The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1862-04-09
ARMY CORRESPONDENCE.
NEAR HAMPTON, Va, March 25, q


letter we have been continually on the
mcve. On the l4th Richardson's Brig
ade took their last farewell of Camp
Michigan, Its tents, and log huts, and took
up their line of march for some point then
to us unknown. We halted at Eagle
Hill, near Fort Lyons-a bald, bleak hill
and bivouaced in the mud; and on
Monday we marched 10. Alexandria and
took the boats. On Tuesday, at o'clock
P. NJ, the expedition started down the
River, and we had the qualification Of
seeing the evacuated blockading batteries
of the rebels. The rebels are yet up Ac-
quia Creek, which place as we passed
was on fre-not the creek, exactly, but
the buildings, &c. AT 8 o'clock, P. NJ,
of Wednesday, we arrived safe and sound
at Fortress Monroe, where we had the
pleasure of seeing the little Monitor
the most comical looking contrivance that
ever pertained to old Neptune's domin-
ions. The rebels just hit the nail on the
head when they dubbed her "A Black
Yankee Cheese Box, on Raft" On
Thursday morning we left the boat aud
marched to Camp Hamilton, where we re-
mained until yesterday, when we again
pulled up stakes and crossed the River
and through Hampton to this place, about
mile from the ruined village. 1t void
make your heart ache to see the desolate
picture that this once beautiful village
now presents. Piles of rubbish and ash
es are all that indicate what once was the
homes of some three thousand souls.-
Beautiful shade trees, now sapless and
dead, remain mute monuments of the
madness of man. The soldier who bi.
vouacs near searches among the rubbish
for few charred fragments with which tc
cook his cup of coffee. 1t is one of the
most ancient villages in the country. The
church was very old-but that, together
with the Odd Fellows Hall, are now but
a mass Of RUNS.
The residence of the late Ex- President
Tyler is over the river, and in good con
dition, considering that it is domiciled by
niggers. And here l must mention ar
incident that approaches the serio-comic
When we arrived at Camp Hamilton
it rained and blew fercely, to the discom
future of troops who had no other bed but
the wet ground, and no covering but &
shelter tent, about the size of dog
mel, which we carry in our knapsacks
(they are just the thing for march, new
ertheless,) but the Line Officers are no
provided with any shelter, whatever, anC
they, thinking white man is leetle bet
ter than a contraband, took possession o
three or four large brick houses, anon!
which was Ex-President Tyler's house
and turned all contraband occupants ou
of doors; but General Wool, hearing o
it, soon sent the Provost Guard, who il
turn caused said officers TO evaeuate, aEC
threw their traps, DC, out of doors in {
hurry, much to the. disgust and chagril
of the officers, and much to the gratifica
ton of the woody race. One ebony lady
having thus been reinstated, by the Pre-
vost Guard, with the front door wide oper
and the knob in her hand, was viewin
the scatteration of oil-skins, blankets, an
overcoats, thus addressed an officer VIII
was standing by, an interested spectatc
of the scene, "Yah, YAH he, hel tol
you so! Gen'l WOOL make desc whit
folks know dare pldce" and the
slammed the door too, fully satisfied tbs
"de white folks are jest as good as de co
ord population, when deg know dan
place."
Wasn't that pretty good dose for a
extremist! If Horace Greeley, or an
orher man, wants to command regimen
of blacks he must calculate on "knowin
his place."
We have lost our Brigadier General,
B. Richardson, he having been promote
TO the command Of Summers Division
We feel bad about it, and so does h
He tried hard to get his old Brigade tran
ferred to his new command, and went
Washington, but it could not be don
He was promoted while we were on E
gle Hill, awaiting shipment. Col. Terr
or the 5th Michigan, is now, by seniorit