The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-03-25
CORRESPONDENCE.
Hr,nou.nrxns, 22D REQ. q. s. G. T..l
Williamsburg, March 18th, 1854. )

eight o'clock P. NJ, came the order to march
for Yorktown with FIVE days. rations. Accord
ingly Mt FIVE next morning the column was in
motion. On arriving there We learned the OBJ.
jcct of our expedition and place Of destination.
When Fitzpatrick made his raid around Rich
ruond. his forces wcro separated. Ono portion
went down the west side Of James River TO Suf-
folk, another came down the Peninsula to York.
town, while another portion. led by the gallant
Dahlgreu, were expected to come down the cast
side Of York River to Gloucester Point The
latter portion had not been heard from; and as
It had been reported that there was regiment
Of cavalry at Gloucester Court House, the OBJ
jet Of the movement was two.fold Pirst-to
find out the position Of Kilpatrick's missing
cavalry, and also bag tho rebel cavalry. The
plan was this "A part Of Kilpatrick's cavalry
with the 18th Pennsylvania cavalry, wcrc to
cross the York River to Gloucester Point and
proceed by land up to Gloucester Court House,
while our brigade were to take transports and
move up river to get, il possible, in the enemy's
rear. Accordingly we embarked at IL NJ,
Wednesday, on board Of four transports. and
started Immediately up river under escort Of
three gunboats. We went up to West Point.
which is about thirty. FIVE miles from Yorktown,
and situated at the junction Of the Pamuukey
and Mattapony rivcrs-proceeded up the latter
river about four miles aud landed at Shepherds
Landing, at II o'clock p. M. Our regiment
had orders to move out to Centreville and take
possession Of the road leading from Gloucester
Point to King and Queen Court House. On ar
irving there we found the cavalry had been too
fast for US, for they had already arrived at this
point, and hence the game VIC had counted on
had slipped through our fingers. Here We biv-
ouacked by the roadside. The Lieut.. Colonel
and myself slept on three cedar rails, with no
covering savethe broad canopy OF heaven. The
next morning some of our colorcd boys thought
they would make reconnaissance in force
around some OF the neighboring houses, the re-
suit Of which was, numberless hens, (some Of
them sitting, guess. by the way they squalled),
o few geese, soue turkics, box buggy, o two
wheeled cart. and other things too numerous to
mention. At one house the boys found negro
whipping post. which consisted Of two pieces of
wood in the form Of q cross, with staples in the
cross piece to which were attached the culprit's
hands while undergoing the fagellation. The
boys soon cut II down and burned 1t up. They
were SO cxasperated on seeing this. that had
there not been guard around the house 1t
would soon have shared the fate Of the whipping
post. But our orders were to protect private
property. As soon rs the rest Of the brigade
came up we moved on. It being very rainy.
the mud in some places was knee deep, consc-
uuently VIC marched only fifteen miles. We en-
camped that night in Dragon Swamp. about
mile from the Piankatank River. About ninc
o'clock, the cavalry camo in, having preceded
US. They had marched to King and Queen
Court House, surprised the enemy, routed and
chased him about four miles, and captured
about thirty prisoners. l see that cores
pendent of the Tribune has very glowing &C
count of this affair. Ono would think by his
description that there was n regular pitched
battle. was informed by q Lieutenant Of one
OF the cavalry companies that they could not
get a chance to fight them. lIo said ''they ske-
daddlcd like chain lightning"
Seven O'Clock Friday morning found us in
motion again. We were designing to cross the
Piankatank River to Urbanna, on the Kappa
hammock, and take transports for Yorktown !;
but the bridge being up and the river very
much swollen in consequence of the heavy rain,
rendered fording impracticable, so We COM
menced our homeward march. We arrived ct
Gloucester Point at four p. NJ. !; Saturday were
ferricd across the river, and marched out two
miles and camped Sunday morning started at
eight and reached our camp ut Williamsburg
at twelve NJ, having marched in oil about one
hundred and twenty five miles.
INCIDENTS ny TIE WAY.
As VIC were marching along Thursday, two
Of our boys ran up to house to con6scatc
some chickens, considering 1t, of course, legiti-
mate business. Mr.. Secesh came out and called
them DID niggcrs. They Immediately arrest
cd him and brought him into our lines. lie
said he was Union man, and so he was releas-
cd, but while he was absent his horse dsap'
pcared. He then came back after his horse,
when he was again arrested and taken along
with us, and had, presume, the painful NOR.
tiscation of seeing certain nameless gentle
man ride his pony.
At place where We halted, two drummer
boys came up and said, "Colonel, dare be some
berry nice chickens ober dare shall we kotch
UNI" The Colonel answered, "If they call you
a darned Niger, you may bring them along"
Pretty soon up camo one Of them with goose
on his back. Said the Colonel, "Did he call
you little mig ?" "No. sar. but he Kissed ut
me, and know he must be rebel goose"
The land in Gloucester County think must
be excellent, judging by the growth Of the corn
stalks It Is decidedly the best farming coun-
try have seen in Virginia. -.i.-
II there could be little Yankee enterprise
manifested here, q second paradise might DO the
result. The whitening effect Of slavery Is in
delibly stamped upon every thing you sec here.
The houses, carriages, farming utensils, mode
Of cultivating the land, &C., present the appear
ance Of having been built and carried on by
those whose minds. as we'll as bodies, have long
been cramped by the inacxiblc hand OF Slavery.
AsrnAoALus.