Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-04-19

is hard one to take on account CT its natural
detences. Their batteries are five miles long,
and 1t Is reported that in some places there are
three tiers OF guns but will not state these
things as true, as we are likely to hear mar
Vicious stories IN the army, but there is no
stronger evidence Of the importance OF the
place than the immense preparation to reduce
1t. Our gunboats came up the river yester-
day, and transports can bring our rations
within five miles OF us, so there is no danger
OF starvation, although we have been rather
short of rations for two or three days back.
Our list OF killed and wounded so far has been
hght--so far as l know but seven or eie Int have
been killed in making Reconnaissance too neaI
the rebel lines. Our sharpshuuleIs have been
reported as doing efficient service, and, iudg-
ing from their pouderous rifles, l should think
they might imagine that you, with all the
the friends at home, will have q great
deal OF anxiety about us just now
but beg of them and you to keep
up your spirits as The army is immense and
but very Jew OF the regiments will be terribly
cut up, as the term is, so wait until you get
the official account before you give up. News
papers are treaCheruuS well as bomb shells,
and they may be mistaken in making out
army reports Great events are before us, and
|, for one, earnestly pray for courage TO do
my humble part in this great and good enter
prise. l have not seen a paper OF heard
word of news since l LETT Alexandria, vet |
hope cur army has been as successful as here
tofore. X
WEDNESDAY MoRxING, April 9th.-We
passed another terrible night last night the
rain fell i'll torrents, and we are completely
soaked, and there Is no prospect OF its clear
ing off to-day-it is the scverest test of our
patriotism yet but it will not always last;
but many man will find an carly grave on
account Of the exposure. TO stand out any
where last night and hear the coughing, and
the 40 dears - which told the actual suffer.
ing, is almost as bad as to pass through the
hospitals after battle but all these things
have an end and l hope the end is near. This
rain will cost the government millions of
dollars beside many precious lives, yet it is
not well to complain OF the weather Had it
not been for the storm we might have been
in Yorktown before now, but it is one com
plete quagmire now before their batteries, and
the roads leading thereto are almost impassi.
Bile. Probably before you get this letter you
will have been informed by telegraph Of our
operations in this quarter but. don't believe
what you see i'll the newspapers.
FROM OTHER LETTERS
WARWICK COURT HOUSE, Va April 10, 1862
Ii appears to have fallen TO the lot of this
corps to await events at Yorktown, and TO
watch meanwhile, the enemy's extreme right.
Orders are still strictly kept up to return no
fire, and though they are obeyed they are an
additional trial Conversation, however, is
not prohibited, and very frequently takes
place between the enemy's men and our own
on picket. But little is ever said worthy of
note yet few words passed the other day
which give an idea Of the tances that appear
to prevail in reference to our condition on the
other side. After the customary questions
"What regiment do you belong to 9" SC, a
southern soldier called out to a Massachusetts
| man -
How about sugar; have you got any 2"
YES plenty" said Massachusetts
CHATS damned Yankee ie" responded
the voice from the sunny south. eve know
better raise the blockade and we'll let you
| have sugar.
Massachusetts knew low impossible it would
be 10 convince this fellow, and determined to
ask a question in turn, SO out he cried -
How about salt g.
TO which The sunny south suddenly re.
sponded, go to hell"
There is a very general impression among
those who have been on picket duty on our
left that the enemy is engaged in some active
movement there, and some suppose the move
ment to he an evacuation. For two or three
nights past wagons have moved rapidly to and
fro and on Sunday night fire was observed,
which, from its long line. VaS thoneht to 10
burning hridge, though do not know a
bridge in that direction 1t is not at all i'm
probable that the rebels at that point, if not
now in actual retreat, are busy with prepare
tons to make very hasty one at some future
critical moment.
Between Warwick river and the James riv-
er the country runs down into long, sharp
peninsula, and that peninsula is now occupied
by large force OF the enemy. Should the
Union troops some fine day suddenly break
through the rebel lines at any point between
this and yorktown, short march due west
would bring them to the James river at some
distance above the rebels at Lees Mills and
thus these gentry would be effectually cut off
from Richmond. Beyond doubt the rebels
see this possibility as clearly as any one else
can, and hence it is not improbable that the
nocturnal activity in their camps means the
| removal in advance of all material that cannot
be carried away by men suddenly called upon
to move in hurry.
| On Sunday two men of the ninety eighth
| Pennsylvania, Col. Bailliere went over TO the
| enemy under crcums tances which render il
| doubtful whether or no they intended to de-
sert. DeseTters, however, they are very plain
| ly called in camp. One of the men was ser
| geant. and tor some days previously had ex-
| pressed desire to go over and see what they
| were at on the other side. No notice was
taken OF what lie faid until Sunday afternoon,
when he was seen with private on a RAFT in
the James river, already nearly over. He was
| called upon TO return, and sOme rebel soldiers
called upon him to come on" Equally ex.
posed to fire from either side, be appears TO
have hesitate moment, when he asked those
on tue other side al they would let him come
back again" They said yes, and over he
went. He was not fired at