The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-04-28

Il -
1 THE following lstter from nephew
Of ours, who is FIRST lieutenant in tn
New jersey 7th Regiment, will doubtless
interest our readers. His regiment il
ard was in Hooker's Division, and spen
the winter in camp about forty miles be
low Washington, on the Potomac.
CAnp or THE 9TH n J yoI, y
OK CHEESEMAN'S CREEK, Va, nEroRK YORKTOWN,
April 10. 1882.
DEAR UNCLE: You know the finale q
the Potomac blockade. After lying be,
fore their batteries oil winter, and Wit
| Messing their. operations from day 70 day.
one bright Sunday afternoon we had tb.
iDexpressible delight of seeing them
scamper away in such haste that they
could not carry with them even their per.
sonsl baggage. To be sure We ached to
be upon their heels and help them along
little faster, but from some unexplained
cause we were not allowed to do it. How.
ever, the next day several regiments were
allowed to ransack their camps for miles
inland, and burn up or demolish what
they could not bring away. Heavy guns,
that had belcbsd forth their iron contents
almost daily all winter, were tumbled ig.
ANONYMOUSLY into the river, or bursted.-
Many former mysteries we're explained BY
Investigations. Trophies were Obtained
BY almost every man. and much property
turned over to the keeping Of Uncle Sam.
Hardly two days had elapsed before the
navigation of the river was resumed, and
steamer after steamer, Of ell sizes and
kinds, came focking up the river towards
Washington. In day or two they be-
gan to return, laden with troops; schoon-
ers and barges, with horses, artillery, and
supplies; and from that day for more
than month there has been constant
stream Of vessels passing up empty and
down laden with the sinews Of war.
Our turn came at last, after weary
watching Of weeks. On the 9th Of April
We marched out of our camp Of four
months occupation, where the comforts
and convsnieDces that We had collected,
made il seem almost like home, and gave
us many pang Of regret 1t leaving, with
cnmmingled feelings Of delight and sad
ness. A march of two miles to the land
ing, and our embarkrtion on board Of the
steamer in waiting, occupied al the after
noon, most Of the night. and all of the
next day Sunday. At l9 o'clock Sun
day night We hoisted anchor and steamed
down past the silent and deserted batter
les of the rebels on the one side, and the
camps we had just left on the other. At
daylight We entercd;the Chesapeake, rem
dered rough by the high wind prevailing,
and At noon reached the landing at Old
Point, and were safely tied up under the
guns Of loyal Fortress Monroe. The lit
tic Monitor, lying few rods from us,
was pitching in the storm, and every
swell Of the sea went rolling over her
deck. The lookout on the s'cheese. box -
walked briskly back and forth, endeavor
ing to escape the effects Of the driving
wind and rain BY drawing his head within
the collar Of his great-coat, buttoned close
up to his chin. It was terrible day,
and an exceedingly unpleasant situation 4
be in. Eyes peered anxiously from tbs
cabin windows Of our steamer, 10 catch
the first glimpse Of the leriathan, s.Mer.
rimac,' should she make her appearance
No Menimac came. Permission 10 &c
ashore being obtained, We sailed out in
spite Of the storm, and, for the first time
since the first Of December last, We found
ourselves 10 the midst Of civilization
Shops and stores Of various kinds ver,
visited, and purchases At reasonable psi
ces were once more made. Late paper
from New York also gladdened our eyes
A visit to the Fortress, both outside AMI
in, impressed NJ with it, impregnability
From the ramparts the shipping in tn,
Roads presented q very 6ne appearance
Steamers and sailing vessels Of every Dc
scription and size seemed TO be crowdes
in their anchorage. The great diversit,
Of their cargoss, horses, hay. lumber
stores Of oil kinds, troops, and vessels 0
war, added to the picturesqueness Of thsi
appearance.
/ After . good breakfast on shore iii
next morning, the Captain Of the boat d
termined to venture out upon the bay, 4
though the storm rendered the trim : dan