Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1863-02-05
FROM THE 7TH REGIMENT.
PENSACOLA, Jan. 9th, 1868.

y
noticed nothing occurring much later thar
the 9th of August. After the battle o.
that day, we, together with other troops
were occupied most diligently in making
entertainments, building breastworks, and
using or destroying anything that might
aid or hinder our successful defence against
the rebels About week was thus en-
employed during which time We were
called out by the long roll on an average
of every other night; sometimes with
and sometimes without good reasons ano
| will say this much, that, as far as
know, not man in the Johnson Co., i
indeed, in the whole regiment, but who
was at his post, fully armed, on hearing
the command consequent on each alarm
They were weary, it is true, with the toll
of the preceding day; but this did moi
hinder them lin cases when they fully
expected battle,) from coming into line
and marching to meet the rascals, if need
be, with quickness, cheerfulness and firm
ness.
After few days passed in the way
above explained, we unexpectedly received
orders for voyage down the river, to To-
cate somewhere near New Orleans. To
this end we made ready as soon as posi-
BILE. Our sick and wounded were put on
the boats provided and they preceded us;
one of which boats came in collision with
a gunboat. The fromer boat was very
old, and, in fact, unfit for use, being in a
measure unmanagable, had on board a
largo number of wounded, and the body
of Gen. Williams. Many of the poor
fellows being unable to help themselves
were lost. After leaving Baton Rogue
without accident, we made safe voyage
down to Carrolton, populous little vii
lage in the vicinity of New Orleans. We
had been here before. Our tents were
again pitched on the old camp ground.
We fully believed that we were to stay
there sometime, but were disappointed.
We rested one night only, and that but
poorly, when again we must be ready in
80 minutes, to march to other quarters.
Nothing to do but to obey, however, but
very little complaint was heard and from
some who in reality were fit subjects for
the hospital. 1t was an hour before we
started on our march. We started for a
place called Camp Williams SO called in
honor of Gen. Williams, who was killed
at the fight at Baton Rogue. About this
time there had been very heavy rains, in
consequence of which the roads in that
low, fiat country were almost impossible.
The journey, though only about three
miles, was to some of us very tiresome
one, the mud being some of the way an
kle deep. After while we came to the
place; Col Fullam filing us to the left in
to large grass field. He then congratu-
lated us on our pleasant Camp Ground,
calling it the best we had yet secured,
and 50 it appeared at first view A close
observation, however, soon found that it
would be very liable to hold water in
case of a storm; the highest part of it
being elevated only few inches above
the surrounding bayous, and marshes.
How soon we found ourselves wallowing
in the Louisiana mud needs no statement;
suffice it to say it was sooner than we at
first expected. The first rain left ponds
of water in our streets, and in some cases
it ran into tents. This water by the I'M
avoidable walking and tramping of Sol
diers and horses soon mixed with the CLAW
ey surface and in some places made inches
of the most adhesive mud | ever saw.
One could walk only few steps before
his boots loaded, and himself quite unable
to make any double quick movement,
! however urgent the case. be-
But our troubles stopped not with the
mud. The most grievious trial was in
relation to water We could get none on.
ly that from the bayou, which was almost
if not quite stagnant, and rather greenish
in color; or from some large tank, the
water of which was some better, but tc
our sorrow, not very plenty. | will just
remark that these bayous of water arc
filled with aligaters, large water snakes