Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-07-29
From the 10Th Colored Regiment
CAMP NEAR PETERsBURGH, }
July 18th, 1864. {

Il tendant upon this campaign, am one
y more permitted to address you on the ''ss
e cred soil" of the smother of presidents,
S south of the James River. Perhaps
n brief sketch of the colored division
J, movements since leaving Annapolis, Wi
= interest you. After joining Gen. Burn
j. sides command at the above named plac
the colored regiments from the differen
/. states-seven in number-were forme,
D into division designated as the fourtl
! division ninth army corps, commanded b.
! Gen. Ferrero. April 23d the Grea
Burnside Expedition marched in the d.
, rection Of Washington, where it arrived
in due season. We marched through
Washington in columns by platoon; the
men seemed to take pride in doing their
best; the sidewalks were crowded with
people waving their handkerchiefs, swing
ing their hats and cheering the colored
volunteer. Uncle Abe and several other
government officials reviewed us as we
passal and seemed highly pleased with
the military display of the Ethiopians.-
After sojourn of two days at Alexan-
dria we marched TO Manassas Junction
and relieved a portion of the fifth corps
which had been guarding the railroad
through the winter. We stayed there
about week, then marched to the Rap
idan n crossed at Germania Ford,
May 9th there was hard fighting then
going on in the Wilderness we were
sent on picket on the extreme right next
morning, marched to the left in rear of
the 9th corps lines, passed the second d.
vision hospital where | saw many woun-
ded from my old company, regiment and
brigade, which was enough to convince
me that they had seen warm work. We
marched to the old battle ground of Chan
cellorsville and encamped several days
guarding the right flank of our army
while the battle was raging fiercely at
Spottsy lvania. When the great flank
movement commenced we were sent as
an escort to the army train by way of
Bowling Green, Guinea Station, and
many other little one horse towns, which
from their dilapidated and poverty strick-
en- appearance are not able to support a
name. We arrived at Coal Harbor in
due time, nothing oe importance occur
ring on the way. While the contest was
raging in that vicinity we were posted
on the right flank of the army to prevent
cavalry raids on our train. During the
great flank movement across the James
we were again sent to guard the train .
crossing the Chickahominy at Jones's
Bridge, crossing the James at Powhattan f
Point, without the loss Of wagon. AtIr
ength we arrived before Petersburgb +
md were sent to the front; we relieved {
portion Of the second corps in the sec a
md line of works. After remaining i
here two days, during which we had sew i
rial men wounded by sharpshooters, we b
marched to the left and encamped at
since George Court House; during our a
- hr.ere we amused ourselves throwing t,
country re9,rks and searching among the ii
beap rougblv n which by the way had Ii
val. We found previous to our arri- ii
tifcates dating as far9EPd marriage Ger, |
found vote for jeff Davisas LOO / ii
with the name of the deposition 's ''an a
On tbo b.ok 'orsed Il
l visited Co. D of the sixth regime. fc
two days before their departure " Mary +
land bad a fine visit with the hw old
veterans remaining it seemed like hOue.
The attachments formed by 20 month";
association with that band of heroes are
not easily broken. Capts. Davis, OWN
ell and Joslyn were we'll. 1t. Col. Hale
was in command of the regiment and
seemed stocked with mis- usual amount Of
fun and ready wit, which he has retained
through all the trying scenes attendant
upon a three years campaign. 1t. Nye
was also we'll and seems determined to
remain in the service until rebellion is
burst up. 1t. Styles, who was wounded
in the Wilderness, was expected to re-
turn soon. l would like to mention many
other Scared veterans, but time and
space will not permit.
l am now on picket, have been for four
days past begin to think we are doing
this duty by the season. But we should
have to be building forts or slashing trees
If we were in camp and / will not COM
plain of this. We have built four large
forts within the last ten days and con-
nected them with esrthworks the sur
rounding forest is now being cut to give
range to the artillery. The siege is still
going on and constant cannonading is
kept up with numerous variations thrown