Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-05-02
Our Army Correspondence.
FROM THE EIGHTH REGIMENT

ty-siX days,) we have arrived at the point o
destination. Since my last date last Mon
day. We have had quite a variety OF Incl
dents to relieve the monotony of life at sea
We have passed several islands on our way
on some Of which were built Lighthouses
We came past Tortugas Just at light ans
had a tolerably fair view of the fort situated
there. We learned from the pilot who cam,
on board our ship, that at Tortugas ther,
was no fresh water except rain water anC
what was carried there in boats | under
stand that here it may be obtained anywhere
on the Island by digging two or three fee
deep, and inserting a barrel in the cavity tc
prevent the sand from shelving in and tc
keep the water clean.
The Wallace came in last evening. and
early this morning Lieut-C Col Brown, Adit
Barstow and Surgeon Gale came on boarc
our vessel. We had very agreeable inter
view. One man named Davis, of Co. |, dice
on board the Wallace about two weeks ago
All our part of the Regiment stood the Jour.
ney remarkably well, with the exception o
sea-sickness. | counted eighteen sailing YES.
sells in the harbor, Of | may so express my
self and some steamers and gunboats Three
Of the gunbopts came in yesterday Just al
night, and it is reported that they went tc
Biloxi, Miss, to settle little account with
the rebels. 1t appears that previously. in
some skrmish little girl was found among
the prisoners. A schooner was sent to con.
vey the little Miss home to her friends, who
having received her, returned their acknowl-
edgment by firing into the schooner As
soon as the fact was known, a few gunboats
with the 9th Connecticut regt, were sent to
pay them for their perfidy. While the boats
were gone to Biloxi, firing was heard in
another direction, and' word came to this
place for assistance. have not heard the re-
suit yet The Island is only one complete
sand-bank, and will average some ten feet
above the level Of the sea
The craft containing the horses Of the New
England Division arrived day before yester-
day. Only one hundred out of two hundred
and ten are all that is left of them; thirty
five we're thrown overheard in one day.
Those on board that vessel experienced a ter
rible gale off Hatteras, and came near having
to cut away their masts
There seems to be no correct arrangement
in relation to mail matter from Vermont.
Chance conveyance seems to be the sort re-
lied on, and have been told that no mail
had been received by the soldiers for months.
A Mississippi steamboat, laden with mo-
lasses, tobacco and hay, was taken day or
two since, close by. She now lies near us,
in the harbor--for we have not landed vet,
but expect to to-day, and some Of the men
are on shore pitching tents. There is a lit
tie seven by nine wharf at the west end of
the Island, where small steamers can come
up and unload
Dr. Sanborn, formerly Surgeon in the lst
Vermont Volunteers, was buried Yesterday
Surgeon Kelley, Of the 7th Vermont, came
on board Sunday, part Of that regiment
having arrived on Saturday the same time
with ourselves They started from New
York the 10th. and made the voyage about
four or five days quicker than we did
About thirty prisoners were taken on the
Mississippi boat. One or two other boats
have been taken lately, in this vicinity.
Our troops sheled Biloxi, on the main land
aud took some prisoners. The mortar feet has
gone to the mouth u the Mississippi The
mail steamer from that vicinity is expected
every hour.
Our reglmental quarters have been assign
ed, the ground staked out, and few tents
erected. We expect to 90 on shore to-day,
but have learned that doubtful things are
mighty uncertain The wood for cooking
purposes is obtained about three or four miles
from the west end Of the encampment, and
am told that it is brought by men this dis
lance There is some move among the gun
boats to-day but it is all Greek to us, as we
only learn what has already TRANSFERRED The
men of our regiment are quite healthy at
present. | have lust learned nv our Char
lain that every opportunity is improved in the
Northern cities to send letters out to US Az
ter we get on shore will try and learn if
have been led into any error in regard to the
information have given. T. p. X.