Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-06-26

CAMP PARAPET CARoLToN, La, ]
MAY Goth, 1862.


We are situated about fifty rods from
the roaring, rolling, tumbling Mississippi
on large Louisiana plantation. General
Phelps brigade is stationed across tract
of land lying between the Mississippi riv-
er and Lake Ponshatrain, guarding all
approaches towards New Orleans from
that direction, which is only 8 miles from
us. The position that this brigade occu.
Ply is very important one. as there is a
rebel army of 20, 900 only rs miles above
us, who were driven out of New Orleans
under the command of Gen. Lowell. We
are constantly threatened by them, but
entertain no fears.
Our position, in case of an attack, is
comparatively a safe one, The enemy
have dug entertainments and built para
pet about miles long. The entrench-
ment, or ditch, is about II feet wide and
six deep, filled with water. The parapet
is about 10 feet high, nearly perpendicu-
lar in front, and the rear of it slanting
with platform to step upon when we
are firing. 1t is finished thing, and has
saved us many days of hard labor The
enemy had large cannon mounted all
along the parapet to rake our boats COM
ing down the river, which they we're for
ced to leave all ready for us to load and
fire into them, excepting few of the gun
carriages which were burnt by them.
Our position in time of battle is behind
these works, and as the Vermont troops
on the Potomac have had an opportunity
to show their fighting qualities, we long
for the same privilege. .. So
We stayed at Ship Island just five
weeks, and were, l assure you, all willing
to leave. The idea of living on a bare
island where no vegetable matter grew
except little green moss in low
swampy hole, and only few trees miles
from us at the upper part of the island,
did not agree with Vermonters' taste or
style-but our present Situation and the
country around us is the Eden of all pla-
ces that l ever was in. Fruits and flowers
of every variety grow spontaneously
Berries, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, cucum-
bers, eggs, milk, sugar and syrups are
daily brought into camp. Oranges, lem
ons, figs, plums and the like, grow very
abundantly. l have been into orange
and lemon orchards covering ten and
twelve acres. There are some of the
most splendid residences and fower-gar-
dens that | ever witnessed, and, indeed,
everything is so tastefully arranged that
we cannot but enjoy ourselves.
But | have given you as good de-
scription of the country as my time will
afford. must let you know of the dan
ger our regiment was in, and still escaped
without man b ling hurt. 1t was mid
night when we left Ship Island with our
Regiment aboard small steamer by the
name of Whiteman.
We sailed three hours at the rate of 10
miles per hour, when it was ascertained
that something was wrong with the en-
CINE, and upon an investigation of the
matter, 1t was found that we were being
escorted by REBEL engineer, with more
than double the amount of steam that it
was warranted for, and had also let near
ly all the water out of the boiler, and ha-
wing launched a small boat for his own es-
cape, was just ready to let cold water in
to the boiler. 1t was discovered by the
Assistant engineer just in time to commu-
mic ate to Col. Roberts the fact, and he
was arrested, and things soon set to rights
by the Assistant engineer.
Had he succeeded in bis villainous
plot, every commissioned officer would
have been blown into the heavens, as
they were just over the boiler. | was
about ten feet from one end of the boiler,
asleep. Colonel Roberts then ordered
the boat back to Ship Island, where we
arrived at sunrise, where the rebel engi-
neer was placed in the fort for sate-keep-
ing, and trusty one secured, when We
again started.
We were obliged to leave several of
orr number at Ship Island on account of
sickness-but the health of the Regiment
generally is good. There have been but
six deaths in it since we left Vermont
But | must close. Fail not to write
me often /; for letter from Vermont is
worth more than money, and about as
scarce.
N. B. Short ones rejected. l am in
need Of nothing but sun-bonnet.
frulxy ID r