Year: 1863




NEAR NEwBERN N. @. Jan IL, 1863.


DEAR JoURSAL:-The 9th has again changed
its base, and is reported for duty in the Depart
ment of North Carolina. We left Suffolk the
3Oth of December, took the Railroad to Norfolk,
where we spent one night The next day we
went aboard the ship J. Norton and were towed
out into the middle of the Elizabeth river where
we anchored for the night. Next New Year's)
morning about 10 oclock we were towed to For
tress Monroe, from which we set sail for the
"briny ocean" under sealed orders. We passed
Cape Henry about noon under full sail before
stiff west wind. Numerous were the specula-
tions concerning our destination. After we had
passed Cape Henry about twenty miles, :ha or
ders were opened and found to be Beaufort N
@. For sometime after leaving Fortress Mon
roe "all went merry as marriage bell, but the
sea run high, and our course being south east,
we had to cross the waves diagonally. This
double motion Of the ship caused an uproar in
the stomachs of the men, and very soon rations
began to rise and it was impossible to keep them
down. The merry laugh and smile was soon
changed to sea-sickness. Still there were
great many who were not affected at ALL and
others very slightly.


We made the passage from Fortress Monroe
to off Cape Lookout in about thirty hours but
the stiffness Of the breezes kept us cruising
along the coast from that point to about latitude
"a 2 for the next forty hours Early on the
morning of the 5th land could be seen north off
northwest of us, and the crack Of cannon was
heard towards the west. 1t was the guns of TT.
Macon which we passed on our left in entering
the hafbor The city of Beaufort was about half
mile to the right and is surrounded by
splendid country for raising Muskrats if il was
g.. 81 e Al. -
near the Railroad dock off Morehead City, ex-
Pec.ing to be landed in few minutes, but in
consequence of some delay in unloading another
vessel already at the dock, we were obliged TO
remain on board another night.


In the afternoon, the Chaplain of the 175ih
Pennsylvania militia, assisted by the Chaplain
of the 1921 New York volunteers held divine
service on the decks of the vessel. By this
time all hands had about recovered from sea-
many asserting that they would rather march
the same number Of dayswith knapsack on their
back than to be obliged to take another such
trip. If ever had any idea of visiting Europe
it is "playcd out" now. will be perfectly sat
isfed to spend the balance of my days on land.


Monday about noon we were put ashore, and
soon after took the cars for Newbern, thirty five
miles distant, where we arrived about o'clock,
P. NJ. Marched out about three miles where
we 6iVoadcked for the night, Next day we or
ganized camp and prepared ourselves to live
as comfortable as circumstances will admit con-
sidering our pecuniary condition. We have not
received a cent of pay for over six months and
our cash has long since "done gone" assure
you it is pretty bard to obtain the necessares of
life without money.


Newberne is an old broken down place about
the size of Fremont. The buildings are small,
old and scattered, the streets narrow and crook
ed but filled with shade trees and lighted with
gas, but such things as side or cross-walks are
among the things unknown. and when reflect
upon it, / say to myself What pleasure or en-
joyment can there be in sitok coatstryS What
can be the source of enjoymet. For my part
fail to see any. The seasons are too much of a
sameness; they do not have the variety Of sea-
sons that the people OF the North do. They
know nothing Of the delightful season of skates.
They never feel the raptures that thrill through
the pulse of the boy as he gathers his hand full
of snow; the delights of sleigh rides and balls
they are totally ignorant. Really, / believe one
OF our first class sleighs, with BELLS (and bellies
horses, harness and robes complete would be as
much of a curiosity to this benighted people as
a "nigger" pen and slave auction would be To
the people Of your city. They know as little of
the real pleasures of life as the poor Indian whose
untutored mind sees God in the clouds aud
hears him in the wind cannot believe that
they are happy people, for it looks to me as IL
each man lived for self alone and was fit COM
panion for "nigger" and about twe-thrds of
them are so ignorant as to think that they are
monarehs of all they survey.


Oh. Slavery where are the charms


That sages have seen in they face?


I'd erdwell in the midst of alarms,


Than reign in this miserable place.


Yes, l would give more to live one year in the
North, than for whole lifetime in such coun-
try as this. j. @. G.