Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-04-18

reach us from about our homes, referring to
this Regiment, circulated by those VINO
know more about us than we know ourselves.
We have frequent opportunities OF cru
cising the rebel fleet, composed OF the Mer-
rimac yorktown, Jamestown Patrick Hen
ry, Tea2er and several gun boats. They
steam out from their nightly anchorage TO
the middle of the Roads, and lay there
watching with cat-lke vigilance the narrow
entrance to the harbor casting longing
looks towards the broad eXpanse OF water
beyond the irowning ramparts of Fortress
Monroe. All kinds of artfnl dodges are
resorted to by the dammedsup rebels to en-
tice our floating batteries from their posi-
tinns in the channel, in the hope OF some.
what diminishing the volume OF hre III that
vicinity so that some Of their number may
run the blockade. One of these plans for
drawing out the Monitor proved rather
clever exploit for them and dear one for
us. A rebel steamer ran into nest of our
small craft, riding at anchor in apparent
security, and deliberately making fast to
three Of them, steamed back again to the
feet. When the object of the saucy rebel
hecame evident, one of our batteries was
sent to argue the point with her but ran
aground and did not get off in time, though
the rebel did The doughty shippers of the
remaining vessels, about this time, iancied
that the side of the Fort they were on was
too much exposed to the inclemency Of the
weather, and Immediately signaled for tugs,
which signals having been answered, they
were all soon safely moored on the Bay side
of the Fortress
One of the rhymesters in our army before
Yorktown some time ago, was found guilty
of a sanguinary etfusion in which this verse
occurs Well wade through seas of blood
TO victory or DEATH He has since trans
posed the verse to read thus " Well wade
, through seas of mud till drowned through
want of breath" The alteration was found
1 necessary since their advent among the f.
I +. VS.. We have enjoyed four days of in
cessant baptism and one of the conse-
quences is that the roads, which were scarce
IL navigable before, have their sacred
: soil so thoroughly liquified that it is a work
of no small difficulty to sound their depths
# with mules and wagon wheels The boys
!, say they do like little water in their whis-
" kew to take the raw taste off-especially the
l. Old Dominion" brand--but at present they
would be thankful for little whiskey of any
IS quality to take the raw taste off the water
i, Extensive preparations are making in
~ front of Yorktown for vigorous assault
u upon the place. Gen. Mcclellan seems ia
IS be collecting all the immense energies of his
mighty army for n crushing blow. The
strength of the enemy holding Yorktown /,
truly formidable: independent of the nu-
u mercal strength of their army composed o
y their most reliable soldiers, commanded il
- is said, by jeff Davis in person. and the
q great extent of their works, which are dis
trihuted according to the last improvement.
J. in the science of military engineering, th,
IS geographical features of the neighborhoo,
N lend themselves in an eminent degree TO tn,
"a defence of the position. Their line of in
trenchments is formed by n continuous clail
v of we'll located batteries, presenting Il con
rs cave front, stretching across the neck of tn,
g peninsula from the York to the James river
ia The ground swept by their fire is rolling an,
swampy. They have their weak points
however md our " little Corporal" ha
t. doubtless ere this decided upon his plan O
lr action We will leave the issue to Prov
ii denee, Mcclellan and the Union volunteers
l. Amid all the hustle and turmoil of arm
= transportation, the martial rattle of hurryin
e artillery, the jinglng rush of clouds q
o cavalry, the measured tramp of hosts Of IN
ii. fantry the plunging aud iloundering ofmule,
=, the energetic and something else languag
w of irrtated teamsters, the First Delawar
H. ogs along the road of time in impatient in
is activity, The regularly prescribed paradei
re drills, ceremonies and red-tape observance
- are gone through with scyupnlous precision
VI If the alarm roll is sounded, no coniusio
u ensues, the seveIll companies are almost il
n stantly formed and patiently await orders
H. | have been connected with the army durin
49, the past eight years, have seen military &c
% ence and tactics exercised at their fountain
n head, and 'Unst entiously believe that I
ny regiment in tne service of the United Stat,
Ily is now superior. | am very desirous thattl
ns First Delaware shall have an opportunity
try their prowess in action and am con
'lr dent that the past reputation of Delawa
n soldiers will be faithfully sustained.
H. One of the Pennsylvania regiments "
passing our camp few days ago, the men
which surveyed our sentries with unqualf
'er surprise, One sentinel was strutting on /
Fth post at IA support, clean, tidy, with brig
to ornaments, snowy gloves, and highly polls
H.. ed shoes, when one of the Keystones
-'' quired of him, Are you fellows regulars
nat Yes replied Delaware, regular darn
1t fools ~ Numerous Jokes are cracked by I
men as Il sort of salutation in passing ca
49,, other. On another occasion regime
-, .,'N made a temporary halt by our camp, VIII
the the following conversation took place
her tween one of them and we'll known autl
afe of smart speeches in our regiment. 7
ham stranger asked where the road led to Ii
'"" were on. "Rght to Big Bethel" A
lhu there many rebels there 2" "Any quaint
lem of them" Why you fellows have be
But here long time, why didn't you drive tn
,od out p Oh, we had to wait for the expt
~ enced boys Of Bull Run"
naS Hoping that you may have some intert
the ing intelligence from our vicinity in
row days will close, remaining
ity; Very truly yours, VOLUNTEER