Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1862-07-02
From the 49th Pennsylvania Regiment.
CAMP No. 20, IN THE FIELD,
Across TIE CHICKAHoMINY,
NEAR RICHMOND, VIRGINIA,
- % 1000

CAMP No. 20, IN THE FIELD,
Across THE CHICkAHoMINY,
NEAR RICHMOND, VIRGINIA,
June %, 1862,
Mr.. EduOr-Althoush the sun is shining
with ferVor by no means pleasant, vet | will
endeavor to give the readers of the Gazette
few items, of interest perhaps TO those of them
who have friends among the soldiers of the
49th We have crossed the Chckahominy
since | last wrote to you, and established our
camp on slope, which now is so dry and
solid that we sweep it like a pavement each
day, although when we arrived here it was
swampy Quicksand, on which a horseman
could not venture, so great had been the eff.
feet of the late heavy rains on this peculiar
soil. Of course our ranks are thinned by dis
ease to some extent in this climate, and under
the heavy demands made on US in the way of
duty. A few, too, have fallen victims to the
fatal fayers generated in these swamps, among
them Sergt. Bargor of Milroy, man univer,
sally respected. Our regiment however has
suffered less than most others from disease,
and is maintaining itself very we'll under the
circumstances. The best Of humOr prevails
and it would probably surprise most of your
readers to hear the remarks passed about our
camp fires by men whom they look upon as
braving the worst of all fates. So pre-emi.
nently ''jolly" class of men as soldiers, even
under the most trying circumstances, | do
not believe can anywhere be found. "A flag
Of truce came in to day" remarks one "What
for?" The rebs wanted to borrow a couple
of days rations. as their supply trains failed
to get in." is the reply. did they get 'em?''
Eyes: the General told them to come and take
all they could" So rumors are burlesqued,
Generals are mimicked, Oolonels' and Cap
tains' little eccentricities are made standing
jokes, and neither hard duty, building cordu,
roy roads, bridging swamps or the Chicka-
h0miny. sleeping out in the rain, or walking
on the picket lines in the dark woods serves
for more than moment to lull their keen
wits or lively jokes, which are the rule in
camp. We are passing our time rather pleas
antly ust now, almost in the same routine as
at Camp Griffin last winter, except that then
we thought we were in the face Of the enemy
now we have ocular demonstration of it
! every day. Our picket line is very close to
that Of the enemy. Sometimes we are all
compelled to keep under cnVer. and frequent
! ly balls whistle uncomfortabiy close; some
l times we gre on very friendly terms and talk
with our enemy's pickets. Private John Nus
ser OF Company G was killed by IL rebel sharp
shooter on his post, on the 10th June. Since
that time but little skirmishing has occurred
on our lines This shooting Of pickets is the
most horrible warfare one can conceive and
It is persisted in by some Of the enemy's regi
ments and encouraged to some extent 10y some
of our own, though disllked exceedingly by all
| humane and sensible men on both sides. The
rebels are almost Invariably the aggressors,
though some of their troops avoid it altogeth
/ er. Our experience yesterday with the 18th
! Georgia inclined US to a more favorable Opin-
/ ,fk fhar, ll1ro Fotn e.,
| rebels: Two Of our men met four of them
! half way between the lines, and after a con-
versation and exchange of pocket knives, each
party returned to their posts, having arranged
that no firing should be done on that part of
the line. A wheat field, now with its yellow
crop vainly waiting the reaper, is all that sep
| arates US, and the distance Is not twenty rods
at some points from our outpoStS to theirs.
! The scene on the line Just as the sun was 60
| ing behind the hills was one to be remember
| ed. A lively fight had sprung up on the left,
and the pickets on both lines disappeared in
the edges of the woods. From the rebel
camps came over the music of one band and
numerous drum corps, engaged probably in
! the ceremony of dress parade, to which the
rafting of the rifles, and booming of the can
non, with their bursting shells seems an ex-
citing accompaniment Cur lines, strength
ened and alert, listened with anxiety to the
| fight, wondering what il meant, and watching
for some move in front of US, when suddenly
a cheer arose on the left, and passing along
| from regiment to regiment announced victo-
~. A feeble, boyish cheer from the rebels.
and the beautiful summer evening passed In
to twilight to the music of the birds mingled
| with that Of drum and trumpet. and at times
even sterner music of war. After that "all
was quiet" | have not yet learned either the
extent or cause of the firing yesterday even
ing, the reply to my one inquiry having been
''that the rebels were hungry. and made re-
qusitition on Gen. Hooker for supplies, which
| were refused, as the requisition was signed IN
lead instead of ink, as required by regula
tions." [ did not think best to inquire fur
ther of that soldier. AS to our prosr ects fol
a move we are as ignorant as you-eVen more
so We are kept in our own camps, and rely
on the newspapers to find out what transpires
in our own army. They seldom get the truth
but their accounts, like modern novel, care
founded on facts" Two men have inju
their hands by accidental discharge of theil
/ pieces within the last two days. Lieut.. Nelct
is with US again and has his usual health once
more Lieut.. Westbrook is sick in hospital
hut no other officers are seriously i'll, nor 81
far as | am informed are any of the men dan
gerously so. The Gazette is much PRICED II
camp, and each copy is worn out by passing
from tent to tent among the boys, who all bu.
and read the newspapers. We get the dailie
two days after their dates. We have plent.
and good rations, hot days, cool nights, plent,
of duty, a supply of quinine, and so do no
think of complaining. We would like to en'
the war, and hope soon TO do 80, and to do
at Richmond. CAP.