The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1863-01-23
ARMY CORRESPONDENCE.
NEwBERS, N. c., Dec, 2Sth, 1862


DEAR FRANK:
thought Is had a little leisure time'
would write you short letter, to let you
know a little more Of the rough times, some OF
the Bedford county boys have experienced since
,you last heard from me. Our Brigade got hight
marching orders on the 4th day of Dec, and
on the morning of the 5th, we started, not
knowing where we were going. Ii rained hard
all dav, and we marched q distance of twenty
mile. through the sandymud. At night we
were camped in the woods, 10 seek shelter as
hest VIC cepld. for we had neither sheltcr-tcnts
nor blankets, and some had no over-coats we
built up large fires, and all got in p pile In the
centre. officers and men. Wethousht when we
started it would only be something OF Black
Water raid, out on the border of North Caro-
lima, and return to Suffolk, TO the nice little log
houses we had put up for winter quarters The
next morning, Dec, 9th. we were formed in line
at s o'clock, and took up up our line OF march.
At . o'clock we came to q small town, the SIZE
of Bloody Run, called Gatcsvillc; it is the coun-
tv seat Of Gates county, North Carolina. The
county building is poor On the other side OF
this town, some three or four miles, runs the
Chowan river, whittier we marched, but owing,
tho General said, to the boats not being there,
we were marched back to within a mile and a
half Of the town and encamped, where we stay
cl until the next afternoon, Sunday, Dac. Tth.
When the word came to fall in the boats Were
at the landing. We marched down, and our
regiment was put in the gunboat, Vidette, and
the other regiments of the Brigade on other boats
sent for that purpose. BY this time began TO
think it was no Black Water raid. So made
it my business, the first opportunity 1 got, to
ask one of the seamen where the boats were 60
ing when he told me he did not know. So
WINS where started. But not going to be put
off in this way, asked him where they had
come from, when he told me Newbern, North
Carolina. My eyes were opened then, for
Knew General Foster was in command at that
place and supposed they were sending US there
for reinforccmcnts, although there were all
kinds OF conlectures as to where we were going,
both by officers and men, We sailed down the
Chownn river into Albemarlc sound and out of
that into the Pamlico sound, by Roanoke island,
and on the morning of the 10th of Dec, land
ed at Ncwbern, where we were disembarked and
marched about two miles the other side of the
city into naked piece of land, what l suppos-
ed to be field or farm, where we stacked arms
and commenced hunting wood to build fires to
keep us warm. Newbern is fine city and has
some very nice buildings. 1t must have been
once fourishing seaport. Gov. Stanley re-
sides in a most magnificent residence. In the
evening. after we had got warmed up by a cup
of strong coffee, which is soldiers only drink,
anl got onr limbs Strengthened ont of the cramp-
cd position we had rode in, (having been much
crowded in the boat we got orders to have three
days rations in our havcrsacks and seven days
crackers and salt in the wagons, and be ready
10 march in the morning at 5 o'clock. Morn
ing found us nc ordered, with "Pap Vessel, "
as we a,l call him. taking the advance, and the
troops General Foster had here. coming up in
the rear. On we trampcd, with but little diff
Guilty, sometimes capturing, killing, or wound
ing, few Of their pickets, until the afternoon
ct the Sth Dec. when we were brought sud-
denly to halt by the coarse voice of six
FOUNDER on the opposite side of large cypress
swamp. We were not left long standing, be-
tore logs were cut and rails were carried by the
pioneer corps of Gen. Foster, composed of
hundred good stout colored men, and a road
was made for us to cross over. We capturcd
tne oattery ana caisson wagon, with a "NIr.
Johnny Rebel" sitting straddle of his piece
We stopped here, couple of hours, until the
bridge was made strong enough to pass the ar
iillery over. During this time, the woods a.
bout were skirmished, and some Is or 20 of the
enemy killed, that were sticking in the swamps
picking off our fellows, and several came in with
flags of truce. After the Artillery rot across
we moved on, fighting back their pickets until
our General sent orders for us to halt and
camp for the night, as it was too late in the day
TO bring on general engagement, and that we
were now within two and half miles of the
town OF kinston. Now cemes the joke on the
little old Hundred and First for it was ordered
out OF the Brigade for picket duty, and our COM
pany TO be thrown out as videttes, without fire
or coffee' and the ice freezing every night two
inches thick in the little brooks and runs. We
were run up so close to the enemv's n;ckets we
could hear them spit. Our Major was officer
OF the picket line and he called on Lieut.. Null
IN to assist him, while Lieut.. Corley command
cd the company. Major Taylor was Metho-
DIST preacher snd belonged to the Pittsburg con-