Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1865-05-03
PENN'A. MAY 3, 1865.

king inquiry, was told by old residen is
that it was far worse before the war In
Norfolk We saw G. Krider and II, Hawk,
the boys all got very tired of Norfolk,
! although we only stayed there from five
in the evening until about 10 o'clock the
next morning. When we started on our
way towards Roanoke, we started up the
Elizabeth River, past Portsmouth, where
we couE still see some Of the ruins, OF
the Nary Yard, &c, So totally destroyed
by the Rebels four years ago. After we
lef, Portsmouth We had lonely travel of
many miles through the Great Dismal
Swamp of Virginia. Afte, we travel
about ten miles through the Elizabeth
River. re enter the Dismal Swamp Canal
or Virginia Cut, which is about eight or
nine uiles long. and connects the Eliza
beth River which appears to be at least so
far rs We travelled it mere back water
from the Chesa pease Bay with the B.aes-
ws,~r Flats, which isyery we'll ndmei,
as The water is as much the color OF pale
black ink rs any thing else you could
compare it to, and "a very fiat water with
apparentlyno no current at all, the Stream
II it can be called stream, don't think
would average oae-half mile in width aud
is very crooked and is about twenty miles
long and is navigable for ordinary steam
boats This water opens cut into what is
called the X kertuck Sound, which is a
much larger water than the Flats.
We pass through this about twenty
miles when enter small Bay called Coin
jock Bay four aud a halt miles through
in which We find several vessels stuck
fast in the mud or sand, on which there
are several companies destined for the
same point and which started from Har-
risburg about week ahead Of us, and as
We pass .hem there is great excitement
on board. Our boys feel very jubilant
over our better luck. SO We pass on and
in few minutes enter the Coinjock Cut,
which is a cut or canal FIVE or SIX miies
long and within the waters of the Bay
with those OF the North river. But here,
aud before we get through this cut, we
find the most important point in the
whole route from Harrisburg to Roanoke,
or at least is rendered SO to Us, by the
slight initiation We received here into
the realizes of sol diers life We arrived
here about dark and We told BY the Cap
tain Of the small steamer that we must
stop here and wait for the Mail Steamer
which world be along on Sunday, SO we
got off and march out little distance
into sandy common, olpIsite tie tort,
which is garisoned by New Iork Bat
terry, aud urslung nsrsacks ana fell to
work a. pitching our tents in the dark
Some 90 theirs up right good, SO hey had
q good comfortable shelter against the i'm
dending storm, but before We dare retire
to rest for the night we are called upoc
to pu. out pickets as there might, (as We
were told be some danger from rebel guer-
illas. Here "us greeuies" get our first
degree. Some Of our most precautionary
and peaceful boys conclude it best to
adop; Old Abe's plan, or as was reported
to he his style after the first battle OF Bull
Run, manly to sleep with his boots on.
Some thought We would be ready then at
a nluinents warning TO pitch into the Rebs
or anything else, as circumstances nigh.
dictate. Howererswe lay down between
our blankets aud take a good old snoaze,
apparently quite uuconccrned after all,
but before tired Dature's sweet res.orer
has rendered much satisfaction or benefit.
We are suddenly walked up by great tu-
mult in ou: little camp, 0ecasioned By
considerable storm and rain. some or tie
tents blowing over and giving Us a small
Cf an April shower ia North Caroli
ma. Oar own tent which is occupied By
A.. B. Fasick, Charles Weitzel and my
sell giving Way sat Que side, We
crawled out and secure the canvass to
terra frma and crawl back again
without receiving much dama5e-take
laugh over the remarks ind1gel in by
some Of our Boys as one curses JEFF. 0a-
Wis, the Southern Gonfederacy, Or sotne-
body else, for bringing upon rs these dire
troubles. One thinks his pig pen at
York vould be better place TO lodge in.
another thinks his Porch at M;tiiin would
be preferable AT length the storm aba'es
and daylight appears and no one feels
much hurt and the whole Camp again