Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1862-05-03
CORRESPONDENCE.
Correspondence for the ASERIcAs.l
Letter from the Sunbury Guards.
CAMP BRANNAN,


KEY WEST, Fla, April 10, 1862. I
DEAR wnvERT Having finished a
plate of soup, mot a hasty one) enjoyed
piece of ham, cooked in my best style, .tried
and now luxuriating in pipe of the best
Lynchburg tobacco, conclude to indite you
a few lines from this most miserable place,
Key West.
There are now lying here three very fine
vessels captured from Secessia. The cargoes
are very valuable consisting of cotton,
coffee, rice, liquor, kerosene and olive oils,
leather, and great many articles of use l
attended the sale of one of the cargoes and
one article found more numerous than any
other-that of hooped skirts was curl
Gus to know why they had supplied them
selves so plentitully with that article, when
an old gentleman said that was easily under
stood, for when the rebels had to run, and
in fear of being caught they would make
good hiding places, and then he related q
circumstance of Mexican General who, in
running away, found crinoline very convent
ent as hiding place, but not secure enough
for the Lynx-eyed Americans, as the brare
gentleman was caught in his wifes' trap.
There has been considerable sickness
among the troops, but | am happy to state it
| is abating. Two members of our company,
the Hospital, but are now out and almost
ready for duty. They take very readily to
their rations when they get back to the COM
pany, saying the Hospital is a very nice
place to get well in, but no place for grub, as
they were as hungry as tc0lrcs all the time
they were in, or rather when they became
better. We have lost eight men from our
regiment by death, since we have been on
this island. From what / crn learn the
diseases were mostly contracted in Virginia
| but If they have not, it is q wonder that the
mortality is not greater among us, owing to
the sudden change of climate, the bad water
hot sun and hard work our men are subject.
cd to.
Lieut. Henry Bush Co. F.. in our regiment
died two weeks ago. His company were
in the Fort, learning heavy artillery, where
he was attacked with typhoid fever-in q
a few days he was beyond the physicians
skill, and now he is sleeping his last sleep in
the strangers cemetery. His funeral wa,
very largely attended by the military and
the masonic fraternity, of which he was q
member. Lieut. Bush was beloved by his
company-thcy having presented him with
a sword few days before he was takcr
sick-and in fact was liked by the Who'll,
regiment for his kindness and gentleman,
| bearing 10 tne men. AS soon az the ncceS
saIy arrangements can be made his body vii
be sent to Catasauqua, Lehigh county, wher,
his widow and two little children reside.
Since the promotion of Lieut. Oyster
there has been some changes in onr company
I'd Sergeant Beard has been made lst Ser
geant, and Peter Hanpt, of Sunbury, takcr
from the ranks and promoted to 1st Sergeant
Haupt passed an excellent examination, an,
am proud, for Sunbury, to say that he i
considered one of the A. No. Is. on drill il
our regiment.
With the exceptions of few slight case
of sickness, the boys are getting along YER
well and would be perfectly contcntcd
they were at place where there could be
chance to have Il hand in some of the glori
Gus victories which their brothers in arm
are engaged in, and away from this detestc,
spot, where there would be something t
Ielieve the eye beside sca-gulls, pclicans an,
turkey-buzzards. Excuse the shortness O
} this, hoping ere long to be able to give yo
an account of victory in which Co. c., wa
f engaged. Respects to yourself, all in tn
office and friends generally, remain
Yours, Fraternally
III. ID. w.