The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1862-01-29


I'VE are permitted to take the following
from private letter, addressed to citi-
zen of Mill Point, where the writer resid-
ed at the time he entered upon the service
of his country. Most, il not all, of our
readers will readily recognize him and APP
preciatc, as we do, his message, views,
&c. &C.:
FoRr WAsHINoTOs, Va, Jau'y, 1872.
OF course you arc fully posted as to
our operations here-or rather lack of op-
erations. When any skirmish of any &C
count takes place it gets into the papers |;
but there are daily rencounters, OH a small
scale, which receive no notice; and, al
though we are not moving "forward to
Richmond" there is no cessation Of work
for the soldier. Wo are under another
Chief and new military regime. AL
though the army is longing for grand
rush, and ready to pour out their blood
like water TO redeem the Union and ter
inmate the war, yet we have faith in Nc
Clellan's policy, as humane and thorough.
Since the Bull Run affair, the war de-
partment have performed prodigies, espe-
cialy in ordnance. Some critics, sitting
by their firesides, may ask the question,
How is it, that with vast army around
Washington the Government does not
break up that blockade, and take the reb-
81 batteries along the Potomac, at Occu-
guam, Shipping Point, Acquai Creek,
Matthias Point, &c.?"
Let me ask, what does tho blockade of
the Potomac by the rebel shore batteries
amount to! 1t reminds one of the story
of large man whose little better half
made practice of spanking him. "Why
do you allow it?' said friend. "Ob, it
pleases her, and don't hurt me-" And
so it is; we hear the roar of their cannon
every day, and the only prize l remember
of their taking was one old cord-wood
scow, that drifted loose right under their
guns. IN. B. Prisoners, money! Be-
sides, as TO our inactivity, look at the
forts that environ the Capital, on every
hill, that stand, and will stand for ages,
like giant watchers, lasting monuments
raised by the strong and willing hands of
patriots 10 free labor.
just wish you could see the clearing
that has been done by Michigan along
Arlington Heights to Fort Ellsworth, &c.
Take look at Fort Scott, and Fort Rich
ardson, back of the Long Bridge, and
Fort Lyon, near Alexandra, and you'll
be proud Of tho Michigan boys.
On Thursday company of our Cay
airy had a. little scrub with the rebels,
just this side of Pohick Church. Our
Cavalry, I'd N. j., had with them Lieu
tenant and few men of the Michigan
Fifth Infantry-while passing through a
deep cut road, with thick pines on both
sides, the rebels, who were n party of Skin
mishers, fired into our men, who returned
the fire and fell back to clearing, as the
Cavalry wasn't worth fig in such fix.
The Lieut.. of the Michigan Fifth was
shot twice-not mortally-once in the
mouth, and in the neck, slightly; howev-
err, the rebels were driven back with loss
of five killed.
1t rained sleet last night and is now
showing. The weather is quite cold, es-
pccially when out on picket-for we can't
have any fires there unless we hide them.
We build hut Of pine and cedar boughs,
and have a fire inside, and manage to
keep rs comfortable as we can. There's
one offset, though, in picketing. We can
buy pies, milk, butter and chickens, from
the farmers. l have been several times
over the lines, some four miles once, and
everywhere is dcsolation-people driven
from their homes, the Union folks taken
to Manassas, stock and produce stolen by
the rebels, and, in fact, the country is
alive with desperate bands of ragmuflins,
who plumber all they can. A free color
ed man told me the other day, at Acco-
tink, that four Of these nondescripts came
to his house, near Pohick Church, few
days ago, and took dinner at his house,
for which they paid him one dollar in Sc
cesh script, then carried off his horse and
hogs, and two cows, not even condeScend-
ing TO give note for the same.
| think Mil po;nt boa L.. ILL, .ol