Delaware State journal and statesman., 1863-07-03
Letter from Fort Delaware.
FOnr DELAWARE, juno 27th, 1863.

FORT DELAWARE, June eth, 1868.
FRIERD ECKEL:
To somewhat mar the joy of the
Internal cOpperheads over our leaving, and in
some measure relieve the anxious minds of our
sympathising friends and loved ones have
undertaken to write you, giving short history
of our departure and arrival, that both may see
our condition, and satisfaction with our circum-
stances. In order SO to do address these few
lines to your columns, feeling that where even
the plainest uniform of a volunteer OF our Union
commands respect, and our glorious cause so
uohly battled for, these few scattered remarks
will be acceptable.
For some time the 9th Regiment has been
the object of sneers and insinunton Ii is com
posed in great measure of men too far ad-
vauced in years to perform the duties of u sol
dier in the field, These truly loyal and patriotic
men have been styled coWarSs by those who are
young and active and who are sneakiug behind
the folds Of the stars and stripes to hide their
treacherous breasts and drive shafts through
the foundation of our government.
Our men for some time have pettiontl the
officers of the several companies to volunteer
our services to aid Pennsylvania in checking
the raid which now so fearfuy mennces her
border. Upon inquiry we found we had not the
power SO to do. But Oh Saturday Inst the city
was thrown into some excitement by the tele-
gram OF Gen Schenck calling on Col. McComb
to forward five companies of the 5tn Regiment
to Fort Delaware without delay, In few hours
we were equipped for our sumner excursion,
aud after marching around the Streets arrived
at the boat where we met hundreds of sym
palhlsng friends and numerous relatives anxious
TO bid us Il farewell and God speed II was u
scene long to be remembered, with nothing TO
mar the beauty of the assembled multitude ex-
cept the deceillul yisages of numerous Copper
heads peerng as devils upon an innocent saori-
fee AS the boat moved oil, shout upon shout
rent the air and was re-echoed far across the
water; thus as evening drew the folds of its
mantle around, obscuring US from the light of
day, so we moved slowly away from true aud
loving hearts till they faded from our view
About o'clock we landed on the island aud
were escorted by guards with dark lanterns far
round the fr0wniug battlements of the fort, at
last arriving at some newly constructed barracks
where, after considerable confusion, We turned
in our hunks aud wandered off in dreams to the
pleasant scenes of home. Sunday at 1 o'clock
the reveile reminded us of our situation. The
day was spent in resting ourselves aud pre-
pairing for duty
Think not because we have left our churches,
that our Interest is gone. Towards evening /
was attracted to the barracks by the sound of
singing drawing closer, found ranged along
the hunks In The darkness, numbers Of our boys
joining their voices in heavenly praise After
which one of our company (who is Il minister of
the Gospel expounded the truths of God to
many listening ears then followed q sincere
aud affecting prayer by another Of our company,
the services closing with the benedcton, 1t is
well 10 have your churches adorned and deco
rated with the tIappings of art, for they are
sometimes the best inducement to attendants
but could you have heard the trembling voice OF
petition and prayer as the servant called upon
his God, you would think with me, that pine
boards thrown roughly together prove as ac-
ceptable to Jesus as the towering dome oil
St. Peters.
Monday our duties commenced and they have
been very arduous as the garrison here has beer
very small, and they are almost worn out will
over duty. A company of infantry has left III,
fort since We arrived, aud the two companies o.
artillery remaining expect to go soon.
We have between 1000 and 5000 rebel prison
ers to guard, many of whom are Off ers OF rank
The prlvAtes are the most forlorn looking OBJ
/ jects ever saw, covered with dirt and filth
r They are US a class remarkably tall and sleu
der, look as though possessing little intelligence
and no activity. They are dying of rather fast
average from six to eight every day. Yester
/ day some forty conviets from our army arrived
. here and are in confinement
0 We are living happy life and being broker
into soldiers fare. The health Of the compan,
is good our eating as good as We can expect
0 We rise at reveile OF in the morning, rctrea
I at o'clock, a. m; tattoo ct aud taps at 8