Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1863-06-26
From the Peninsula.
CAMP NEAR WILLIAMSBURG. VA
June l..

June l5.
Editors Free Pres.
On Tuesday last, about %
O'Clock, a. m, Gen. Gurney's Brigade left their
camp near Yorktown. To march TO Williamsburg.
which is y miles distant The dsv was very
warm, and the soil sandy and dry. so that we
4 were compelled to march in cloud Of dust The
country is low and heavily timbcred there being
only here and there clearing in the woods
through which We passed. and very few build
inss of any description. We made but one stop
that amounted to an opportunity for rest 20 the
m,n. beside the regular noon-lay halt We
marched the last six miles Of our Journey in the
heat Of the day, with no stop Whatever At the
place Of our rest at noon. quite "a number Of over
coats and Blankets were thrown away. especially
hy the men who were IN the advance as We
marched Who can blame them for what man
at home in the North, would willingly walk six
mile. under hot sun without stopping. with a
bushel ofvheit on his back, I have never seen
% soldiers pack weighed, hut ! bayc yet to find
the man in the service, who after hard march,
c=timato= his load at less than CD pounds
When we had reached the Williamsburg road.
about mile from thev-llage, turnci TO theright
and marched two miles TO the nor;Lvari,
where we eneampci on a fine ric,e Of ground
about a mile from York river.
Atcra days rest most Of our brigade started
. on a reconnoisaucc in force beyond " Williamsburg
The regiments went ont in Light marching order
taking two days Tlt.ors and their rubber AMI
woolcn blankets. This reconnaissance started at
five O'Clock on Thursday morning and has lot
yet returned We are looking for the return Of
the regiments TO camp this evening From
some Of the seek who have alrcliy been sent in.
l learn ,hat the troops after leaving uson Thurs
day marched about fifteen ra.lgs through sooi
farming country and hal fine times picking up
pig, and poultry until the officers put a stop TO
the sport. Quite drove Of cattle was brought IN,
but as in a similar instance near West Point they
were returned 10y command Of Gen. Gordon and
delivered up TO their rebel owners.
also learn that those engaged in the recon
/ uoisance have met small squads Of rebel troops
/ and some skirrnishing has been going on. No
results Of importance are reported. The soldiers
are occasionally fired into in passing the houses
/ of the rebels, and it is with difficulty that the
officers can prevent them from taking summary
vengeance upon the inmates.
Just before leaving our camp near Yorktown
F l had an opportunity to examine the, village.
Yorktown is situated on the high southern bank
perhaps forty or fifty feet above the river. 1t is
now rather a military fertilization than a village
rs It is entirely enclosed within the walls Of the
+ Fort saw very few persons there besides sol
+ diers and negroes. There is only one street in
the town Of any pretensions. There is not a
+ Church in the place There is a school-house on
which is erected a signal tower, and in which is
kept a school for negro children. Il was ON ths
Sabbath preceding our leaving camp that ] was
+ there. and saw the children going to the sab
bath School, and heard them singing sabbath
School hymns which sounded familiar and re-
minded me Of Sabbath scenes at home.
LR