The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-01-15
From the Old Dominion,
Tyler House, Hampton, Va. !
Near Fortress Monroe, Jan. |, 1864. {

u Near Fortress Monroe, Jan. |, 1864. I
DEAR CALEDoNIAN: Our work is still
heavy upon US, and We trust in a measure
prosperous. Our Hampton, built upon, ana
about the ruins of the Hampton that was,--
beautiful and proud before the war, is really
becoming " night smart place. Some two
hundred houses, poor, open, shaky cabins Of
the size OF a Yankee bedroom have come
into being since our arrival here in June
last aud perhaps hundred and fifty within
the last three months. And though these
cabins arc not as rich and stately in appear
ancc as some of the fine looking buildings
in It. Johnsbury, or even as the comfortable
and tidy cottages that may be seen upon the
farms, or II, the mary thriving little villages
in Caledonia &C.,, yet the number of Their
inmates is, we presume, on an average as
great if not greater. Yes, with the same
number Of uses, We cln count as many
human heads as you in Vermont. aoeit, one
OF Your houses is "quai in size 10 dozen or
twenty OF ours. In each of our little shakv,
nevertheless, looking, AID really not very COM
Portable cabins, may be found, of little and
great, from three or four, t. dozen or tit-
teen persons. /! then these cabins come in
L. teing at the rate Of about fifty per month,
YOU Will admit that ours is a growing place,
at least, IL porrt Of population. Then at the
Fortress. Mill Creek, Newtown a, d the Will
der farm. and at other points within few
Ia.l.S ot u, TO say nothing Of lorkt WI,
'onsmoutn, Norfolk and other PAGES not
uYite rs near; are large and somewhat pop
.ouS villages of colored people. Indeed,
"t cA-Slave population is already very great
J.. mis- region, to which new additions are
orng continually made by fresh arrivals from
I >1vedom. Ever and anon do We meet with
new Comers, who tell us sad tales of the eX-
perience and trials through which they have
passed, of sleepless nights, and days Of suit
4 !crns IN their attempts to escape from rebel
tom, and make the best of their way to some
point within the Union lines. Many of these
nave left dear friends behind. There are
PARENTS whose children are yet in slavery,
children, whose parents are, they know not
where, and brothers and sisters, alas how
many; VINO nave been compelled to leave
dear brothers and sisters with the secesh.-
How many husbands here have wives in
SIaVeTy-and how many wives say OF their
husbands, Master sold him off," or she
could not set away" or Il spects him is
with de secesh somewhars." And o, how
many Of these are praying that "GoA viii
Dress master Lincoln" and bless de Union
soldiers in dis ere war, and bring abou. the
time when their friends now in bonCage shall
elaborated; and "that they NAV see them
again IN the world Our young men, some
of whom are perhaps so or 90 years old
though but few know their ages, are volun.
te"rng their services t. Uncle Sam, with q
.rarty good will. How many Hampton has
turned Out to serve government either as sol
4iers Or laborers, it is impossible for me te
'ell' but very large proportion, indeed near
y all who are really fit for military duty II
any capacity. And more thoroughly loya
SCI Of fellows the Union can hardly boast o.
anywhere We have recently had encamped
10. lar rom US, between the Tyler House