The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-04-18

CAMP HAMPTON. Va, April 3, 1862.
othe Editor of the Pioneer and Democrat.
l addressed you my last letter from Bolivar
Heights, near Harper's Ferry. l now ad
dress you from our camp, about one mile
back of Hampton, and about three miles
from Fortress Monroe We left Bolivar
Heights on the 2lst ult., crossed over to
Sandy Hook, where we took the cars on the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, for Wash
ington, and arrived there the next morn.
ing, about two o'clock. On the 9th we
transferred our camp to Alexandria, occu-
plying our old camping ground of last sum-
mer, and on the 29th embarked on trans
ports for Fortress Monroe, disembarking at
Hampton, and occupying our present camp.
ing ground on the LIST of April. This is
briefly the progress of the First since my
last, and I will hastily record a few thoughts
as they suggest themselves on the spur of
the moment.
The Railroad from Sandy Hook to the
Relay House was exceedingly circuitous-
winding around the base of small hills, and
describing an arc of 100 or l8O degrees,
every fifteen or twenty rods of the road /;
consequently our speed was very slow and
the cars being very crowded and somewhat
inconvenient, the boys climbed on top, and
at least one-half of the entire battalion was
riding on the outside along the whole train.
A bugle sounded the call for dress parade,
followed by the usual commands along the
whole line, and we had, for all practical
purposes, real dress parade at slow rail-
road speed.
Arriving at Washington, we were imme-
diately formed into line and marched
into the "Soldiers' Retreat" where we
stacked our arms, and thence in the "Sol.
diers' Rest" where we were treated to cup
of rather weak coffee. On the same morn
ing of our arrival, after breakfasting at the
"Rest," We were marched to camp near the
Capitol, Companies A, e, and f occupying
a large brick building.
Washington is always an exhaustIess sub.
ject for newspaper correspondents, but as 1
do not propose to enter upon the useless
and extraordinary task of describing the
"city of magnificent distances" 1 shall con.
fine myself to few prominent incidents
connected with the First Minnesota. Two
evenings in succession we had dress parade
in the Capitol Square, fronting the east en-.
trance, and on the very scene of "Old Abe's
Inauguration for the Presidency. Here we
were displaying our martial air and disci.
pline to perfection, being the object of uni.
versal admiration of the citizens of the
Federal Capital, of fond satisfaction and
pride by all Minnesotians present, and the
envy Of military officers and men who were
eye witnesses to the parade. Invitations
showered in upon officers and men of our
regiment, and oysters, with the ct ceteras,
were generally substituted for hard crackers
and salt bacon. We were emphatically sin
clover" during our stay in Washington. In
deed, it is said, Gen. German declared that
he was afraid our popularity, and the fond-
ness and generosity of our friends would
spoil US, and consequently had US removed
to Alexandria.
1t was the general impression at Wash
ington that one of our popular regimental
field officers had been "playiDg off" this win.
ter in the "City of Brotherly Love" that be
was trying to get out of the service on the
pretext of ill health, and that be was SEEK
ing nomination for Congress in the com.
ing Republican Convention in Minnesota.
Wherever l heard these base and slanderous
destinations, I denounced them as basely
false, and on one occasion with a reckless
regard for personal safety, I declared the
slanderer liar said be was very popu-
lar among the boys of the First, and plead.
ed his patriotic efforts to "crawl back" to
our regiment when his health was still very
weak; and finally expressed decided regret
that he should leave US, should the SANDER
er's prediction, contrary to all expectation,
eventually take place. Should these SLAM
ders reach Minnesota, charge you to meet
them in the same spirited and summary
manner.
Alexandria did not possess much of no.
velty to interest US, yet we visited many old
places made dear to US by pleasant recollec-
lions from July last summer.
On the morning we embarked on the
transports the sky was cloudy and gloomy,
and while marching down to the piers and
there awaiting "our turn" to 60 on board,
we weathered cold, wet and cherries
snow storm, which continued with some in
termissions and variations of rain, that and
the following day. This was very untortu-
nate as there were many among US who had
hoped for clear sky and good prospect
of the scenes along the lower Potomac.
Hence we passed Mount VERONA place
no American can pass without feeling patri.
otto emotions quickening the pulsations of
his heart enveIoped in foggy and
gloomy obscurity, perhaps only too
true type of the present status of republican
Institutions. But as we entered Chesa.
peake Bay the clouds began to disperse, and
presently the sun shone brilliantly from
cloudless sky, and we were gently rocking
over the undulating waters of the Bay.
Steamers and sailing vessels of all sizes and
descriptions dottiDg over the surface on all
sides, lending interest and animation to
the scene. On the morning of the LIST of
April, on arising, we found ourselves an,
chored in Hampton Roads, not very far