1              Bucks County Intelligencer, From the 104th Regiment.  October 14, 1862.  Page 3  Col. 3              1

 

LETTERS FROM OUR VOLUNTEERS.

From the 104th Regiment.

GLOUCESTER POINT, Va., Sept. 30, 1862.

Messrs. Editors :—Last Saturday afternoon was marked

with more than usual interest.  The men who fell into the

hands of the rebels at the battle of Fair Oaks joined the

regiment after absence of nearly four months.  Twenty-

five recruits also arrived.

The meeting was a happy one.  The minds of many were

relieved of long resting anxiety—for among the number

were some supposed to be lost, as nothing relative to their

safety could be learned.  Their advent was unexpected ;

we had no tidings of their coming ; all were surprised,

and crowded around them, as the Colonel attempted to

form them into line for roll-call, eager to have a glimpse

at their friends, who shared the dangers of the Peninsular

campaign, and were so unfortunate as to be taken prison-

ers.  Their appearance was indicative of hard fare and ex-

treme exposure.  They had not been furnished with any

new clothing, and their uniforms, as may well be supposed,

were decidedly dirty and much torn, and some were cap-

less and shoeless.  Their treatment while at Salisbury was

as well as could be expected, but during their stay on

Bell’s Island, at Richmond, their sufferings for want of

covering and food were severe.  They state that they saw

negro cavalry guarding the railroads, and at one place

they observed negroes drilling as infantry ; and it is be-

lieved that the black population of the South is being in-

structed in the art of war.  Among the novelties noticed,

while under the sway of the chivalry, were new commands

used by them in drilling.  For instance—when desirous

of forming a company in two ranks into four, they com-

mand, “Two rows into four rows—quite smart—Git ! 

The narration of this caused much laughter among the

boys.  Three of Captain Harvey’s men died, and six were

left behind sick.  I never saw the Captain more pleased

than he was on first mingling with his men.  He proceed-

ed at once to provide for the wants of his men.

Last Sunday afternoon, Gen. Naglee visited the fort.—

He met with a welcome reception by the boys.  He has

been assigned to the command of the brigade again, and

if the rebels attempt to annoy us, they will soon discover

who has command of the post.  To-day we had the regu-

lar monthly inspection, by Major Rogers.  Three months’

pay is due the regiment, and as the men are badly in want

of the needful, the paymaster, with Uncle Sam’s green

backs, will meet with a cheerful reception at any time.

An accident occurred at the landing this forenoon.  As

the boat was approaching the wharf, one of the colored

hands fell overboard while mooring it.  The lookers on

expected to see him swim to the shore in style, but to their

surprise, he went to the bottom, to rise no more.  An ef-

fort was immediately made to rescue him, but some time

elapsed before he was found and brought to the surface. 

The vital spark appeared to have fled ; he had forgotten

what he intended to have for dinner.  But on being rolled

with his abdomen lying on a barrel, the water was pump-

ed from him, and he was resuscitated.          L.  H.  M.

GLOUCESTER POINT, VA., Oct. 2, 1862.

Messrs. Editors :—Nothing is more pleasing and stim-

ulating to a soldier than to know that his services are ap-

preciated at home.  Many have left comfortable homes

and yielded the pleasures of life, to fight in defence of

their country.  When we learn that there is a willing-

ness on the part of our friends to render us aid if wound-

ed or sick, there is an increased determination among the

men to render more efficient service still.  In this great

cause the people of Pennsylvania have acted an important

part.  Her citizens have been active in furnishing the

means of war, and providing and caring for the sick and

wounded.  In this particular she has not been excelled by

any other state.  But her greatness remained a mystery,

though so many of her sons were joining the army daily,

until the rebel legions forded the Potomac, invaded Mary-

land, and threatened her border.  The Governor’s procla-

mation, announcing the impending danger and calling the

militia to arms, was responded to with an alacrity un-

known in history.  Pennsylvania’s defenders moved as if

by electricity.

“Lo! when flames of war outleaping,

Set our native land ablaze,

Men from every town came sweeping,

Choking up the great highways.”

All praise to the militiamen !  who left their homes at

the announcement of danger, and showed a willingness to

fight by our side, and, if need be, to die in defence of the

same exalted cause.  This action of the citizens of Penn-

sylvania will never sink into oblivion.  It will die only

with the name of the state.  It will be recorded by the

historian as Pennsylvania’s grandest exhibition of patri-

otism, which has made her invincible.  She is now the

brightest star in the constellation of States.  Her sons,

whose blood has stained almost every battle-field, have

fully established her honorable reputation as the Key-

stone of the Union.  When the history of our State is read,

how proud we can feel of being Pennsylvanians !  We can

boast that within her borders is a nation ready at all times

to defend the freedom and honor of a great people.  She

has raised more than 100,000 men to fight for the Union,

and in the space of a few days organized a powerful army

of militiamen to defend her own soil from pollution by

bands of traitors, robbers and murderers.  In contempla-

ting these facts, the heart is moved with feelings of in-

trinsic delight ; and on saying, “ I fought with the sons

of Pennsylvania,” the patriotic spark rises to the highest

pitch of enthusiasm.  I am proud of my native State—

All honor and praise to her gallant sons in the army and

her worthy citizens.                                         L. H. M.


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