Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-02-01


lack of pronptness in dispaiching the mail
from Fort Monroe. These letters, though a
little late, will interest our readers -
Correspondence of the Worcester Spy.l
On BOARD STEAMER NEW York, NOW ATl
HATTERAs INLET, Jan Is, 1862.
Many anxious friends, no doubt, are waiting
to hear from General Burnsides expedition
since we sailed from Fortress Monroe. The
news you will most likely get by telegraph,
before any account from your correspondent
can reach them but perhaps a few incidents
of our voyage, from the time Of our leaving
Annapolis till we anchored here in sight OF
Forts Haueras and Clark, may interest some
OF yeur readers and the friends of the Massa-
chusetts twenty-ftth.
LEAVING THE FORTRESS.
At midnight of Saturday, JAM 11th, While
we were lying off Hampton Roads, the voice
of Col. Upton was heard throughout the ship,
saying boys, if you have any letters to
send on shore, now is your last chance, as we
have had orders to sail within an hour And
such scene OF hustle and confusion never
before was witnessed by us-many calling for
a light, with which TO tiud and finish their
letters; others were wanting envelopes and
stamps; and still others were mourning be.
cause they had not written and all were SO
completely aroused that there was no more
sleep on board that night but 1t was spent in
singing 81 wish l was in Dixie" &c ALI the
sailing vessels were 10 shift for themselves,
but there were fire canal boats to be used for
A.. a. I
and we'll loaded with ammunition, drawing
only eighteen inches OF water-one OF which
We were ordered to take in tow but, as we
hauled up ide her, for that purpose, she
had no hawser, and We had none, and on that
account we had to cast anchor till morning,
while the rest of the feet lett.
a beautiful Sunday morning dawned upon
seven companies OF the Massachusetts twenty
fifth still anchored near Fortress Monroe, and
to the JOY Of all on board, We were detained
Ion enough before hawser could DE found
for a boat TO go ashore with all the many
etters which could not be finished The nigh
before, and to bring us another mail iron
home. And, in fact, we were detained til
nearly noon, the boys on the canal boa; having
let out eighty fathoms OF CHAIN with theil
anchor, and having no convenience on HAND
for hauling it in except little lever, which
had to be worked by two men, gaining only
two or three inches at time, and, as they haC
out nearly five hundred feet, it was tedious
business. And when you learn that our col
onel had sealed orders, one of which was to BIZ
opaOaJ in Jo, Dooas and ba how ,,,t
side of Cape Henry, you may imagine tina
those were two long hours that were passing
over those two hard working men who were
Juggling away at the anchor, and many were
the curses heaped upon the old scow. But
when we did get off we were bound to over
steamer OF them all
THE SEALED ORDERS.
As we steamed out swiftly into Hampton
Roads, our colonel stood at one corner OF the
wheel house, on the upper deck, with his
sealed orders in his hand and the deck below
was filled with soldiers, anxiously waiting ior
for the breaking OF the seal, which. as they
trusted, would reveal the place Of our destina-
ton. Soon the document was drawn forth
and Hatteras Inlet was proclaimed as the des-
tinaton of the Burnside expedition, which only
threw dust in our eyes and we then waited
for the seal of the next letter 10 be broken as
anXiously as for that OF the first, which we
hoped would clear away tie mist OF the for
mer. But when it came we were as much
in the dark as ever for it only told us TO
throw over our ballast il necessary, in enter
ing the inlet, and to take on board pilot
1t was a beautiful afternoon and all went on
as we could wish. Warm and balmy was the
air, and a lovely moonlight evening was be.
fore US, which was enjoyed to the fullest ex.
ten, by most, some few being sea sick from the
heavy swell. Thus cheerful and happy Tor
the most part we turned in for the night. Sail
ing upon the broad ocean were nearly one
thousand Worcester county boys, little know
ing what was before them,-the hOGiing blasts
and mountain seas of Cape Hateras. About
midnight were run up, learning their A B C's
but all was pretty quiet till after breakfast
when about nine o'clock far in the distance the
old deserted and partially destroyed Hatteras
lighthouse hove in sight, and the waves began
to increase Nearly the whole feet was now
in sight. The ships, schooners, briggs, barques
and sloops, were all in full sail, with strong
wind, and more magnificent sight never be
fore was witnessed by many of us.
ROUND CAPE HATTERAs.
AS we rounded the cape, clouds filled witt
wind were approaching on all sides of US, anC
the sea was raging with seeming madness
Strong men,, officers. soldiers, Clogs, for W,
had number on board and all, were sick a
death on all sides, and those that were not scl
were making sport while they could. Ever.
side OF the boat was lined with our hanging
heads, yielding their breakfasts to the might,
sea- when they were not lodged on the head
of those below from the open countenances q
those on the upper deck who were obeyn
the mandates of the ocean. The wind con
tinued to increase, and the waves continued t.
roll higher and higher, and the boys to grow
sicker and sicker, Though quite moderate 70
old Hatteras,) till some Of the boys began t
be alarmed, and when a big sea would strik
under the guard and almost lift the steamc
from the sea, we could hear from some lands
man, there we have hit another rock" an
others more anxious still would inquire Of til
saiIors, who were attending to their dut
about the boat, thus do you really thin
the boat will weather the gale 2" and in a yer