Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1862-07-18
From The Eighth Regiment.
DIsALLMANDs, La, July 2. '62

Mr., EDITOR My rule is never to
make promise that | don't intend to
fulfil; so l now poceed to redeem one that
made to you, that at some time I would
give you some facts in relation to the ex-
pericnce of the Sth Reg. You are already
aware that ON our arrival at New York
we shipped on board of the Wallace, Capt.
Lane, to whom only deem it an act of
justice to say that he is kind, gentleman
ly and humane, and manifested a good
deal of anxiety for us and our safe arri-
val at the end of our journey. When we
arrived on the 9th of April, it being
Saturday, We did not land till Monday,
and as change is very desirable point
in our institution, we very gladly en-
braced the chance to exchange our dirty
smothered berths for the privilege of
spreading our blankets on The clean white
sand, which is quite preferable to any
quarters that we have found on board of
transports. The Island has been called
healthy place. but it did not appear SO
to me; the heat was oppressive, much
more so than it would have been if the sur
face had been covered with grass have
heard much said about thunder storms in
hot climates, and think they are not apt
to be overrated. We had one shower when
it seemed as though the heavens had
sprang leak and poured its all, down
together. There were three men killed
near us, by lightning, and quite num-
Der more injured. Our duty on the island
was pretty hard, the sand being so deep
it was very hard drilling, and then VIC
had to cut our wood some three miles
from camp, haul it to the water by hand
and work it along as best we could to the
quarters. The harbor presented quite a
lively appearance, there being from 80 to
40 vessels, some of the largest size, lay
ing at anchor, going out or coming in.
We went on board the James Hovey
just one month from the day that we land
ed there, bound for New Orleans but
made little progress the first day, as the
next morning we came very near going
ashore, close by the landing, but soon af-
ter daylight on the Sth a good breeze
sprung up, and VIC made good progress
till half past six when VIC arrived at the
South West Pass, where We waited as pa
tiently as our situation would admit, 90
hours, for tug, when We joyfully hailed
the Steamer Mississippi, which took us
in tow and we once more started on our
course.
We passed that Gibaralter of America,
Fort Jackson, about o'clock and were
surprised to see no more marks of that
terrible contest on its walls. There was
scarcely an impression made in front,
but | understand that 5000 shell were
thrown, mostly from behind point Of
woods some two or three miles from the
fort, their guns being elevated so as to do
execution on the top of the fort in their
descent. l was told by those that were
there, that the shells, when they struck
the ground would penetrate into it ten
feet, and then open hole in which the
rebels threw their dead and buried them.
AS we passed on nothing occurred till two
in the morning when passing bend in
river both hawsers parted and We cast
anchor till morning, which we were very
willing to do, as it gave us better chance
to view the country by day light.
On passing those great plantations,
with their splendid mansions peering out
amid forest of the richest shade trees,
with the neat little village of houses, two
or three rows, all alike, running back
from the river, many of them painted,
with a row of shade trees also, the ques-
tion that has often been asked comes fresh
to mind can we better the condition of
those inmates But as politics have moth
ing to do with our business we pass on to
New Orleans. We saw no works of any
great Importance, though at the Cedars,
where Jackson met Packenham there are
earth works running back from the river
on both sides, and camp that looks as
though it was left in hurry. We were
tdeliohted with the shrubberv all the wa v