Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1862-05-09
CAMP NEAR YORKTOWN, April 81, '62

CAMP NEAR YORKTOWN, April 81, '62.
DEAR MOTHER Having little time
seat myself to write you few lines. l
am we'll and hope these few lines will
find you the same. Five companies Of our
regiment were on picket night before last,
of which our Co. was one. We found
picketing quite different thing here from
Camp Griffin here we were within 100
yards of the enemy's works, and there
we were within or miles. About s
o'clock, p. M, the rebels began to fire by
files; commencing on the right, down by
James River, and it passed all along
their lines to Yorktown, a distance of 8
miles. What their object was in doing
it is mere matter of conjecture but the
supposition is that they were afraid of an
attack, and wanted to make us think they
were going to make an attack 50 as to
keep us on our guard.
AS far as | can learn no one was hurt.
They must have used $4,000 worth Of
ammunition all to no purpose. We had
got some strong earthworks thrown up
within 500 yards of their lines, which
VIC threw up in the night. 1t must have
astonishcd them to wake up in the morn
ing and find us right under their very
guns, within easy musket shot. They
attempted to bring one of their big guns
to bear upon us, but as fast as man
showed his head to work it, crack went
sharpshooter's rife, and down fell the &C.
cesh, never more to rise. But they kept
trying and finally got cartridge into it,
but they could not get the rammcr out,
and SO they blazed away and sent us their
cartridge, rammer and she'll all together;
but their aim proved poor, and the shell
fell short and exploded, doing no harm to
any one They must have lost at least a
dozen men in tho operation.
Our works are growing stronger every
night and we shall soon have as good
fertilization as they have got and then
we will be on equal terms with them.
They raised white flag the 10th, and
wanted a chance to bury their dead, and
at the same time to give us a chance to
get what Of our men was left on the 9th
er side of the creek. They would not al
low US to cross the creek, but would bring
our dead over this side. The terms were
agreed upon, and they commenced to bring
them over. Their men and ours mixed
up and talked quite familiar. Julian
Scott changed buttons with one of the Sc
cesh Captains. One of the secesh asked
one Of our boys what we wanted to make
in charge over the creek, to which he re-
piled; we did not make any charge, we
only went over there skirmishing +"
Great God" said the secesh, "if you
call that skirmishing, we never want to
meet you in charge" our opponents on
the 10th proved to be the Tigar Zouaves,
from New Orleans; their crack regiment
they were at Bull Run, Balls Bluff and
Drainsville. and they owned that they
never were so badly cut up before.
Their loss must have been very heavy
as we could see them carrying men on the
stretchers very fast while the flag of true,
was up. Up to this time, IL o'clock, a
m, there has not gun been fred. Wha
it all means is more than we can tell
Some say they have left their works
others that there is flag of truce up
Which it is / am unable to say. l viii
write you as soon as find out.
AS ever, Yours,
FREEMAN E. HODGE.
Co. K, I'd Reg. Vt. Volunteers.