Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1863-05-15
Letter from the First Delaware.
LETTER No. CT.
CAMP NEAR FALMOUTH. Va,
Thursday Nieht. May I, 1858.



FRtEND EcKEL;
Movements both forward and
retrogrndo have been the order since our lust
and much Inns been added to the stock of cxpe-
rcrce which couple Of years oil campaigning
had given us. Within the past nine days. the
army has seen no little and has suffered not
slightly in the labors devolvlng upon ii
\ The march from our camps to the centested
ground ON the other side Of the river was not IL
long or severe one, but much work had to be
performed on tho roads, oorduroying them for
tile passage of artillery and ponloon trains, and
the boys Of our Regiment did good share Of
it, laboriug all night Telling timber and placing
it position, and throwing up breastworks along
the river TO command the crossings They
wrought with picks and shovels silently, lest the
enemy might hear them. But we will intersperse
few notes taken by the way before VIC know
what the results Of the advance would be-
Wednesday, AprH 29-After q hard ride on
horseback Of fourteen miles through woods aud
over fields, at night. as we came from Potomac
Greek Bridge Hospital, where we had been on
special duty for three days, we overlook the
Regiment about five miles from the site of the
old camp, Found them bivouackel 10 small
field helnmed in by woods The boys were
merry and the officers we're sitting on the ground
in s1ciable style, singing, "When this cruel war
is over" Slept with the field officer, on some
loose fodder in nm old, dilapidated hen house.
well ventilated in top, sides and end but a
horse tied to one of the logs in the selfshness of
his equine spirit tried, Indifferent to our fatigue.
to pull the fodder from under our head.
Thursday, APrR 30.-After smart march.
came down the mountain and crossed the river
On pontoon; went through the breastworks
and rifle pits which had been made by the rebels.
and through COW paths and narrow roads which
wound about the hills and through an extensive
forest; the Hight found Us still marching Gen,
Hooker with his stat rode past us. The moon
shone in streaks the frogs croaked in tho
swamps, and the whippoorwills sang :her dole
full strains The boys thought tho road to Rich
mond hard one, for they were beginning To
feel tho weight of their knnps0cks
fridayi May l.-Slept we'll last night went
right straight through to morning without stop
pRge bivouacked on a wheat field from which
the moisture was oozing but IL soft bed was the
consequences of this saturation. The country
has n more cultivated appearance than that on
the other side aud has not been subject to pi-
lnge so much, not having been on the line of
march OF large armies. The day has been fine
for campaigning,
Saturday,, Mdy What a scene was present.
Ell las, night by moonlight, on the lawn Of the
White House." in front of which large por-
ton Of the army was lying. 1t was the head
IuSit VI SUM- ueheiulsi tnelr leuts stood m
the yard; hundreds OF horses were picketed a:
the fence which enclosed it, Otderles wero rid
ing up aids sitting on stools or hurrying about
conveying orders; surgeons with their green
sashcs about them were busy selecting sites for
their hospitals and roughly manufacturing tables
for operations. Many were asleep under the
large forest trees which grew on tue lawn. mud
others tucked themselves in their blankets and
measured their length on the grass Il was in
front Of this house that til, battle subsequently,
ragged. The lines of troops were few hundred
yards in advance of it, after the army fell hack
from the vicinity OF the Chancellor House,
by which our Division marched the div the bat.
tie commenced
Ca Sunday the great engagement took nlnce
Our First Delaware took M active part in il ond
dill good service ngain Terribly during thai
long day did the contest 90 on. The ariillcrv
was deaienng and the musketry was the most
fearful that We ever listened to: far il was ono
continuous fire for nearly six hours, ami The
slaughter was great The Surgeon few nm
bred yards in the rear, had erected temnoro no
depos for hospitals out Of pine boupbs in the
woods, and 1id not have to wait lon, for tho
bleeding aud mangled subjects lint ,he stre,cho
ers brought 1t was Il busy day and one of in