The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1862-05-16
ARMY RESPONDENCE.
CAMP WINFIELD SCOTT, 10lst P.V
Near Yorktown, May Sd, 'G2.
favor.


sit down to tell you a little about York
town, and the doings of the Army in and a.
bout it. Youshould have seen us as the whole
Army moved off for this place from our last
camp, Camp Keim) SO called in honor of our
General. Division after division dashed on,
and all was in rapid motion TO see an Army
moving, it looks like some huge machine, or
monster, rolling along, seeking 'whom it may
devour." We are now lying very close to the
enemy waiting for the ball to open. Large
bodies of the enemy's troops are just by our
side There is a small wood between us and
them of about mile in width Our piekcts
are on the other side of the wood, next to the
open field, within so yards of their pickets, and
500 to 1000 of their forts and barracks. Our
pickets and theirs very often converse together.
introducing themselves in this way: GLOW do
you do, Yank ;" ''Ilow are YOU, old Secesh?"
and the talk goes on until the next thing YOU
hear is bang! bang! bang! along the picket
lines. Our boys don't seem to be ut all alarm
ed lying SO close TO the foe. But suppose they
think as do, that they came here as lawful
soldiers, of a glorious Government, and will
stand up to the work as long as the Stars and
Stripes shall wave Whenever the long roll is
beaten every man is at his post 1t don't mat
ter whether it is daylight or the middle of the
night. They arc up and out with their firmly
grasped rifles in hand, glistening and glancing
in moonlight, or sunshine, whatever the occa-
sion may be. There is skirmishing going on
all the time along the picket lines. Orr the
second of May, there was aman shot,on picket.
He was a Rebel. He tried to crawl through
our lines on his belly. Three of the New York
boys pulled on him at one time. They did not
know which killed him. A flag of truce came
through orr lines on the same day. don't
know what it was concerning. One of our
officers met them They would not come ND
to our lines. Tt is very pleasant on the PENN
sula, now. 70 look over the camps. it givcs
to the eye magnificent sight. The troops lie
down at night, on old mother earth, with little
pines gathered together, over-coats spread over
ii for a mattrass and blankets for covering
Everything appears quiet these last few DAYS
we have not even the tattoo to alarm lis now
They are only few occasional shots from the
out posts. We sleep just as sound here within
a mile OF the enemy, as if we were al home. if
we do have TO come ont some times at the
middle of the night when the long roll beats
and form line of battle. We have q very
healthy regiment. Every one appears ready
and willing to march against their large forti6-
cations and one hundred and twenty-five thous-
and men, they say they have at Yorktown.
There is report afloat here in camp that the
Mcrrimac and Monitor were at it on the 2nd of
this month. They say the Merrimac was try
ing to get up the York river. General McClcl-
Ian is building large Pyramid out in the
woods from our camp. lie has it up about 90
feet. lie is going to put 10 feet more on it.
1t is to look at Yorktown from it. don't know
whether Prof Lowe and his balloon business
satisfy him or not that he is trying this plan
We were mustered for pay again on the 30th
Of April. Wewil get it in month again. It
always takes month after being mustered be-
fore we get our pay. The pay rolls have to go
to Washington first to be approved, and returned
before we get our money. But it is hard tel
ling whether we will all be lucky enough to
live tosee it. Capt. Compiler, from our coun-
ty, met with sad accident on the 2nd of this
month. While chepping and splitting some
timber in the woods opposite the camp for his
tent, the ak slipped in his hand and cut a very
severe cash in his right ankle. Ii will render
him unfit for duty for a few days. Capt, Com
pher is one of the best Captains in this reri-
ment. He and myself were to have gone out
on picket guard the following morning after his
accident.
The cannon have been roaring all afternoon
on the outposts. They are shooting at tho
Pyramid that Mcclellan is constructing trvino
to knock it down for him. Yours &c,
JOHN Is. HELM.