Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1862-08-08

OPPOSITE VIoKsBURGH, ON BOARD


THE MORNING LIGHT, July ID, '62.
DEAR SISTER 1T is some time since-I
have heard from you, and how lonesome
it made me feel the 4th of July, when |
thought where | was last 4th, and what
| was doing; but this 4th had to put on
my knapsack and equipments and take
some men, and 60 on picket guard. No
one can tell one year where he will be, Or
what he will be dong the next. All l
hope is that | shall get out of this alive,
and get home, and that Mother and you
will be alive and we'll for this soldiers
life has learnt me lesson | shall never
forget, and done nc wood. There are
only two hundred and fifty men fit for
duty in our regiment There have been
two deaths on our company. Elias Fetch
er of Belvidere and John Emmons of
Huntington. Our Captain has been very
sick, but is getting a little better. | Just
got back from off picket guard last night.
To-day is Sunday, and Oh, how should
like to be at home, and see you and Moth
or, if it was only for one minute, to see
how you were getting along.
We left Baton Rouge the 10th of June,
on the Morning Light, with the rest of
the feet, consisted of the following steam
ers: Louisiana Belle, on board of which
is Brigadicr General Williams, Command
or of the expeditian; Lawrell Hill, Ibcr-
vile, Sallie Robinson, Diana, Burton,
Ceres, Morning Light, Algerinc, Bark Sea
Bird Store Ship, towed by the Lawrel
Hill, Mortar Boat The Sea Bird was
towed by Iberville and conveyed by Flag
Ship, Hartford and U. S. Gun Boat No 6,
named Rinola. They had the following
regiments on board 4th Wisconsin, 7th
Vermont, 9th Connecticut, 3Oth Massa-
chusctts and Captains Everett's and
Nimm's Batteries. At Ellis Cliffs our
gun boats had been fired into several
times by rebel brtteries and it was deter
mined that there should be landed some
of our troops, and attack them. The 9th
Conn. and Nimm's Battery were landed,
and marched all over there, but could
not find thcm as they had got alarmed
and left, as they generally do. We cap
turcd two Of their men, and burned their
encampment. We started at two the next
morning, and about 10 o'clock we passed
Natchez and at night stopped at a little
village named ST. Joseph We left there
the next morning about 4 o'clock, and
went up Bayou Cierre, small stream
that runs back Of Grand Gulf, SO as to
take the rebels who held the batteries
there, in the rear, and so capture their
guns SO they could not trouble our ship
ping as it passed up and down the river
but they also got wind of our coming and
left.
The 4th Wisconsin regiment captured
a secesh flag, and burnt their camp, and
took several fine horses and number of
fine horses and number of prisoners,
among whom is one Of their picket who
was left on post in their haste to get away.
We then burned their town slick and
clean, and then went up the river. We
arrived here the next day. AS we passed
the Naval Fleet the sailors climed the
rigging and gave us three cheers, which
were loudly responded to by our troops.
We tied up to the bank about two miles
from the city. The Naval Fleet came up
and got their position, and commenced to
shell the city, which replied once in a
while. Their batteries are SO scattered
that it is impossible to take the city with
out a large land force, which we have not
got. They have from thirty to forty
thousand men back of the city, command
cd by Gen. Smith. They have twenty or
twenty five thousand more at Jackson. n