The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-05-30
CAMP ON PAMUNKEY RIVER,
May 10th, 1862.

CAMP on, PAMUNKEY RIVER,
May 10th, 1862.
To the Editors of the Pioneer and Democrat.
The First Minnesota is now encamped on
the south bank of the Pamunkey river,
about three miles 10 direct line from it's
entrance into the York river. There seems
to be lull in the tempest that is now rag
ing on the Peninsula, and will improve it
to write you brief sketch of the move.
ments of the First.
Our part in the siege OF Yorktown was
not marked by any important events. We
were all the time right 10 front of the enc
my, doing picket duty within range of their
pickets, and doing our share of work on the
parallels. which finally awed the enemy into
a retreat, and we were mingling in many
scenes of excitement and danger and while
in other batallions casualties occurred more
or less all the time, our regiment, exposed
to the same situations of danger. aud assign
ed to similar posts of duty, have fortunately
nothing but narrow escapes to record-Dut
we have plenty of thtm. Here is an in-
stance while relief from our regiment
was at work on battery No. 8, and many
of them exposed on the top of the works in
full view of the enemy in their works oppo>
site and about three fourths Of a mile dis
tant from them, we were suddenly saluted
with few twenty-four pound shells, one of
them passing over our heads, piercing
through tree in the rear, splashng into
the muddy road a few rods distant, rebound.
ing aud passed a few yards to the lett of
the second relief in the woods. As the
shell did not burst, one of the boys started
in pursuit, and after brief search brought
it in, and the artillerists declared it was
twenty-four pound shell. All such demon
STATIONS from the enemy were invariably
followed by double complement from our
side, and this seemed to have satisfactory
effect, and they were quiet again for a
while.
On Sunday morning. the 4th just
one month since we advanced from Hamp,
ton--we fell into ranks for our turn of
picket duty, with no apprehension of any.
thing but the usual mouotony, only broken
once in while by the exchange OF "a musket
salute, or the whizzing and explosion of a
shell or two. As we were standing in
ranks, viewing with Indifference the passing
scenes around US, we noticed sudden com-
motion among group of officers, and pretty
soon it was whispered around that General
Dana had entered the lines of the enemy
early in the morning, and that his Brigade
occupied their works. Al first we received
the announcement with that degree of al
lowance with which we usually take the ON
dts of the camp. Presently we were
marched forward and halted on the edge of
the woods, and 10 front of field where the
reserve and support of battery was sta
toned. Here an interview between officers
took place, when the familiar voice of our
bold Colonel commanded US to "about
face" confirming the rumored evacuation of
the enemy. We then returned to camp,
packed knapsacks, and with light heart
and the firm step of veterans, were soon 10
motion, passing the parallels we had erect
ed in front of the Notifications OF the enemy,
crossing the field intervening, and with an
astonishing and admring eye viewed the
extensive works We had SO long been be
siegiDg We then marched on about a
mile beyond, where We halted, devoting he
rest OF the day to trophy hunting, and view>
ing the many forcible evidences OF hasty
retreat of our rebel predecessors.
In the various camps through the woods
we found tents, bowie knives Of huge pro-
portions, pistols, swords, letters, both of
love and business books OF military, relg>
ious and miscellaneous character, cooking
utensils and rations in every stage OF Gu.
linary preparation. Notices adorned many
of the tents, and notices $40 the Yankee
Vanda!s" pinned to canvass and nailed to
trees were met with in many places, while
efigies of Seward and Old Abe were grace.
fully dangling from tent poles, in many OF
the deserted rebel camps, with latin inscrip'
lions of "Such is the fate of tyrants" writ>
ten with chalk. A motto of the 4" Mobile
Tigers" read death to Yankees" and
signed james Hill. a tent bore the in>
scription ave are not whipped yet" A
back of cards on board was left with the
following notice "You have disturbed our
game-now play it out Cd d-n you"
Here is notice from the Orderly Ser
geant of Company F, l4th Regiment Lou.
isiana Volunteers:
The 14th Regiment of Louisiana Volunteers
is always ready for an equal number of Yam.
kee hirelings, which you will find out some
day soon to your sorrow.
A. l.. BLAIR.
Another notice said they only retired
back from our gunboats, and would force
Us to meet them on fair field, where they
would teach us another Bull Run lesson.
"Your gunboat fighting was played out"
heard Chaplain Neill reading notice
"To the Yankee Vandals," in which every
clause concluded with the elegant phrase