The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1862-07-09

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large an army and so extended an hospit-
al department, scattered over the whole
Union-and, besides, the sick in our hos
pitals compose but a part of the suffering
and sick Of our Regiments. We have
now in cur Regiment sixty-onc privates
and two commissioned officers on the sick
list, who are lingering and bearing up
against disease, and refuse 10 90 TO an hos
ptal, hoping soon to get we'll, and some
of them hoping against hope. Oh, what
untold blessings would n box of jelles
and cordials, which our ladies could make,
impart TO those worn and dispirited brave
men, who arc living on hard crackers, and
coffee harder to the stomach than the
crackers to the teeth, and drinking water
that does not deserve tho name TO tfese
men your box of jams, jellies and cordials
would have been mine of wealth rs well
rs of health. Our Adjutant, who sits
beside me, told me, moro in earnest than
jest, when l read to him that part Of
your letter about the box and its destna-
ton, Convey TO the the ladies the senli-
ments of my entire disapprobation."
Why, brother s., l myself would
have often given dollar for single
draught Of ale, if | could get it, I am just
recovered from fever and darrhea, and it
fortunately happened that l had ten lem
ons, half of them rotten, for which I had
travelled miles, searching among the Sut-
lers of our army, and paid for them one
dollar and twenty-five centsl and they
were invaluable. | could not tell you the
fabulous prices we pay for things. Think
of twenty-five cents for single copy of
a newspaper sixty cents pound for but
Ter, the same for cheese-and both too
disgusting for me to look at-yot eagerly
bought and eaten by others. And then
there are several Of our officers who, tho
on duty, and do not wish TO report them
selves sick, yet are borne down by fevcrs
and dysentery while manfully fighting the
battles of their country. The fact is,
that the hospitals arc full of the willfully
sick and lazy, as well rs of the really sick,
while very many Of the brave men are
nobly doing their duty with broken down
constitutions, and are looking anxiously
for the reduction of Richmond and then
to return to their homes.
The romance, BROTHER of war you have
at home-the stern reality is in the field.
| now write about fifteen rods in the rear
of our breastworks, and my desk is the
bottom of barrett has been some
times stump. We arc about two miles
from the enemy's camp. Their shot and
shell frequently fly over and around us
the latter come through the air with hiss
ing sound which is almost n scream.
There lies at my tent door twelve pound
shell, which did not explode, and was TAX
en- up by one of our men. Almost eve
ry day the command is given, "Fall into
line" expecting an attack. Last night
there was heavy cannonading and volleys
Of musketry on our right, and, though
very poorly and feverish, was compelled
to arise and pack up, with the expectation
of retiring to the rear, but lay down again.
We expected an attack to-day, but all
seems quiet. Our Regiment occupies the
very front line; and, on our left, sixty
rods distance, an immense swamp. The
whole of this peninsula is full of swamps,
and this part not much improved, but
mostly overgrown with timber-and yet
this is the earliest settled part of Virgin
ia, the land of Capt. Smith, Pocahontas
and old Powhattan. The climate is ex-
ceedingly bilious, and after nightfall the
air injurious to foreigners. The country
is entirely ruined by the war-fences
mostly burned up, and any crop there was,
eaten as forage for the horses. You eau
have no idea of the immense stores need
cd for such n vast army.
In my letter, which was published in
the NewS, there were some inaccuracies
about the battle; it was written too soon
after it to be entirely correct There was
one, however, which l saw in copy Of
the NeOs, sent to Don Lowell, which, rs
ho is not here, opened and found it stat
ed that the people here plough their land
only seven or eight inches deep. Wheth-
or this mistake is niue, or the printers, l