Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1862-02-14
ARMY LETTERS.
Resting, Suffering, Hoping.
Correspondence of the Star 4 Chronicle.l

After weeks of unremitting toll, We
have at last one day of rest. Evidently,
yesterday, everything was redy. The
great feet lies idly rocking on the Sound
1t is said that Burnside has said, that he
would not start on Friday or a Sunday
tho 6rst, because Of the superstition con.
nected With it; the second, because it was
not right. 1t seems like Sunday. The
busy fitting to and fro of the little tugs,
the playing Of bands, the drilling on th.
hurricane decks, the schooner with the big
W (water), at the foremsst, gliding from
ship to ship-there is none Of it to-day;
only the usual Sunday Company inspec-
tion. With that, however, there was
more than usual interest taken, in the
condition Of the arms, the scooutrements,
and ammunition. Yesterday We saw the
schooner. to be taken in tow by each
ship brought Up, coal put on board, water
for ten days, provisions for ffteen-all
seems to be roady-is is the lull before
tho storm. Tomorrow it will be four
weeks sinee We embarked at Annapolis.
1t is we'll that We have to ego it blind" as
TO ,se future. One might be otherwise
deferred from attempting many things
We of the Cossack have been lucky We
were the FIRST to enter the Iulet-the first
large ship that crossed the Swa,h. Yet
We have experienced inconveniences that
were hard to bear Still we have not had
near what those on the Scout had--toised
about for five days, put on short allow.
aocs Of water, in = storm said to be the
sererest Of the season, not able to see the
sun for three days, most of tasm desper-
atcly sea.sick-we felt sort Of selfish
congratulatiou, with all our sympathy for
them. The picture they gave US, was very
camicai. When men have to sit down on
the floor, legs braced against each other,
dinner in a basket, to keep it together,
and when, after so much difficulty in get
ting it down, not to be able to retain ii
thers-it seems to be the pursuit Of a
living under extreme adverse circumstan-
ces. The Companies were brought over
from the Scout, to tighten her, SO as TO
bring her over the Swash. For some rea-
son, she did not get over for two days. A
thousand men crowded on our ship, alrea.
dy crowded with bare elk hundred, made
it uncomfortable in the bighes. degree.
No policing could be done, and the floors
got o6sy, shiny and slippery, dirt an inch
or two in thickness. Many slept out on
the hurricane deck, but the last night it
rained, and all had to come in. The gang
ways, floors Of both decks, were strewed
full, lying down in the nasty filth, equallSd
only by the condition of pig'stye-oh, it
was horrible. 1t could not be helped,
however. The next morning, when the
Scout came up, most hearty, spontaneous
cheer broke out. The crews of both ves-
sels we're glad to get clear of each other.
We, that we nigh, get cleaned and breath
ing room they, tha, they may get back to
their quarters, which were cleaned 10 their
absence. Our ship looks lighter, gayer,
since they are gone, and is as clean as
uew pin. We each love cur own ship,
and neither would exchange with the other.
One can not hut appreciate the love the
sailor has for the bark that has borne him
bravely through the many dangers of the
deep. You feel like pa,tiug its prov, and
kissing its igure.he,d. The Companies
that we're oD the .Scout-as she came up
could see their eyes slisten-uot mere
ly with pleasure at the near escape from
our uoisome den-they dilated with atfec-
tion for the gallant bark, their home and
their safe-place, through so many dark
nights and dangerous days. The health
of the regiment is excellent. There is bu.
one sick in Company X, and one in
Company II, convalescen', and in no dan
ger. Those that have been sick, are hearty
now.
Ga Friday, clear wiutry morning,
stiff nor -wester blowing, little schooner
hove in sight, running before the wind
"steered like hog" the sailors said, badly
steered-she stood 10 towards Us, and Is
one of our gun-boats Deared, she lowered
sail and let 60 anchor. She was towed in.
There we're on board five men, deserters
from the "Beaufort County Plowboys,"
stationed at Middleton, just across the
Sound from us-all but Que Northern men
impressed into the Rebel service. One,
named Belger, belonged to the Sd U. s.
Artillery, sent as q spy to Maj, Anderson
from Fl. Sumter, caught before be could
get back, sen. to Stone Inlet, kept prisoner
there two mouths, escaped to North Caro-
lima, and drafted into the Plowboys. They
left after rol.-cali the night before, stole
along Q creek, got on the schooner, aud
steered NE. Their vessel is about 80 feet
long, and is called the John Benjamin