The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-05-30

but OF exceedingly QOuOtiuI eppilcatlOn
when considered in connection with the ar~
resistible advance of the Northern army.
We remained in camp, within the lines of
rebel works, all day, and, as the night be-
fore, made the deserted rebel tents subser-
Went to shelter us from the rain. During
the day few of the torpedoes planted in
and around the forts, exploded at the in
cautious step of Northern " mudsill,"
on the sacred sOil'' that covered them,
killing and wounding several. This is the
most wicked and inhuman feature of South.
ern warfare that have yet witnessed, and
it is eminently just to make the prisoners
we take undertake the dangerous task of
digging up these =" Internal machines. +"
While at Yorktown had an opportunity
of visiting the cemetery. A tombstone in
memory of revolutionary hero was in
scribed as follows:
In memory of John Turner, who departed
this life October 18th, in the year of our Lord.
1871, aged 80 years."
Underneath followed this epitaph:
All cruel ball, SO sudden to 'disarm,
And tear my tender husband from my arms!
How can | grieve too much ?-What time
shall end
My mourning for SO good, so dear friend
On the evening of the fifth we were again
suddenly called to fall in, and as there had
been heavy cannonading during the day, it
might have been for the purpose Of rein,
forcing some of our forces. The entire di.
vision was apparently in motion, but it
grew so dark, and with the rain and grows
ing dspth of the mud, the progress OF our
forces was very slow. Indeed our regiment
succeeded, in addition to the frequent batting
and resting, to advance the unprecedented
distance OF half a mile in the space of eight
or niue hours aud retire again in pretty
good order to camp, where we retired to
rest about three O'Clock the following morn
ing. After refreshing seep, and break
fasting on pork, beans, and coffee, we
marched down to the wharf and embarked
on transports, but We remained at anchor
during the day and the following night. As
we came down on the wharf, an enterpris.
ing man was selling small pies at twenty.
five cents piece, and as we had not seen
any such luxury since we were in Washing
ton, the boys were generally disposed to
patrcnize the sell sacrificing patriot pie.
vender. Speaking of prices, l would also
mention that our enterprisiDg postmaster,
III. A. G. Hines, has been furnishing our
camp with the latest newspapers at the fol-
lowing rates: Single copies of the New
York Herald and Philadelphia Inquirer, 10
cents ; evening edition of the Baltimore
Clipper (half sheet), DC. The sales are i'm
mense, and as his profit must be at least 400
per cent. he is evidently doing good busis
ness-a suter business on smaller but
more brilliant scale. Some murmuring is
sometimes heard about exorbitant prices,
swindling, &c, but pay the dime quietly,
sit down to read the papers, and feel conf.
dent it is all done pro bono publico.
Early on the morning of the 7th we were
pushed forward to West Point as fast as
steam could propel US, and we disembarked
on the south bank at the entrance of Pa
munkey into the York river. AS we landed
there was lively fire of musketry and ar
t!lery, which continued while we marched
forward and formed in line, ready for any
orders and any dangers. But the gunboats
spoiled the play by throwing few hundred
Founders into the woods beyond, and we
were disappointed 10 our sanguiDe expecta.
tons of fight. The rebels have acquired
an incorrigible habit of running where gun
beats are brought into play. And l do
not blame them much neither, for afterwards
while on picket, l had an opportunity of
seeing their effect in the woods These shells
are truly wicked and terrible agents.
Yesterday we advanced up along the
PamuDke3 river to this point, and here, as
at the after camp, we are surrounded by
those grand scenes Of animation which al,
ways mark the encampment Of an army
and which battles alike the pen OF writer
and the pencil OF The painter. 1t is necessa~
~ TO see 1t to appreciate the grandeur OF
the same. No picture can DO it justice.
AS write most Of the battaiions encamped
ID this field are drawn up in line for dress
parade, drums are beating, bands playing
the whole presenting brilliant, dazzling
appearance.
The health in our regiment is remarkably
good--oiticers and men 10 good spirits and
elated with the prospects of catching at
least glimpse of the retiring enemy. II
we are fortunate enough to get iuto q fight
with the rebels, you may rely on good
report from the First. The army under
Mcclellan without exception, has unlimited
confidence in the successful strategy and
Generalship of the Commander in Chief of
the Army of the Potomac, and this conf
dence makes his army invincible and in
sures victory beyond the possibility of de-
feat. 1t would be we'll for those, who de-
liberately attempt to sully bis eminent and
well.earned reputation, to pause in their
wicked and designing schemes, until the
successful operations of the Army of The
Potomac have worked cut its own vindica>
ton, and thus save themselves from a disa-
greeable attitude towards the true defenders
and preservers Of our country.
PRIVATE.
LATER-May llth.-Today is Sunday.
The atmosphere is warm and genial, and
light breezes softly and gently cool our
temples as we listen to an eloquent and ims
pressive sermon from our Chaplain. The
band plays and fills the air with sweet mu>
sic. The Stars and Stripes float from the
numerous vessels in the river. Everything
is quiet up to I'm. But the mail closes
and 1 must end my letter.
PRIVATE. I.