The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1863-06-03
From the I7lst Pa. Regiment.
WASHINGTON, N. c., April Is, %.

PtVP"sT Sisuk JOu UiVi "SCou"'
Of our proceedings since the 3l>, nlt &,
trusting that, If published, it will be Of
some interest 10 Friends at home.
Washington, n G, is at the head Of
the Panilicu River. IN the centre OF fine.
productive regihh, and il, or vas, The
place of residenc" uf some of ,he mO>i
inHueuti,I Rebels of n Z The posses
sion of il, was therefore. II after of great
desire By them, to get which, they com
menced. the last of March. TO seize and
for,ify the most iu:pnrtant points of Sp
prOach, and 10 throw forward ah army hf
several thousand troops investing the
city in close siege. Maj Gen. Fo,ter
was here with some 900 troops, Assisted
by Union citizens aud blacks of about
the same bumber, whom the Rebels call
Buffaiues General Prince was uidered
from Newberne with his Division To re
enforce him On the morning nf the 3l>t
of March We started in steam transports.
BY way Of PamIico Sound and River, to
do 30 The weather was very cold, winds
high and waters rough On entering the
Sound we found the splendid steamer,
John Coll,er, loaded wit tie l5Sth Pa
Militia, aground, several 'ulleS out ~ her
course, where she had been since Sunia.
evening, unable e. get IF, though having
thrown all her loading over except the
men aud horses We took about 25G of
them off. (other boats doiug likewise !
just after dark the >aii of sfnall >choun
er was seen standing in shoIe. and sev
eraI shells were fired At her from rified
gun on our b"y. but she 'dnu>ed her
>ail, !" scud in under the shore, and wa
lost to our view.
April ist-At d ,sk last evening su,ne
kun buals in our Company passed u> ahG
this morniny they went on shelli"g the
woods at several suspicious lnokiug points
Before nuuu We reached the lIn : Point.
seven miles beiow Washington. where the
enemy had erected Strong battery. com
rieteiv summarizing the channel which
uns within quarter of a mile FROM it,
We anchored while the gun boats RAJ! NJ
feeling of tlem with shelf. but with"ut
esicil"g any reply They were evidently
waiting for bigger game. A. some "f cur
ships had 1000 traps aud ,on> of aurnn
uilinn OH board Towards hight We fell
back to our old anchorage while some
more small gan bnat~ came up in the
evening. The prevalence Of strong winds
for some tine past, and which cnnt!nued
several days after this, had 50 bl"wn rhr
water frum the rivers and ahcLorage. ~
tu leave all the big boats aground 'r uua
Bile to get out.
The next morning we ran up 10 our old
finund again, while the gun boats ad
Ssnced aud cOuInenced shellng ,he Bat
terry, which now conde>cended TO rcpl,
firing three tunes, one shot raS>ing ihro'
the>sm"ke sack and striking the steam
chest of the boat, but doing no particular
dauage This adm0ni>htd us at the dan
yer Of The passage A boat was sent to
try to hunt mp a landing. but un return.
Ing reported iroops on shore whu fired on
them, aud n" p"s<ibe chance to land an
army among the reed .wamps Our
Colonel, with snail party. undertook to
reconnUiter at p"in, considerably farther
down, and narrow y escaped being gnb
bled uh by squad of Rebels at IA house
near by.
On the Sd, three mnre gun hnat> ca..e
up and went at the battery in Sdud earueAr
The scene was giand the hinge shells.
screaming on their errand. were seen 10
strike the breastwnrks, throwing the sand
In clouds as high rs lie trees. or ir>t.ug
in the air above them, sent their IRON
showers on the devoted heads below As
no shots were returned for "a lone time. II
was thought the enemy were sienced
We have since learaed that many were
killed aud wounded. but the works >us-
tanned no material injury. Our regiment
was now transferred to schmuer loaded
with artillery and ammunition, while our
steamer returned To Newb.rue tor sup
plies aud mure troops To-day several
swaIl schu0ners were bruugh, and added
to our feet, which were passing US for
Washington, having been below for some
days, and not knowing the state Of things
at home. They all proved 10 be owned
or run by UniGn men. with passes from
headquarters Que of them did not obey
the blank shot first fired at her. bu, when
a shell went hultling over her and burst.
it was funny to see her alter her course
and haul up to Us. The communications
OF the shippers were very interesting. bui
| cannot more than mention il DOW. The
privatiuns aud hard.hips to which persons
liz their condition are exposed are intense
aud it would touch uear. Of stone to
hear them recited.
The 4th the winds were hi CHER aud
colder than ever. Our boats OF y tired