North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1863-05-27
LETTER FROM THE 17lst ia. M,
LITTLE WASHINGTON, N. &. }
May 18th, 1863. !

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upon what we have passed through, and seen
in this region, around Newbern and for sixty
miles back during the past few days. The
face of the country is comparatively level
about one third if it is cleared and under a
good state of cultivation. The balance is
covered witn ycllsw pine timber, which ap-
pears, on the outside like ours but on the
inside is full of pitch, being kept for what i,
affords of this valuable commodity. in
ordinary times the inhabitants valued com.
mon tree at $40 but in these times, with
the advanced price OF pitch, tar, turpentine,
and rosin, good tree is worth as much to
them as o niger. great profits are derived
from the trees while by little Is expected
from the niegers. Care must have been ia
ken at a times to keep the fire out OF the
woods here, as match touched in some pla
ces, would set thouso nds of acres On Ere, at
almost any season Of the year, The ,rees
are often barked up as high twenty feet.
all that they do to set the pitch running, is
to cut a new place each year. The woods
are cleared of shrubs and old inber and
have thick growth of prairie grass, ex
cept in the swamps, where there is another
kind of timber. When set on fire they
make terrific scene. They nave not lsep
burnt where the rebel army has been but
our army makes everything suffer in its
cruree, woods, fences; cattle, fowls, and ev-
erything else is taken and destroyed with
out hesitation. The cltrzsns have ~ fears
of the rebel army, but ours is great eve
sore to them. All the farms here, produce
the usual quantities .: cattle, sheep, goats,
hogs, corn, sweet potatoes, aud fowls, AMI
eggs, in great abundance.
On tkcl st of April, Spinola's Brigade,
with four batteries, were ordered to attack
a rebel fort, at Swift creek IS miles NORTH
Of Newbern-it being the route that Petit
grew came with 1000 men to attack New
bern on the l4,h Marcn last. We arriv cd
within two miles of our destinations, plant
ed our batteries, mounting twenty guns, and
opened fire st ii O'Clock, A. NJ, which was
kept up till 9. P. NJ. when We were ordsr
ed to retreat in " double qnick" which We
did all right. 300 pioneers blocked the road
in our rear, by-falIing trees, TO prevent pur
suit. Upon inqu ry 10 the cause Of our re.
pulse, il was found that we had shot away
all our ammunition. Our casualties were
killed, one captain of battery and four
wounded by the bursting Of a shell, which
was merely accidental shot, as we were not
in range Of their guns. We returned, faint
and weary. What was worse, We were kept
drawn up IN line of battle all day, expecting
an attack and bloody battle. Gen Fortnr
ordered second attack The mex week. On
arriving there we found the rebs had vacated
the Fort, about the time we ran away frcm
1t. Tie citizens sail they could nave all
been taken pr soners, with l't.ie Courage
and skill, as thsre were but 500 Of them, to
4, Geo of Us.
On 7tn., Apr ril, Foster was at this place
(Lttle Washng,on) with 1000 men well
fortified, surrounded By 8,0)0 RIOS. An at
tempt was made to reinforce him, by Wa
ter with 5000 and by land with 1000 troops
Both forces were rcpulsed, with some oss
For four days We were IN tran ,p,rts eight
mile below Little Washington with eight gun
boats a mile above US, she'll ne tie rebel bat-
teries. In this case, as in the other We were
out OF range. We tire d about 2,0CO shot and
shell, the rebs probably not over 90 guns,
their shot falling short half mile or more
Gen. Foster, getting oUt of patience, sent q
dispatch to us with fifteen men in a small
boat not commissioned officer am ons them
(dangerstoo great for hem-had to run with
IN 60 rods of two batleries) Fosters il>patch
asked for ammunition and ordered one boat
to run the batteries. The fuIe buat with its
brave crew, took the ammunition IL him bu I
three of them were killed and four wounded
on the return passage. say one Of these
moor calIows, w!no was shot in the side, the
ELL lodging in the luGsss, brea,e his last
Yesterday after thirty. thTee days Of IN ..-nse
pain AMI suffering.
Our steamer (the Coler) with 1000 troops
OF board, attempted TO run the batteries.
]" hen within Il miles OF the 1>t battery a
ball passed 1hruugh the stack pipe and one
near the stern--we about faced think we
would have snnk, before getting through
On the next morning Foster came down ON
tho steamer Escort which was all riddleG in
pieces. The machinery however was not
much injured Two of the crew were killed
We all returned /" Sewbern and started a
land force 10000. The rehs smelr game
and left these parts. brigad. movnd - I his
this place on the 29rd April where We w i'll re
main our time out.
1t is bccnm ing unhealthy, there have been
several deaths in our Reet., in the last two
weeks-m"re than in all the time before up
to the lst Of May. Measles, and fevers, being
the prevailing diseases.
On may 1t large splendid steamer-the
Long Island took fire on her was here from
Fewhern with commissary stores &c. for
this brigade 1t was not discover ed until af.