Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1863-02-19
Letter from North Carolina.
CAROLINA CITY, n. c., Jan. s, 1868.


ere this But circumstances wholly beyond
my control have prevented me from replying
| 10 it until now, and even now my conveniences
are those of a soldier in the field" and not
such as will enable me 10 write with any sat
isfaction. Doubtless you have heard ere this
of our departure from Yorktown so I will
| give you "a brief account of our voyage, and
safe arrival in Beaufort Harbor n C.. We
| left Yorktown a little after II, NJ, on Wed
uesday the 2Sth ult., on board the steamer
| Georgia, aud ran into the harbcr at Fortress
! Monroe Just as the sun was sinking in the
west. The sky was without cloud, and as
! the setting sun cast his bright rays upon the
/ noble Old Fortress with her frowning guns,
and glistened upon the windows of the many
neat aud comfortable looking white buildings,
both public aud private in and around her,
ana I'LL with sparkling brightness tp0n the
smooth, dark waters OF the CheSa peake, it
presented a scene sublimey beautiful and in
lerestiug. | have read many descriptions of
sunset scene, pictured 10 the minds eve"
by all the " fOwery language of an eloquent
aud accomplished writer" and have fancied
the scene very beautiful indeed. But | at
once came to the conclusion that no writer,
however eloquent. can do justice to sunset
scene " in and around harbor when viewed
from the deck OF a vessel, as she approaches
it, 1t could not fail to attract the attention
ard excite the admiration of every true lover
Of nature.-I see | have dgressed very much
from that which intended to write when
commenced, but suppose 10 apol, gy is nee
cssary. We remained on board the Georgia
Monday night, aud next morning (TleSday)
she steamed up TO the wharf, and went ashore
and took stroll around the Fortress. Quite
a town has been built up just outside the For
tress, which presents neat and tasty appear
ance. In this town there is probably more
business done than in any of our Northern in.
land towns OF thrice its size. In this way
spent nearly the whole Of that day. Just at
night the transport EXpounder, formerly the
Dauel Webster, arrived from New Iork,
where she had been for repairs and anchored
alongside the Georgia. This steamer was to
take Us TO our deslluat;on-s0 we went aboard
OF her during the evening, aud then the work
Of re shipping provisions etc, and coaiiDg
cOmmeuced, and was not completed until near
noou next day. We then weighed anchor and
steamed rp tie Bay. The wud was blowing
a hrsl gaze, and the Bay was very rough in
deed The vessel rocked aud plugged violent
- llOiu wave " SuFt, anu 40 VIC utiI Gtl Ldpe
Henry the sea increased, end would sometimes
dash the spray over the top of the hurricane
deck. The mules and horses were in the bow
o the boat, on the main deck, and as the yes
sci tipped from side to side, they found it rath
e. difficult to maintain a standing position, and
they rctled and tumoled about like drunken
men. Oue of the mules being tied to the
tailrail near the gangway, as the vessel sud
denly tipped that side of her toward the wa,
ter, Ieaped overheard, with harness and saddle
ou,and disappeared beneath the foamng waves
10 a moment be reappeared and struck out
boldly for shore, which being so far distant,
it is hardly probable that he reached it alive.
We kept on our course, and left the poor AMI
NAL to his fate aud as We rounded the
CAPE" and came out upon the broad waters Of
the Atlantic, we found it so rough the Cap
tain OF The boat dare not venture farther, as
We would have to pass Cape uatteras during
tie night, which is always very rough when
there is but al ordinary sea at other places.
Accordingly, he "about faced the boat, and
headed her for Fortress Monroe, aud ran into
The harbor aud anchored for the night. Next
morning New Years. the wind had subsded
little, and at about s, q. m We weighed an
chor and started again, after getting our mail
matter and express freight for the Regiment.
The sea waS running pretty high yet, but this
time we kept on our course As we passed
Cape Hehry, aud oace more came out up0n
the broad ocean, We toaud it still very rough,
and, although the boat was heavily laden, the
waves tossed her about as though she were
but feather She would now rise upon the
top of IL huge swell, and again would plunge
suddenly forward into the deep gulf between
two waves, which seemed ready to swallow
Us up, in the boundiesS deep. I went up ou
he upper deck and SAT down abont midway of
the boat, where she seemed the steadest, and
amused myself by watching and laughing at
number OF the officers and men, who had he
come seaSiek, aud were vigorously "castng
up their accounts :" and Others who were try
ling 10 walk the deck, which it vas now almost
! impossible TO do. Here | remained nearly all
day At last, feeling chilly, concluded to
90 below. ! walked forward to the officers
room to return SPY glass which had been
using, and came back to the hatchway and
descended the stairs. This | accomplished
with some difficulty, but, by this time, began
to feel little unsettled about the stomach,
and found it rather difficult to Keep down
my disabilities" This, however, managed
to do, and as | had good berth, | made
virtue of necessity" and turned in" to
| sleep and rest for the duties of the coming
morrow. | soon fell asleep, and when | awoke
the sea was dashiug madIy against the side of
the vessel, and she rocked to and fro in G man
uer that made it a difficult matter to maintain
a stationary position in bed. This was
about o'clock at night. at once concluded
we were just passing Cape Hatteras, aud up
on making inquiries found that was right
in my conclusions We had expected to lind
a rough sea at this point, and we were not
disappointed. As we passed the Cape, the
sea gradually grew less rough, aud by sunrise
next morning Friday there was little more
i &hnn In orGinnrr Saa along the coast of North