The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-05-30
Letter from Gen Buffers Division.
Headquarters 7th Vt. Regiment, !
Fort Pike, La, May S, 1862. {


We have been having brisk times in the
New England division since you last heard
from us. That General Butler, with $500
men, accompanied Com Farragut and Por-
ter's mortar fleet up the Mississippi and took
forts Jackson and St Philip, with the loss of
less that 100 men, and then proceeded to
take possession of New Orleans without fir
ing gun, while the commodore went on to
meet Com Foote at Memphis, you have no
doubt heard and published before this.
But of the taking of forts Pike and Wood
l propose to inform you. On the Sd of May
Col Roberts received orders to have the ma
jor, chaplain, assistant surgeon, companies B
and c under Captains Cronan and Potter,
Capt Duncan with portion of lst Vt. bate
ry together with de:achments from compa-
MES d and G, under leutenants Thrall ard
Bingham, ready to embark Immediately. In
two hours We were on board the L. S. war
| steamer New London, and at o'clock D. m.
found ourselves under way, together with a
similar detachment from the n. H. Sth on
board the Calhoun, with orders to take and
occupy forts Pike and Wood, situated some
six miles apart, on what is termed the Rigo-
lets, a narrow channel connecting lakes
Borgne and Ponchartrain. We arrived the
next morning and found Fort Pike deserted,
and everything inaammable burned. We
learn from stragglers who venture into the
fort that the rebel garrison left in great haste
Immediately on hearing of the surrender of
New Orleans.
Their leaving here without fight is pretty
good evidence that they have virtually given
up the war as hopeless case. For this is
very strong position approachable only by
water. and by vessels Of light draught, with
large, strongly built and heavily casemated
fort, mounting 80 guns carrying from - to
CT pound shot If we'll defended it must
have been difficult thing to take it. And
We intend that in future i, shall not want for
an effort in its Defense as the guns which We
found spiked are nearly all in working order
again, and Capt Duncan and his artillery are
diligently engaged in learning our men to
work them. Our New Hampshire friends
found Fort Wood very much like this and al
so deserted.
We are very busy in cleaning up, repairing
and improving, as our predecessors left every
thing in the worst possible order.
There seems to be but little population "a
bout here, there being only one house-and
that evidently Of a man of consequence-n
sight, and that We propose to visit to-mor-
row.
This forenoon Major Holbrook hailed a
suspicious looking steamer, and ordered her
alongside, which she did not obey very read
lily, and as blank cartridge had been fired
before the order was given. she was surprised
by receiving 32pounder within ten feet of
her bows, when she concluded to come to,
and her captain pointed to little dirty look
ing English flag, and showed some kind of a
, paper from somebody calling himself British
Consul at Mobile" and tried to play John
Bull on our young ma or by clustering up a.
bout the danger of trifing with the British
flag" but that didn't 80 down, as on looking
around abundant evidence was found to con-
denim her as a lawful prize. So her crew
have taken quarters in the guard house and
!, she is standing at the dock prisoner, and
assure you she looks mean, dirty and ugly e.
: nough for rebel or any other desperate SER
vice, and her officers are as sullen and despe-
rate looking set of fellows as l ever saw
They just came up to my idea of pirates.-
We have hauled up a good many little
schooners engaged in small business, such as
carrying VOID and coal, &C., but they are all
! right. They are, ard always have been, I'm
7 ion men, and are willing to take oath of al
legiance, or anything else, so they are allow
ed to pass. If the men we see are fair speci-
mems of the people of this country, one might
= almost wish them out of the Union. We
are pleasantly situated here, and are in good
health generally. How long we shall remain
here is uncertain probably but a few days
e or weeks, but may be for months. Letters
r written to any of us had better be directed
to the regiment, at Ship Island.
} We do not find this or Ship Island an un-
e healthy climate as yet. We have had good
: deal of diarhea, dysentery, and rheumatism,
e perhaps from IS to 125 on the sick list at a
: time, but we have been very free from severe
Y diseases. There has been but one death in
t our regiment since our arrival and that very
e sudden. A man who had not been on the
: sick list was found in fit, and only breathed
= once after the surgeon saw him. Hoping
that We may continue we'll, and that you soon
S may hear Of US in Mobile, l am yours, B.
y n They are short of provision in New
, Orleans. The Crescent Of April 80 says:
. "The food question occupies the minds Of
8 our citizens; from whence are we to derive
supplies There is possibly about fifteen
days' supply of some articles now on hand