Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1864-11-19
EASTERN COR REsPONDENCE OF
THE REElSTEN.
LYME, CoNS., Nov. 10, 1864.

rarely that an individual not clothed in
Uncle Sans livery can obtain permission
to 60 to the front-but still your CORES.
| pendent has made the voyage ard seen
! much of interest, and obtained an idea Of
! the magnitude with which the war is con.
| Quoted. A trip on large transport with
one thousand recruits aud substitutes to
reinforce the grand army, all packed down
in the hold, Ike so much livestock, with
out fresh air or access to the deck,
and then nine tenths Of them paving
tribute to Neptune on the spot while a
rough sea for couple of days did not
tend to alleviate matters-then you can
readily imagine the intolerable stencil pre-.
vailing in their close quarters. Three
times daily all hands were marched under
guard, in single file, past the cocks galley
each receiving few hard tack aud
piece of salt Junk, and then file down again
to their den. Cries for fresh air and water
were continually issuing from the depths
of the ship ; yet dispute of all the discom.
forts experienced old soldiers said that it
was one Of the most comfortable voyages
they had ever made on transport. What
then must other transports be-living
bells. In the cabin, officers were luxuriat>
ing on the best to be found in the Eastern
markets. Sump,ious meals-Gne state
rooms, and everything in frs. class hotel
style--to say nothing Of the frequent pas.
sing around Of imbibles while the occu.
! pants were apparan,ly Obvious to the
suferlngs Of those beneath them. Shout.
der straps are omnipotert now, and with.
out them person is nobody.
On our way across the Chesapeake Bay
all hands were allowed on deck to air aud
clean themselves. When we arrived at
Fortress Monroe those destined for points
further south were sent ashore to be trans.
terred to other transports. The scene a,
that point was exciting Scores of men.
of-war, ranging in size from an 81 Gun
steam tr!gate to Liliputian gun.boat
with one swivei-numberiess transports
and supply vessels constantly arriving and
departing while little screw dispatch
boats were flying too and fro with orders
from shore to ship, and rice rerSa
1t is impossible to give full! descrip
ton Of Fortress Monroe. Consol date 20
Fort Randul's ia one, and its size would
come near it. 1t is encompassed by an
immense parapet Of great height and
thickness, On the outside Of which is deep
and wide meats. Inside of the fertilization
quarters for officers and men are arran ged
with mathematical regularity, presenting
the appearance Of small city, while rows
Of fine shade trees skirted every walk aud
parade ground. Altogether it was char
ming spot, tut one would lima CINE that j.
must be very warm IN summer, as the par
apets to certain extent, exclude the sea-
breeze. Vas. camps are seen in the rear
OF the Fort containing sick and wounded
soldiers and convalescents-and the Old
hotels of yore, when the locality was u
fashionable watering place, are now con.
verted into Headquarters, offices and store.
houses. Opposite, aud two miles fom
Fortress Monroe, are the Ri p Eaps, a
stone fertilization springing up from the
water Work is still progressing on it,
carried on mainly by the labor OF Federal
prisoners who are serving out court mar
tial sentences. 1t is a dreary spo. to be
confined in, shut out entirely from the
world.
Leaving Fortress Monroe, we pass in
sight of Norfolk and the Portsmouth Navy
Yard; then by Newport News, where more
Notifications are to be seen then we pass
close by the wreck of the i'll fated frgate
Cumberland, one Of whose topmasts is seen
projecting above the water, sad memo
rial Of the fight with the Merrmac. Pass.
ing up the James river we can trace Nc
Cielians route Of the Peninsula The
James river is almost as crooked as the
Missouri Tho banks dotted with large
mansions of the plantation style, painted
10 the inevitable white, with surrounding
piazzas But stiffness reigned supreme.
No signs Of life visible while here and
there could be seen bare wall or tall
chimney, showing that the ruthless hand
of war had scourged this once prosperous
section Of our country. No more lovely
or eligible spots can be found anywhere
for man to make a home for himself and
posterity than On the banks of the James,
and one cannot avoid entertaining feel.
inss Of regret that human passions will
so far 60 astray as to c1nmit acts that
centuries will not eflace or future genera
tons forget.
At every prominent point on the river
earthworks are thrown up; while every
few miles a gnn.boat will be found anch
ored, with steam up, ready to slip cable at