The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-05-27
From the vt. Christian Messenger
A Lettei. from Ship Island.
SHIP ISLAND, Miss,
Nav lst. 1860

| Rev "A. WEBSTER-DEAR DkO.-IC may
be tina, you have thought it somewhat strange
that have come SO far short OF the fulfil
ment OF the promise made you, when leav'
ing Vermont for rebeldom. Presuming apol-
ogies are no more edifying to the masses Of
the intelligent readers OF the Messenger than
to myself, will condense as much as | can
what in justice, i'll this instance, is due me.
Such was the nonotony and inactivity Of
Camp Lite at Camp Chase that nothing
transpired that was worthy OF rotice.--
! | was just about to write you from there as
W. suddenly took up our march TO Boston,
to embark ior this, thus rendering II lmpossI-
bic. Alter getting here as is invariably the
case We had mucl to DO to get settled, and
when more leisure time came | was taken to
the hospital sicr with the Bronchitis, and
have remained an inmate Of the same 10 this
day, though nov | trust nearly well. But as
| occupy only the position Of private, thus
being cut off from means Of gaining iniorma-
| ton, otherwise uccesslbie--not 50 much has
been lost to your patrons as would otherwise
have been the case, and besides | make no
pretensions Of being Correspondence
OF Camp Chase | could not entertain near
SO favorable au oplnior,, i'll many respects, as
| would have been glad to, or even supposed
the circumstances would have admitted OF,
being situated as it was in the midst Of an
enlightened religious people. Religious priv.
lleges were almost entirely deoed those who
would have been glad to nave enjoyed such,
and besides inemporuncc and other evils pre-
vailed to All alarming extent
We embarked on board Ship Idaho at
Boston, FEB. 9th, and set sail early in the
morning of the 9Th Of Feb, under favorable
winds We arrived off here on the evening
Of the Sth Of March having encountered but
little boisterous weather, and on the whole
having had quite pleasant though long
voyage. Through careIessness in taking
soundings we unfortunately run on a bar
when we came in here.
Though immediate efforts were made to
procure help, none came to US until quite late
the next morning. The entire day was spent
In trying to get her off, but without any sue
cess. In the evening they set about, hat |
thiuk acud have been the true policy at first,
The transferring Of the troops to another yes
sci, except a detail of men to remain and dis
charge cargo through the night. We all
worked hard all night, and it was a Sabbath
night long to be remembered The early
hours Of Monday morning passed--the vessel
vas being badly strained, and yet none came
to hep us, though a large feet lay in plain
sieht OF us. Where the blau,e was, cannot
tell, but there was such Il thing somewhere.
The commander OF the vessel finally gave or.
ders to 60 to throwing the cargo overheard,
so with al! the reluctance Of soldiers who had
needed the rations now to be wasted, and ex.
pected to again, did We obey. How much was
put over | do not know, but barrel after barre;
OF good commissary stores OF various kiLd Dis.
The Idaho came in the following Thursday +,
and now lies here IN damaged condition,
though not beyond repair. Your readers
have along before this seen more perfect
and interesting description Of this island than
| could give, but as am writing, | must say
something Notwithstanding.
The Island is low, and level 10 the main,
! though there are places somewhat elevated.
The surface is a clean, white pine, and gencr.
ally about shoe deep, except now and then
few acres of salt marsh grass, low bushes and
&c. At the east end OF the island there is
some timber. This sand is very dsagreelble.
When we have hard winds it drifts, and We
have sometimes found our rations seasoned
with it quite too highly offensive and annoy
ing.
Were it not for the sand being washed up
by tao swels Of the sea and then blown over
the island, l think vegetation would thrive
well here. Could We have mantle of green
grass here and An occasional shade tree, this
would be Il most lovely plrce. 1t is quite
healthy here, having as we do most OF the
time breezes from the sea. The heat is not
as great as people of more northern attitudes
centrally thirk. Thus far we have had what
what in Vermont would be considered fair
summer weather, though the nights | think
are much cooler. We have generally very
heavy dews and damp mornings far different
this than those delightful healthy mornings
we have enjoyed in old Vermont. We are not
without our sudden changes here either. 1t
was but u few days since that comfort abso-
lutcly demanded our heavy overcoats.
We are much better quartcred here than
! could have been expected, and We have rations
of good quality and more than can be eaten.
Do not, only 10 rare cases, credit reports that
soldiers do not have enough to eat. There
are great many grumblers, and if there is
fault any way it is in the manner in which the
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