The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-05-23
Letter from Gen Buffers Division.
SHIP ISLAND, MISSISSIPPI, }
Headquarters 7th Vt. Infantry, :
April 9, 1862. J
To the Editor of The Caledonian /:

{
( Headquarters 7th Vt. Infantry. !
April 9, 1862. .
/ To the Editor of The Caledonian:
The good ships Premier and Tamerlane
have at last landed the Vt. 1th at Ship Isl
and The first with the right wing, 20 days,
and the I'd with the left, p days out at sea,
in addition to which We lay five days in n.
Y. harbor, awaiting favorable winds and get
ting the ammunition which q. VI. Paul X.
George failed to furnish for US till cur colo
mel refused to sail without it.
Nothing remarkable occurred to interrupt
the monotony of Our voyage, except that on
the Tamerlane juvenile representation of
the shark family attracted by some of our
boys who had taken advantage of a calm 10
take salt water bath, came alongside, and
as the boys left the field without contest,
he kindly swallowed piece of pork and
shark hook, and was drawn in with the con-
tents of some dozen revolvers, received dur
ing his ascent up the ships side. He only
measured 81 feet, but was big enough to get
up quite an excitement, if not large enough
about the mouth to swallow a soldier whole.
We lost two men-one on each Ship-from
the effects of Rutland rum, which is of very
killing kind. One Of the men was taken
with deirium tremens as soon as his supply
was exhausted, and the snakes" chased him
up on deck, where he lay part Of the night
and got congestion Of the lungs, died next
night, and was sewed up in his blanket with
a stone and thrown overheard. The other
man stabbed himself III the thigh in a drunk
en- fit, wounding a large artery, and died of
secondary henorrhage after II days. We
had rough weather the first week, and all
, hands were terribly sea sick, and about half
sure they were going to die, but after that
, we were all very healthy and enjoyed the
trip pretty we'll. The officers were entertain
| ed i'll the cabin by the ship captains, who by
j; the way, were very popular among all hands.
$ They were very quiet, intelligent gentle
| men, disappointing all my preconceived no.
tons Of sea captains by being strictly temper
ate and free from profanity. They enter
p tanned their guests in manner fully equal
, to that of a first class hotel.
The men complained some Of the sea bis
+ cult instead of bread in their rations, but got
: used to it and came out in good condition.
, Here We find Gen Butler with from 10000 to
y 10000 men. He has already sent a mortar
fleet up the Mississippi river. and has seven
0 regiments nearly ready to follow, to attack
r Fort Jackson, the first fort on the river. 1t
|. is reported that the rest of lis are to follow
e soon, and that New England is yet to have a
n hand in cleaning out the great thorougnfare
t. Of the West. New Orleans papers received
y here say no defense will be made there il
e case of attack, and there is no doubt of theil
!. being attacked We find this island to be
y mere bank Of white sand rising only few
d feet above high water. There are trees whicl
" We get for fuel, and bulrushes which We ge
| to carpet our tents with, up at the upper ent
II some four miles distant. but abo1t here ther,
ar Is hardly sign of vegetation, and the sant
f. is nearly as white and as fine as snow. 81
it looks quite like home here. The wine
h drifts the sand into everything, but it is ST
ty perfectly clean as to make US but little trou
as ble 1t will hardly irritate ones eyes whel
. blown into them, bat | must confess
ID does taste little gritty when eaten, as
O. necessarily makes itself part of our drill i
windy weather.
IN The Sth Vermont under Col Thomas al
e. rived with US, and are encamped beside u
th and both are attached to Gen Phelps brig
N ade, which also comprises n. H. Sth, Mas
r. 3Oth and 31st, and Connecticut 9th, and al
r. other Connecticut regiment is expected.
it. 1t has not been warm enough to be vi
at comfortable here as yet, and the men al
ge very healthy for raw soldiers. We have see
he nothing as yet Of the fleas and mosquitoe
ng for which the island is famous, and on II
rse whole are enjoying life very well here, an
- shall not complain if kept here for a mon,
,ry or two, but for one l would prefer not
he summer here. But the future is all unce
CO. tain, especially to the soldier, and We are Ii
BILE to be ordered off at any time. And wi
op- the soldiers universal impatience of the pre-
ass ent, we shall no doubt soon be anxious for
M change. Mails to and from here are very
vie regular, but letters directed to the 1th y
ily regiment here will follow US, and no dou
hy reach US sometime, although they have n
md done SO as yet If anything of interest ha
vas pens to US here you may hear from US agai
dino 9