Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-01-02
Our Armu Correspondence.
FROM GEN. POSTERS EXPEDITION.
NEwnERN, n. c., Dec. 81, 1862.

fkOM zen. FOSlEkS EAfEDll lONs .
NEwBERN, N. c., Dec. 81. 1s62.
Dear Watchmdn THINKING you might
possibly like to hear few words from this
vicinity, will attempt to give you little in
formation. We arrived here Nov. 3O--dve
days from Boston. This place is SO miles
from Beaufort, where we landed. The city
is built at the junction of the Trent and
Neuse river, which form right agile The
city is well laid out, the streets crossing each
other at nearly right angles; they are of good
weidth and have rows of large elm trees on
both sides there are many good houses and
more poor ones located on the same streets.
There is but a very few white people to be
seen, but great many blacks, as they have
come in for some miles around. should
think four fifths Of the best houses were yacat-
ed by their owners, and are now occupied by
soldiers as Hospitals or Barracks. When ]
saw this / asked myself the question, is it
patriotism or madness that induces them to
make su h sacrifices more than we do p
The land is level or very moderately uneven
as far as | have seen. Its cleared up both
rivers from 10 to miles and the clearing
forms half circle the diameter OF which
would be about five miles. The soil ia sandy.
with some clay. Stones are seldom seen
bricks are used for all purposes. Cotton
grows here but there are hundreds Of acres
in sight now covered with weeds.
Fort Totten is quite fort, in the rear Of
the city, and about one mile north is another
small one they both will rake any part OF the
! city or surrounding territory, besides there arc
/ gun boats in both rivers
/ There are about 20 600 soldiers in this place
/ Gen. Foster started on the lth inst. with all
! but one Regiment, and went within four miles
! ofGoldsboro, and returned Saturday the 10Th.
/ They had battle at Kinston, and took II
guns; another at Whitehall, and another
at Goldsboro, where they destroyed the rail-
road bridge and tore up some Of the track
and accomplished all they intended to, and
took some 400 prisoners and paroled them.
The weather is very pleasant here day
times-about like September-but the nights
quite cool. EIGHru Mass.
FROM THE SIXTEENTH REGIMENT.
We are permitted to make extracts from a
private letter from a member of Co. G, Capt.
pr,oo ran .a.;r,. H. e.on, po.,,r..,
and now employed in the Adjutant's Office
He says;
IL have just come in IF, m a visit to our
/ boys out on picket, and you cannot imag ne
| how | enjoyed the freedom of strole outside
/ of camp limits The line of pickets extends
| from the Potomac to the Blue Ridge mount
aims and is distant two miles from camp. All
the Pomfret boys who aIe able are out
found them at the "relief station" under
large bough house. before rousing fire. and
enjoying themselves to the utmost Picket
ing is peasan, in fine weather. When it is
raining however, you can hardly form a con-
cepton Of the suffering the poor guards have
to endure. The nights are always cold. and
while in line they are never allowed fire. II
you could look in upon us now, you might
not form very favorable idea of soldering
but we are very cosy and comfortable. Our
ten,s 'ei-~A t,ss---e'-' - 49, 500 from
the ground IN tooAa'fes. buhks Tor hre are
built stoves SET up sheiVes nAue' ana every
! thing nlce-dnd dtty IL seems lmposslole
|
uoy AT u'ess PS''"e' Nu' oN"N' a'o "''"oS'
rs oo'n'o''ao'o Us 'p''"s oeus' I''u "'e Ia
o' s''a. ones P'aOou 0'o'
anu oo,I'eu W''u S"'''o' '1'l'9 auI 70
i. wouiu 9e1 sem 'uN w u'i'' 0'' ''''' 81
0'' t" u'u I.o.;lo. u;.;. 90 Nm. Va,
! lle '" .,rL aeoT,'o' e,o ,;la. non, boro
e anu 'ie VAIN - e''ouH" - .sl'I,
/ a., Corrnrol Dowri,, and and II was
: 49, reyor IN he C,rgotten I could hardly
+ ro9l;1o ,yhon ,yo came in s;,bt Of the cunola
that we were realv at the home of Washing
= Ton S;x mortbs ago did not dream of suel
m o,nortnnitv and feel Maid for all W., bay,
y cndnrad in ne ,,lcasnre of that one dav
oa,s tho rn,r yhore WASHINGTON died an,
,noL looL n, r,anv ;nstruments he used
49, hnr - s,,rycyinq, tho wilderness an,
aIso nan, othor ,hings which were inst a
,ta,. ,'a,a ,,hon no ryed hero"
q, 80 IAN and o,her regiments he snvs
g al, s,r,o. rrobaLla ,h,t 100 eshall ro,nain ber
5. in C,n,n Verr,nt ali winter to 40 nickct dn,y
;, W. are' ma, for active service for onr g,n
~ = -,