The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1862-04-30

raj hundred men, up 70 their knees n mud and
water, delving after shell fsh. We lived on the
fat Of the land, or rather Of the water, for few
days.
On the morning of the 4th, We took up our
line of march fcr-weIl, We knew not where uu-
I'll We passed the road that would lead us to Nor
folk, when We concluded, of course, We were GO
ing to Yorktown, the scene Of former splendid |
achievement Of the Federal arms, and soon
doubtless TO be another. There was an immense
army in advance OF US, hence our advance was
necessarily slow. We halted for the night about
p NJ, ten miles from Hampton. Our march
was resumed the following morning, ard about
noon We heard the booming Of heavy artillery in |
our front Our pace was accelerated by the /
welcome music, bat We had got ten miles Of
heavy road to travel.
About S ?. NJ, the dull, heavy whirr Of
shell from the enemy batteries, told Us We were
near the scene of coming battle. We eneamped |
within sight Of the rebel batteries dsfendiag |
Yorktown, where We still remain preparing for |
the contest.
The route between Hampton and Yorktown
lies through a beautiful plain, better improved
than any other portion Of the State We have Wis
tied. The plantations are large, the mansions
commOdious and the lawns and parks beautiful,
and seem TO have had much attention lavished
upon them. Some of the mansions visited seem
to cave been furnished with great splsndor.-l
The inhabitants are all gone save q few supersn.
nuated negroes. The balance of the colorcd
population had either made their way within the
Union lines or have been carried with their
masters into secesea.
few days after We arrived at Hampton. ten
contrsbands made their appearance upon the
opposite bsrk Of stream short distance from
camp, pursued by the rebel cavalry within sight
of our pickets. Our pioneer built . raft, the
bridge having been burned by the rebels, aud
ferred them over ito the land Of freedom"
They told tale that would sicken the most alb
ject apoloeist for the accurssd institution.
Twenty OF them started from Richmond.
Some were retaken, some fell exhausted by the
uaysds. and somo killed by the outlaws.-
One shct just As he arrived withiu sight of
our lines, and another died Immediately after
crossi, the stream.
| There are probably five thousand contrabands
in tho vicinity Of Fortress Monroe. There are
many others employed in various capacities in
the army What will eventually be done with
them, is an enigma wiseacrcs have not been able
| to solve.
! Though peach aud plum trees were in full
bloom when we arrived here, the wcsther was
very cold. 1t rained 20 much that We could not
remain by our fires. 1t was too cold, and the
space too small for US to cit in our tents. hence
the best We could do was to 60 to bed, where
We remained two thirds of the time, or until We
we're drowned out.
The following Michigan regiments are in this
expedition, viz: lst, Col. Roberts; I'd, Col. Poe !;
Sd, Col. Chsmplin; 4th, Col. Woodbury.; 9th,
Col. Terry 9th, Gel. Grosvenor; and Stockton's
Independent.
Yorktown, which is now being invested by
probably $4,000 Union troops ard not less than
500 pieces of field artillery, is supposed to be
one of the strongest fortified posts in the South.
What force they have it ia impossible to say, but
1 have seen, in little excursion Sunday last,
more extensive Notifications than any ws can
boast of on the Potomac. Whether they are e.
fective or not, remains to be seen. The rebels
are bold and defiant. Three of their post flags
feat in plain sight. The lst Berdan Shsrpshoot.
ers have rendered themselves worthy of general
commendation by picking of the rebel gunners:
thus siIcbcing their guns.
i Yorktown is not very extensive city. Ii has
less inhabitants now than before the Revolution.
1t is situated On the right bank Of the York
River, about ten miles from its mouth, and ID
seventy miles, in a soa,heas,erlyv direction from
Richmond. II is presumed that after the fall oi
this place our passage TO Richmond will be com
paratvely easy.
All the buildings in this section being ft
ted up as hospitals, and every preparation being
made for terrible battle, which no one doubts
will commence within forty eight hours. Indeed,
even now il may have commenced, as a sharp
eannonade has been opened on our right.
Gen. Richardson. alias Fighting Dick" ha,
jast rode into camp. He wasreceivsd with more
enthusiasm than even Mcclellan. His division
had reached thirty miles beyond Manassas, and
T then returned to Alexandria and embarked fe'
!. fhis place.
That you may recognize US in the various re-
ports you may receive Of the battle, append ,
list Of Of our commanders:
: Gen. Mcclellan commanding in person. %
Corps-Gen. Heintzleman. Sd Brigade-Gsn
Birnsy. Sd Reginent-CoL Champlin. Co.
Lieut.. Mason.
We have but one commissioned officer with
! US Capt Jsferds 10 ia Alexandra sick, and
lst Lieut.. Whitney is in Michigan on the recruit
ing service. Regiments in the field should have
all their officers with them. If recruiting must
be done it should be done BY officers belonging
to the regiments still in the State or acting n
home guards.
j. OF cosrse, officers will get sick - well a pri
Yates, aud Of this no fault con be foand, bat i
an officer s habitually siek, and can never bs
with his company only when they are in snug
quarters, it certainly would be bat aA act OF pa
tristsm, and, indeed, evidence Of courage III
often requires more courage 70 resign than to g
into battle) for him ia. resign, and permit hi
place to be occupied, and his salary drawn, b
some person who has constitution enough Il
stand 4 campaign in the Geld.
y The following members of our company ar
in the hospitals: Rose and Adams. general de
bilisy, Annapolis Batter and Isgersoal, gsnera
d>h;l;tv Enrt,eea Monroe. CorDoraI Church Han.