Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-02-23
letter From the Fioy-Flrst Regiment.

nome. d.
letter From the Figty-First Regiment.
CAMP SPRAGUE. NrwBERN,(
Feb. IL, 1868.
The soldiers here at this picket station are
now enjoying themselves to their fullest eX-
tent. Recent rains have swollen the streams,
expelled a portion of the poison from the
swamp water, and made the atmosphere more
pure, and nearly all of the members of COM
panies and are enjoying most excellent
health.
Ball-playing has been introduced and most
all have hand in the game-otfcers and sol
diers.. Occasionally some one receives a
/ good plump by the ball when taking his run
round the ring, but no serious wound, except
that Of being out, which is healed as soon as
he puts his opponent ia the same condition.
As these two companies compose regiment
in miniature, we have found it necessary to
have full complement of officers, and so
have pro TEN, a major and adjutant, whom,
as gentlemen and soldiers, we think much of.
Our log tenements afford us a good shelter,
and secure us from storms of rain and snow,
which on the fourth instant fell to the depth
of some three or four inches, and on the fol-
| lowing morning, could the weather have been
sufficiently severe, would have made tolerable
sleighing. Yet the rays of this southern sun
soon caused it to entirely disappear
One house here, built by a company of en-
terprising men, and which goes by the name
of "Mansion House," makes favorable and
pleasing place Of resort for acquaintances and
members of the companies. Parties are often
held at this house, and invitations given by
the proprietors for social gatherings. l at
tended such an one last evening, and sat for
the first time since leaving old Massachusetts,
at a table with other invited guests, and par
took of a richly cooked possum and other fine
things, and drank for once an excellent cup
OF tea. The proprietors Of this house have
our thanks; may they receive commendable
share of patronage.
Adjacent to our picket stations are some
two or three plantations, Of one Of which |
will speak. 1t is situated short distance be-
yond our outpoSts, and is owned by Mr..
R; it contains about one thousand acres
of land and | should Judge very good land
He informs me that six hundred acres are un.
der improvement, which he calls his planta~
ton; tine remainder is pine forest Its very
beautifully situated. 4 long lane leads from
the main road to the mansion, which is built
| OF brick, and is of ancient structure. Upon
either side OF this lane is Il row of shade trees,
maple and ash, set out by the present owner,
and about the house, also, are trees of large
| growth, among which [ observed the red &C.
/ dar almost entirely screening the mansion
/ from view little distance from the same
| From this house may be seen tine whole plan
tation at view. Mr.. r. informed me
that connected with this he owned a steam
saw mill, which was erected at the expense of
many thousand dollars, and which was a
| source Of great profit to him in the manufac-
ture Of hard pine lumber of which there are
| great quantities here. Also, connected with
this are works for the making Of turpentine.
| The mill and works were burned lit the time
! Newbern was taken, together with a large
quantity of lumber. He owned, he says,
| ninety negroes, for which one year before the
| rebellion commenced he was offered one thou |
sand dollars each. Between sixty and seven
| ty ran away to Newbern, and are now at work
tor government. He represented lis loss to
be one hundred thousand dollars.
Last sabbath company Of US soldiers took
stroll around to the outposts, and in the
| course OF our ramble came to the plantation
where the blacks were holding Il meeting.
Their preacher was an old negro who came
ln cOntraband, with the expedition which |
went to Goldshoro He informed us that lie |
had knowledge Of letters, and could read |
well enough to understand mostly what he
found to read, but made the scriptures his |
chief study. His master, he SAID, protested |
to be a good man, yet was opposed to his ne
groes' getting any knowledge from books, and |
he pil no nj
Uncle David, as he is callcd-was at times |
quite eloquent, and spoke, in his STYLE with |
good impression, such might do credit TO
men Of better opportunities. He also said to
US, IN private conversation, that now he was
free man, he should like to preach one dis
course TO his old master, from these words =
Ode unto Others" &c. We bid him adieu,
with the wish that he might spend his few re
manning days as Il free man.
The pine forests here abound in wild ami |
mails, such as coOns, possums and wild cats
three Of the latter having been captured in the |
pine forests near our camping ground, 10y
| the negroes and their dogs within the past |
| week. They compare in size with Il large dog, |
and are Of grayish color, intermixed with |
! dark spots. The skins Of these animals are
often brought into camp by the negroes and |
! offered for sale.
| Our boys here are just in from a short |
| expedition, having been some hive or six |
miles out, as far as Bachelors creek, where
Col. Jones is in command OF the 5Sth Penn.
regiment for the purpose Of relieving his
men from picket duty, and giving them an op.
portlnity of going into the enemy's country
and surprising rebel camp, which they did
efectually. Taking faithful negro for guide,
they made circuitouS route through mud and |
swamps by night, to avoid rebel pickets, came |
upon the enemy's camp about day break, and |
succeeded in capturing As prisoners and $50 |
stand OF arms, with some camp stores, with |
out the loss of a single man. Some of the
rebels made odtheir escape into the adjacent
woods, others fought for a few moments, but
a few rounds made them willing to surrender.
A few days previous to this eight Of colonel |
Jones men were OUT sklrmishng, and came
suddenly upon ten rebel piclets, who were
seemingly off both guard and duty, as they
were assembled in groupintent on card play |
| ing. Two of the number were rebel cavalry
men, their horses being near at hand, which |
led to their discovery. surrender was
made by them just at the announcement of
! trumps.
learn by the papers that Maj, Gen.
| Hooker is in command of the army of the
| Potomac. Having formed some acquaintance
with him in my boyish days, while at school,
and having also favorable opinion OF him as
a scholar, | cannot but hope that he may be
] Il 81.