ington. under date ofJuly IIth:
We left Albany on Friday at 6 II O'Clock
p. NJ, on boats, ami arrived IA New York
about the next day, and anchored in the
stream about one mile from the shore-not
one OF us was allowed to land. We Law here
about six hours, without anything to eat or
drink aboard. At o'clock steamboat
Nth the Colonel aboard. ran along side Of Us
and took Us oil. and We proceeded down the
bay 10 Elz4oetbporJ, about - miles from
the city, where we partcok OF a smnDtuous
repast, consisting CT hard pilot bread a d cold
boiled ham OF the poorest quality. which
aforesaid sumptuous fare was kept up two
DAYS after arriving here. We took he cars at
ElIzabelhpOrt about 0 o'clock for Baltimore.
that hO'-be1 Of secessIonism. Il was rumo ed
that the 80 Regiment had had a brush with
the Rebels m thai place, aud the boys were
all anxious 10 90 through and show them that
the 22nd were not to be scared by rumors
Of war;" or Of the idea Of walking through
nest OF " seceshers" TO the tune of =. double
quick" AT HarrIsburgh, Pa, We were
marched out OF the cars and every man fur
nIshed with six rounds or cartridges. and all
ordered to load our muskets, so as to be ready
IN case we were molested. From Harris
burgh to Baltimore We found one continuous
line OF sen,ries guarding the road, and the
ruins of bridges that we were continually
meeting, told Us that We were in the enemys
country.
We arrived in Baltimore about o'clock
Sunday evening, amt Immediately formed in
column, and every man was instructed 10 cap
his musket, and if We had occasion u fire, 10
be careful and not shoot each other. We
were not molested, however, save by the
cheers and groans from the dense crowd hat
lined the streets, until we arrived at the de-
pot, which Is a very long building. When
our company, which is next to the last had
arrived just at the edge OF the depot, saw a
flash OF a gun or pistol, fired from the root IN
to our ranks. l. was so dark that could See
no object on the roof, but | felt confident
that we were attacke i heard the commana
given ahead to fire. and Immediately raised
my gun and aimed as near the place where
saw the fl ash a | could Judge. aud fired,
with what result do not know. Every man
almost aimed bis musket at the roof and
fired up through lt-and ! am certaiu that |
saw the shots returned from the windows m
the roof. The result of the whole affair was
that we had one man shot down, through the
to- Of his head, the bail coming out under his
chm, and one shot in the hip. / saw man
the next day who said he saw four dead
bodies taken from the roof. and that there
were IA more killed. besides several wounded.
We arrived in Washington on Monday morn
ing, and on Tuesday started for camp, about
miles from the city. There are now said
to be about $4,000 troops around this city,
and $4,000 more in Virginia. We can see
their tents plainly across the Potomac. The
2nd Vermont r. giment left here yesterday
for Arlington Heights. paid them visit
and saw lots Of boys that anew
We are troubled 10y secessionsts in the
city and around. There is scarcely a day
but some of the boys get poisoned down in
the city. Asa Berry from Chiltenden. and
IS well know in Rutland, got poisoned the
other night AMI came very near dying.
We are camped on the side of the road.
with woods each side of US; and our guards
have been shot at several times by rebels, but
we have as yet lost not a man, except at Bal
timore' c.