Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-05-16
From the FIRST Delaware Regiment
From oor sp'c cial Correspondent.
LETTER No. -.

From, oot sp,cial orc.pond-n
LETTER No ~
NoRFoLw, Virginia,
Sunday Night, May I, 1862
fRlrND EcEEL:
Your pardon for having desert.
ed our old post SO abruptly, and without rs
much as giving yon nm nlmaton that onr
Regiment had the remoiest idea of changing
quarters; hut the fact is, that we had re
maincd near Fortress Monroe 50 long that
we began to regard ourselves as a part Of
that strong work, and when we received or
ders to pack knapsaeks and embark in trans
ports, We were as much surprised as you
doubtless will be at the receipt of this letter
from this famous nest where they hatch
Mcmim0cs and other engines Of war. The
order coming after grand review Of our
brigade by President Lincoln, Gen. Wool
and other notabilities put the Regiment in
the finest possible spirits,
Friday evening found us all at the wharf
of Old Point, embarking ON steamers and
canal boats at midnight, all being in
readiness, the expedition started for ocean
View point on the opposite shore. Seven
Companies of our Regiment were on the
steamer George Washington, whose Captain,
by the way, is Wilmingtonian the other
Companies were on IL canal boat and small
steamer the 10th, Goth and 10th New York,
isth Pennsylvania 10th Massachusetts, lst
Delaware, battery and the Mounted Rifles
composed the expedition.
The night was fine and the bright moon
light favored the plnns. The men denselv
packed on deck, slept as best they could
with their blankets over them, Indifferent 10
The booming OF the heavy guns on the Kin
liaps. which were opening vigorously and In
fine style ON Sewall's Point But Two or
three hours were consumed in the passage.
A landing at ocean Nicw' was soon effect
ed by means of the harges which were dis
posed along the beach, aud when day LIGHT
appeared. the Stars and stripes were seen
floating from flag staff on Shore rnsed hy
the advance. II was a novel sensation 10
find ourselves in hostile section, where the
fires Of the evening pclets were still burn
ing hnt il was an agreeable sensation. for
il was a decided relief from the comparative
inactivity of 4 seven months soiour in our
camp.
So soon as all the forces had landed, with
the 10th Now York as an advance, and our
honOred Regiment as lis support, the column
moved towards Norfolk, which we knew To
be our destination. After passing over some
sand bills, We struck the road, which for
three tourths of the way led through forests,
hut in very fair condition. The original
intention was to cross Tanners creek. lint
upon approaching it it was found that The
rebels had just bnrnt il so another an.
pruach was decided upon, though Il was
known that powerful lntrcnchments guarded
| that passage.
Having proceeded about three mlca, large
barracks wcr found Just vacated by .hr r,..
hcls; fires were still burning upon thc
hearlhs; some of our men having gone in
lonnd quite Il number of little trophies. MS
pistols swords, tobacco, &c., all of which
they appear to prize very highly; blankets
and knapsacks were lying all along the
route, some OF them lost by seeesh, and
others shed by our own men, who became
tired Of them us the day advanced and the
sun became more ardent. There was little
arr stirring To refresh one, and there vas no
chauce to receive that little, for most Of the
| llmr We were in an avenue Of woods, where
ihe dust accumulated until it became almost
/ stilling, The forest was gay with dogwood
blossoms and the wild honey suckle.
Az one spot where We halted, the men found
u number of articles dropped in the haste ol
4 departure. Here all the column came nm
and We started for Norfolk having left most
/ OF the knapsacks behind, with guard. in
order to relieve the men of the weight, and
To put them in better fighting trim, for they
were now approaching the battery which
was to be taken, As the men came in sight
OF the intrenchments, with the big guns
\ srnnlng from the parapets, all gave a hur
E'll and started at double quick but upon
a close inspection ii was discovered that not
man was behind the earthworks, all had
] tnl Il M, a
holsted amid much enthusiasm. The az.
proach to Norfolk was now unobstructed
and accordingly the Commanding General
with It small force marched in, and the cit,
was surrendered. All of this was accom-
pllshed yesterday we had marched during
the day about fifteen miles, and when wl
arrived here, we were too dusty to know an,
one. We felt as though we had vast de
post of sand down our throat, which tho
muddy water we kept continually drinking
from the bitches couldn't wash away. Yoni
humble correspondent, by some mistake
failed to get his horse from the boat. anf
the consequence was, he walked the entir,
distance; he was not at all fatigued, but il
was difficult to tell whether his clothes wer,
a tissue of sand or the army blue; This wa,
not the only mishap, for he lost his blanket
and depended that night on his over.coa
For covering; but such circumstances are a
no wcighty consideration in campaigning.
a remarkable fact in the march was tha
not one man out Of our entire Regiment
dropped out of the ranks, from exhaustion
oriatigue. When We came to the entrench
ments, every man was in his place. an,
ready for whatever duty might be require,
oil nm. This speaks well for their powers
oil endurance. When we halted and selecte,
"a In for al.
were sadly put to il for water MS q hath will
which to refresh themselves, but a soldier i
never long ut time at a loss for comfort
or conyenienees; and the bitches along tn,
road afforded means.
Our Regiment remained on the field las
night, with nothing as covering bn
blankets, hut no murmurs We're heard; the
readily adapted themselves tn their move
positions, and to-day they are as bright a
ever this afternoon the Regiment wa
marched into the town, and is guarding il n
present and tonight you can see in neo,I,
every street some of the armed boys or IN,
First Delaware, keeping gnard. The Ro.
Elment is occupying quarters abontt the citv
Us headquarters are in the prison, in the oil
nee 0l which we are now writing.
onr experience in active campaigning ha
gust commenced whether il wilbe enlarge,
soon or mol, We are unable at present l.
say all are well satisfied with the begin
ming; they consider it far preferable I,
rnsting with inactivity.
Possibly yOn expect some of our impress
slons Of Norfolk, but they are too vague nov
TO give them; you will have seen ere tLis
statements of the condition of the senti
ments here, from the specials who aceompa
MED the expedition but We have circum-