1                            LETTERS FROM OUR VOLUNTEERS.  May 27, 1862  Page 3 Column 4                            1

 

LETTERS FROM OUR VOLUNTEERS.

From the Ringgold (104th) Regiment.

IN CAMP, May 18, 1862.

Exactly where we are I am unable to say, but I am sit-

ting under the shade of a large tree by the road-side, with

our camp about seven miles north west of New Keat Court

House.  We had been expecting for two days to have or-

ders to march to the White House on the Pamunky river,

some five miles distant from our late camp, where McClel-

lan had his head-quarters, but yesterday we received

orders to pack traps and move out here.  The afternoon

was warm, and we had very hard tramp, bringing the

perspiration out of the boys.  I can tell you.  As to-day is

Sunday, I suppose we shall not move unless there is an

urgent necessity.  The reason of our being here, I judge,

is that Couch’s division made an advance yesterday from

this point, and we are brought up as a reserve in case he

should get into any difficulty .  Gen Couch came here on

Friday, and the rebels were than encamped where we are

now.  The night before they had driven out pickets in. 

They retired on Friday, and yesterday Couch started in

pursuit.

The Count (Gensel) was over to see us on Friday after-

noon; they were going to the White House next morning. 

He has been made a First Lieutenant.  He is full of the

notion that the rebels have retreated and do not intend to

make a stand.  This he gathered from Gen. Stoneman,

the head of the Cavalry, whom he heard say that he could

not find an enemy.  But this is all speculation.  You will

have Heard all about it from the papers before this

reaches you.

While we remained at Kent Court House nothing re-

markable happened.  The country from there here is

quite as good as any we have passed through; the im-

provements are better than anywhere else we have been. 

There are a number of quite stylish farm houses on the

way.

The number of sick in the regiment is on the increase

and the provisions made for them are not very comfortable

to think of.  All the officers of company C are sick of ty-

phoid fever.  Lieutenant Carver is on a floating hospital

at West Point, and Captain Marple and Lieutenant Rob-

inson were taken away in an ambulance yesterday morn-

ing—where to I do not know.  Edwin Fretz has been ap-

pointed Second Lieutenant in Company A, in place of

Lieut. Holmes, appointed Commissary.

We have just received orders to go out on brigade guard

so we are to have the Sunday all to ourselves, and we will

have as near nothing to do as possible.