Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-02-23
M0ND An, IVA. sa, 1853.


an historian. The DIST Massachusetts, which
had an important part to perform in that
march into the counties of Onslow, Trent,
and neghborhood, were introduced to very
different scenery from that which interested
them on their famous ten days march to Kins-
ton Whitehall, and Goldsboro That march
Law through forest after forest of yellow pine,
with here and there plantation and an occa-
sional miserable house. The march to Tren-
ton led through a region Astounding in oak
and red cedar And some of the adventures
were humorous. 4 ludcrous sight was that
presented one morning when Co. returned
to camp, after doing duty as picket guard on
the night previous. Capt. Goodell came in at
the head Of battalion. During the night
host of'contrabands, of all ages, had tocllcd
to his standard, men, women, and children.
Each one had taken from ''massas' plantation
such property as could conveniently be car
ried Mules, oxen, and other moveabes were
conspicuous in the train. The gallant cap
tain came in like a patriarch of the East at the
head of his tribe.
The Spy copied curious letter from the
New York Herald about the part played by the
New York third cavalry in the reconnaissance
in force by the first brigade, Colonel Amo-
rvs. The eXaggerations and downright
faseh0ods in that remarkable letter, so eulo-
CYSTIC of Colonel Simon II. Mix, excites con.
siderable comment among the soldiers who
took part i'll Colonel Amory's expedition. And
no men ridicule that untruthful account more
than the cavalry men themselves. The New
York first cavalry is one of the very best and
most efficient regiments in the service, and
ought not to suffer because q correspondent
for the New York press ignores the existence
of Belger's Rhode Island battery, four regi.
ments of infantry, and the commanding officer
of the expedition even, in his haste to glority
some one friend. And in the same spirit he
makes Captain Wilson's corps OF negro bridge
builders, who had preceded all our expedi-
tons, seem to-be a novel creation of Col. S.
II. Mix. A pine tree across the road he mag
mites into impossible distractions. The for
midable earthworks, stockades, &C., the great
amount Of killing, the opening of three new
counties to our forces, &C., Sc, so eloquently
described by the veracious correspondent, is
all bosh.
The 51st regiment has suffered severely by
sickness, most of the fatal cases being sin
gular and speedy disease styled varously ma
larial fever congestive fever, and congestve
chills Since my last letter there have been
two more deaths on February 10Th George
Z. DeLuce of Co. A, and on the 10th Edwin
which has carried off Others The former
was Of West Boylston, the latter of Worces-
ter. Henry Longley of Co. c, is very low
also and may not live. There are but few
similar cases now, and excepting few in
stances of chronic difficulty, the regiment is
in a hopeful condition. There have been
several discharges Of men from the service
which ought to cause the cheeks of some
Massachusetts physicians to Jingle. Men
have been pronounced able to do military
duty by examining physicians, who knew bet
ter, and who in their crazy desire to fill the
quota have given certificates of ability to men
who have filed the quota indeed, but at a
great expense to tile government who have
had to excuse them from severe duty. build
hospitals for them and finally send them
home. The regiment is very fortunate in its
surgeon-Dr. Jewett.
An election in company &, to fill the va
cancy caused by the discharge OF Lieut. Storrs
resulted in the promotion of Lieut.. Joy to be
first lieutenant and sergeant Emery Sibley of
Worcester, second lieutenant. Orderly John
Howe Of this company is very sick in Stanley
hospital
There was a great haul of prisoners in the
vicinity Of Core creek, on the Neuse road, a
few days ago, in which companies and b
were somewhat interested. They were moved
forward by Col. Jones of the 58th Pennsylva-
MIA infantry, commanding the outposis, and
while detachment under Capt Bascom held
the bridge at Bachelors creek, Col. Jones
made forced march in the night and COM
pleteiy surprised a rebel picket camp, captur-
ing torty-tive prisoners, one hundred and fifty
guns, horses, saddles, &c. The rebel camp
was burned. One rebel was shot and four
wounded. Owing to the complete surprise by
our forces very few rebs. succeeded in get
ting their rifles pointed at the enemy. They
jumped up from their sleep. and, without stop
ping for guns or coats, skedaddled like wild
cats for the swamp. There had been consid-
cradle firing on pickets, the night previous, a
sentinel Of the Penn. 58th having been shot,
and few days before a cavalry lieutenant
was wounded, six rebels firing at him, and one
wounding him slightly.
After a sojourn of six weeks in the wilder
ness, companies Capt, Baldwin, and b
Capt. Bascom) have been relieved from picket
duty by companies E Capt Wheeler) and 1
Capt. Hobbs. Picket life has its charms,
and notwithstanding its seeming dangers and
pryations it was with feelings not unmixed
with regret that they babe farewell to the pick
ct camp. The forest about their camp is "A
good place for the hunter. Foxes, wild cat,
rabbit opossum, raccoon. deer and bear are
very plenty, and the vicinity of the river
aoounds in winged game. The frogs and
'noIAins BIRDS make the woods vocal all the
night and the owl and the wild cat come near
the sentinel on guard and volunteer their dis.
cordant notes '''''i us
The work of fortif,t>-