Year: 1862

and marched down the mouth OF the Chlcka-
| homny, on the James River, by the most
crooked crcuitous roads ever saw We then
halted few minutes, then crossed the Chick
ahominv on pontoon bridge and marched
three miles and halted for the night. This day
had been tolerable, but not so cool as the day
before. We had marched fifteen miles and
were in condition to enjoy rest and food
most emphaticay. The next morning at day
| break we we're on the march again. The
weather was hot, t,roads very dusty. We march
ed through Williamsburg at about / | o'clock
A. NJ, and halted few minutes to rest and al.
low the men 10 Gil their canteeus from mud
| dy spring. We then travelled on slowly three
miles and halted at about o'clock P NJ; ten
miles this day. We were now nearly worn
out and every man complained bitterly of sore
feet. | had sprained my ankle and had to use
my sword as cane since early in the first day
of the march and was by this time unable to
walk much farther We were ordered to re-
main here the balance of the day and all of
the next to rest the men, and wait for the wag-
on trains to pass which had got delayed and
behind on the way.


We eneamped near some good corn fields,
and the men lived on green corn, poultry and
in many cases fresh beef which they managed
10 help themselves TO.


On the next day, the the goth, we pulled
out OF o'clock A. NJ, weather still hotter)
and marched to Yorktown-sx miles--and
halted few minutes. Then marched 10 a
position about two miles S. +. of Yorktown on
the York River The road we took being
circutous- the distance three miles so
that the distance marched that day was nine
miles. We arrived al this place at noon
Yesterday we struck tents and marched back
through Yorktown to q position half q mile
above on the bank of the river, where | am
now sitting under Flag, writing to you.


Now for few more incidents on the march
and my narrative is closed:


Capt Cooke was taken sick on the second
day, and | was left in command of the COM
paDy during the rest of the march while he
came on by himself. My ankle was lame all
of the way so that | had to convert my
sword into a cane for support, but rest has
made it now about well; so that walk with
out trouble. We Jared pretty we'll for food
on the ways as no orders were issued prohib-
itng foraging on the march. We took any,
thing and everything eatabe we could find
without asking any questions.


All corn and potatoe fields, aud poultry
coops, were most thoroughly " skinned" All
cattle we found were con6scated, so that
don't believe there is enough left on the PENN
sula to subsiSt 20 families during next winter
| am glad of it, for | don't believe there is a
loyal man among them, and hope they will
have a good starving time of is. There were
no fighting between our rear guard and the
enemy except a little skirmlshing. They did
not follow US in force


The troops are now nearly oil shipped from
this place We shall stay here for some item.
General Emory who now commands our brig.
ade has been appointed Military Governor of
Yorktown and the brigade is detached from
the army to garrison the town. 1t will be
much easier duty for US than marching around
as we have done so far since we come to Va.
will not complain if we stay here during the
war for we have done as much duty marching,
and fighting, as any other brigade, and SO far
have received only neglect and most ummerit-
ed ingratitude from thoSein high place whose
duty it is to encourage their troops, and least
OF all to give them credit for what they do
If we had been treated with Justice, I, for one,
should be anxious to go on with the army to
win "new fields Of glory" We do not wish
for the flaming complimentary puffs of news
paper correspondents who get drunk ON some
CoIonel's whisky, and then sit down and give
him the credit OF performing some daring ex.
plot with his regiment, which some other reg.
iment had done while he and his regiment
were miles away from the scene, and lying
quietly in camp, but we are satisfied with
plain ungarnished statement CT facts as they
occurred.


We can live very comfortably here after We
get settled and the ether troops get away
We get from the north side of York river,
potatoes, fruit, butter, milk, poultry, &c, and
plenty of oysters out of the river. The men
60 in and gather them whenever they want a
mess which is every time they eat. buy
them from the darkes at SO cents per bushel,
and have oyster stews every day.


AS the water here is salty, it is a splendid
place to bathe and we take swim every day.


In my next letter will be able to give you
description of Yorktown and the works
around it, | have not had chance to look
around any yet.


You can't imagine how we rejoice at the
news of the rapid recruiting going on at home,
but we don't give them credit for any patriot
ism, for know If it was not for the fear OF
the draft hut very few would now enlist /
am glad to see some fellows starting by such
a spur, who could not realize that it was their
duty to have enlisted long ago But l trust
they will do their duty manfully, and wish
them good luck and much honor


Yours, truly


lst Lieut.. T. B. CAMP.


Company F., SD Reg. Pa. Volunteers.