Year: 1862

FROM THE 7TH REGIMENT.


Enos Fletcher gives some interesting
particulars in relation to the voyage to
Ship Island, &c. We select the follow
ing: -


"The left wing was on ship board
Tuesday the llth; and the next Sunday
we started on our voyage, with favora-
BILE breeze from the north west, taking us
direct on our route to Ship Island. 1t
was only two days that the good wind last
ed, and then it blew hard from the south
west, taking our ship to the south east
and of conrse, out of our direct route.
About two days out the disease incident
to the sea prevailed throughout the ship.
But very few escaped. After more than
week the adverse winds ceased entirely,
and our ship lay motionless on the At
lantic; the surface being smooth as glass.
The dead calm, however, lasted only one
day, then came gentle breeze from the
north east, sending us but slowly along
Yesterday, the 2oth, some of the boys
went bathing some twenty or thirty of
them leaping from the ship, staying in
the water long time, finding it easier
swimming in the salt water than they used
to in the Lamoille. 1t was thought from
an event that soon happened that this
swimming in this part of the Atlantic (op-
posite the south of Florida,) was rather
dangerous. After some time had passed,
shark was seen fast nearing the SWIM
crs. Some of them were very much fright
cned, and all of them enough so to get on
the ships deck as soon as possible. In
the mean time one of the sailors. by the
aid of two or three lbs. of pork had sue
ceeded in getting the shark attached to
large fish hook, and three Of the sailors
with pulleys landed him on board. The
fish was not as large as was expected, be-
ing only feet inches in length. The
soldiers dressed him and the best part
cooked and ate. AS consequence the
Lieut.. Colonel gave orders that no more
bathing about here should be allowed in
the future The men are fast recovering
from the despondency occasioned by sick
ness and sudden change of climate. A
sort of literary society is formed, and pat.
riotic speeches are made. Some of the
speakers show some ability. One espec-
tally makes himself quite amusing as well
as interesting. Some of the men with
the Rev. M. Townshend as leader, spend
some time each day, in study and discus
sion, as members of bible class. Prayer
meetings are also attended to. Many
things are going on among the men, some
reading, others writing, many walking,
others eating or drinking, and nearly all
on deck and busy about something. Since
we left Brooklyn, we have seen only three
ships; two American, and one French
ship, carrying sixty-four guns; a screw
steamer which seemed to be going direct
ly to Florida. The boys think it quite a
rare thing to see sail. They are wait
ing for land. But l am exceeding due
limits and must close


! will just say that our officers evinced
in the treatment Of their kindness and
humanity. They all are regarded with
esteem by their men, but none, I believe,
more deservedly 50, than the Lieut.. Col
onel, and the captain of Co. E. The for
mer with unusual energy has seen to the
cleanliness Of the boat and correcting i'm
proper conduct generally but in nothing
does he MERIT more appreciation, than in
his intcrfer ence against intemperance. l
have seen him go around among the men,
collecting bottles, and getting as many as
he could carry and smash them. Such
summary proceeding occasioned some NUT
tered complaints at first, but it is doubted
If some Of them that complained, were
not much benefited, and will be more 50,
if they should continue long under the
present authority. An event illustrating
the awfM end to which intempcranc some