Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-08-15
n Visit to the First aad Second Delaware
Regiments.


AT the iastance of the friends Of the Della
whre Regiments, determined TO test the possi-
hili'y Of reaching the first and second Leaving
Wilmington at % o'clock rhurslty morning,
July 81, proceeded to Baltimore, where upon
pfe'ening letters to Gen Wool, received with
ont delay or question, n pass u Fort Monroe -
Exhibiting my pass to the guard, was permit
ted to go aboard the stcalaer Aleltide. We left
the wharf at p. M, and after pleasant run
during the whole night, down the bay. we ar-
rived ut Fort Monroe at n. m, OF Frilny.-
During the "trip we frequently saw Cen Burn
side who was upon the boat AT the Fott, 1t
was necessary to procure another pass before |
could reach llarIisOu's Landing, lHpplied TO the
Provost Marshal, who ie erred inc to Gen Dix,
at the same time giving me pass into the Fort
found Gen. DIX pleasant aud agreeable gen
tleman. Upon presenting my etiers, he took
me warmly by the hand and invited me to be
seated lie told me that he much regretted
thnt il was ont OF his power TO pass me, inquired
for Col Wharton, wnd learning that hs WAS sick,
direute me to write to Cpl. Bailey and usk him
to procure pass from headquarters did this,
anu while waiting reply, concluded to visit
the First Delaware, at Suffolk without diff
[ Guilty obtained pass 10 Norfolk. Bu' here
f came the rub. | rnreted the cars for Suffolk
A Sergeant demanded my pass, | was unable to
show one and he politely requested me to dsem
i bark After eyeiug his glitiering bayonet, and
r finding military law inex0rable, ] cumpied.--
This interference Of the Sergeant with my plans
t. delayed me for eutire day. | proceeded to
the Office Of the Military Governor, but us | tu-
v '. tered saw in la'gs letters, "N1 passes given
y for places beyond the city limits" The pioha-
u hilites cf my seeing the First Delaware were
c very slim. asked tor pass and Was oi course
refused went to ,le Atlantic hotel, aud set
$ abJut devisng ways and means to accomplish
II my object Fortunately | had brought with
e me letters Of introduction to Col. j. Richter
IS Jones aud Capt. Il. G. Redmond Of Penussl-
d vapia, 5slh Regiment, stationed within a me
1. of Portsmouth ia the morning mounted a
n lean, little horse aud proceeded to the camp.
a Col jones was not in. | speut the morning
with Capt. Redmond and with him visited thc
reb- oithealons upon tie west side Of Eliza
p beth river, three miles below POrsm nth, aud
IL commanding the only eairaucs to the huihor
l. these were Of the rost scientific ehAiacter--st
ST constructed taat bsll coull by no possibility
IS. strike either the guns the furnaces. They
20 were made of heavy logs forming comp lee shed
as with openings for casemntcs made wtn railroa'
a.. iron The whole coSere,l to the height Of tci
:, feet with swamp sod tightly pinned together
u making an impreguable fott, iiicieni for th'
defence of the towns against attack by water
ed The adjacent quarers once occupied by the rebel
On Ind been burned the tuiunces for heating sh0
MS had been blown up, the guns removed bu
re lying all around were hundreds OF solid Shot
al aud a few navy wads. We wandered over
of plantation near by, and through ii desere
nj house Not humnn being could be found
~ There was nothing but the sad and client desc
!! lation Of war. Returning to camp and dining
w. obtained from Col Jones letter of recon-
eh nenlation to the Military Governor of Norio K
When reached Portsmouth, on my way to ap
ce ply second time for pass | found that III
TO cars were about TO start for Suffolk. felt snr
w that my application would be refused, and tina
1T my only iesoit was the letter. To my sutprl.
mi il cnrried m snc4lv thrrugh Ii simplv stutp
ng that II pass given 10 me would not njuie til
pub ic service.
We Travelled over very rough ro,d, in freigt
B. cars, through a miserable, low, swampy cout
hv try, for tSenty miles We could tel fum tn
-. burned bulldogs AMI charrel tilnAels where I'll
"" rebel quarters had been. The country yin
so near the Great Dismal Swamp is so poe
lpe that not even war be said 10 have injure
nd it. The corn was, in some places, hardly
f n foot above the ground aud evidently wiIhprt
Co., aud dead We reached Suffolk Mt p. H., Al
i'' found the First Delaware enoampei about ha
hot mile beyond received from the officers al
m.n hearty welcome, and enjoyed their con
at pany during my stay delighted Al the kindnc
NH they showed me and at The harmony and go'
in feeling that universally prevailed.
h., The First Delaware regiment is, with the c
~, ceptiOn OF about twenty-five men, composed CT
oes tirely OF Delawarenns 1t was organized at Il
expiration Of the three months service and W
Camp Hamilton. During the whole Of last wi
,is ter II performed erduons, important and dunge
the Gus picket duty, which sometimes required Il
,ust men to stand guard in water up to the waist
if AT the Fort the men became general tdvurilt
pre- and when President Lincoln ordered the alta
& upon Norfolk, they were assigned the advance
and the post OF honor and Of danger They were i
fer FIRST troops to land ut Wlloughby's Point AID
fly, terwards to enter Norfolk winch they did just
/. the rebel rear was crossing the liver to Por
mouth. At Norfolk they were made Prove
en- Guard, and became by their quiet and order
the conduct, very popular They now occupy
and the advance at Suffolk poiut where an alta
rect is hourly expected. They are in Gcn. NJ
ide, Weber's brigade, uuder Gen. Mausiieds co
Iats mand Both officers and men are in good spr
This and generally in good health. TAey are
v a anxious for rush and are deleI mined to acq
,ash themselves well.
tes Upon the reception Of the beautiful flag lat,
and presented to them, Col. Andrews made u
md ring little speech, aud every swOre to sta
-, by the cours. Col. Andrews is anxious 10 le
u'' his men into BATTLE und his tgiment is not o.
'u' ~ strongly attached 10 him. but mas implicit CO
n tdence in lis courage and ability. | predict
anu good report FROM the First Delaware.
took come care TO inquire into what
ting friends feel anxious abont--its sanitary coni
will ton ltis stationed in an open fIl upon Ii
Sts deratey high ground. The hospital building
NJ. a small farm house near the tcnis and is toll
the ably comfortable. The following statement NJ
n of be Of Interest," Since the orl anizltiOn OF
v of Regiment n September last out Of nipe huudI
men. ten have died of disease ole Goa
Wurd) was drowned and one James IihniI
b. was shot. There have been sxty-three cases
measles at one timc-eyery one of them v
row cured Until the Regiment came to Suffolk,
IA man had died ftr three months. Since Il
sni, time, two have died of dysentery and one
M typhoid fever. There is at present not ci
i au that is Immediately dangerous. though there
int more sick than Mt any other time siuGe organic
'icn tiou. The prevalent diseases are dysente
ann bilious, remitent and typhoid fever. The s
r. r. in hospital ares
ool, Thomas Dickey, Co. II, bilious, doing we'll
III John Groves, Co. |, typhoid, conyalesccnt.
IT,. Edwin Rogerson,
Yrm William Miller, Co ], dysentery, getting b
a.,t' raa, ter
'e''' John Barcns, Co. X, dysentery, cOnvalescc
John Crow,
GODS Thomas Davis, Co. A, bilious improving.
ston, Th,mas Fernand, Co. Il, typhoid, copyal
ct cent
ment Thomas Seymour Go. i, typhoid conyal
heap cent.
t as James L. Brady Co, b, bilious ccnvalesce
" as james Boon, Co. D., acute rheumatism, c
ia yalescent
rect, Chas Cooper, Co. D, iaundice, better.
Matthew llignntt, Co. L, dysenlery, CON
Il. escent.
,e IN Nebbitt Hickman, Co. L dysentery,
proving
Shoes Owen Tamany, Co. O., bilious, improving.
's Samuel Wine,
frhpra Ina hapu lint onn ,aso ee ,,..u =.