From Stockton's Regiment

ClIESAFF.AKE BAT, Sunday, March 23tl, 18G2. , T Dear Buotiikb: It is x most beavhful duy, wo have j jast enterod the Chesapeake Bay, andas we glido ovor its boautiful and calm waters, I will try to give you a 6ketch 1 oí our doings ior tbo past few days. On thüafternoon oí Murch 19tb, we receivcd ordors to pack knapsacks and '■ "faiï in " for a move. We did so, and ' after a ehort march were haltod noar the Fairfax Serninary, ordored to pitch our tontR,or lonchos. Our tents were dow pitched in a eighíly placo, and commandcd a splendid viow of the suiTounding country. On every hilltop, as far as the eyo could reach, could bü seen the tents of the eoldiors, which went to show that a groat army htid been oncamped here during the winter. About 9 o'clock in the evening it commonced to rain, whioh cauued all of us to seek our tents. March 2Oth. - It ra'mod all night, and our tents leaked badly, besides whích the water had run under the most of thom, wetting the boys completely through. The water had also tuken the liberty of making a brook through Capt. Barry's tent, which was occu[)ied by the Captain, Lieutenants Swan and Premiss, and also by Lieut. Brockwav, of Co. F, and in the morniniï they looked as much liko drowned rats as anything. The rain of the niglit had mado our camping ground or.e large mud-hole, and as the rain continuad all day it incroased the depth of the mud, o that beioro night you would go in sh.ie deep every step you mado. To add to all this, it was a cold rain, and the country had been cotnplttcly stiippud oi wood, so that we wero without firee. N'ght carne, tht tin continuod, at an early hour I rawled into my, tent, rolled myself np n my wet blanket, nnd went to gletep. Mank 2s. - At 2 o'clock this mornng I was aroiised by the Captain caling Ordorly Cook to get up, tako men, nd draw provisions for tliree day?, for w had orders to march at 9 o'cloek. This inortiing I wftlked ovor to tbe grounds oí the Fairfax Seminary. - Tho Sominary is a largo thruc story brick building, with vving9, dormHorioa and chapul. Tiie cuppla is surmounted bv a cross. I baliovo it is or waa n Theolagical Seminary. It ia now used as a hospital. The grounds that bui round it, havo once beca boautiful. - Tbe fences are now going to piecea and the grounds aro oeoupicd by the soldiere, and their tenta dot it in every diroction. Tho location is high, and Washington is plainly seon in tho distanco. I returnod to camp in tima to hoar tbe crj " fall in," and Boon tho regiment was formed into 'Ane, and so we stood fiomo fit'toon tninutep, wajting for the orders to martsh to como írom ïcadquarters; but they enme not, and inally tho order w;s given to " break ranks," and for ancrtber hour we tramped around n tho mud, trying to keep warm, when the order was again given, " full in," and once more we wera formed in lino, when came the orders "right face," " countermaroh by file lei t," and we wero marched to highor and dryer ground, when the cornrnand was givon, "belt," "front," " stack arms," " rest." Here another hour was spent, wheD the signal was given at the headquarters uf General Butterfield, and the order was again given "fall in," " tako nrrns," "right face," " forward maroh," and wo were o(T for Aloxandria. We found the going very good until wo struck the main rond, vhon we came into what niight be called slush, thin mud, shö deep at t'r:at. Aloxrindrialike al! the rest of ihe places I have seon in Virginia, shows the efftrct of war. Houpen are doserted, and aro fust going to piïcee. The streets wore througer; with Boldiers. We mnrched directly to the wharf where we were to cmbark The harbor wus crowdoJ with vessels 'i all kinds, and tho wharf was crowdec with RoMiers waiting to bo fhipped. - Tt looked liko livoly timop, liko business. Teams wero constantly arriving with snpplios of all kinds to boshipped. - Whiloetnnding herc I mot Dr. Ct,ark, of the Michigan 4th, formorly of Coldwater; also Oapt. Do Puy. The Michigan 4th was then going on board. - Two Binall stoamers woro furrished for Ihis regiment. Companies A, F, nnd D, wera placo 1 on board of tho atenmer " Wm. W. Fraaier." We got abourd at 7 o'ulock in tho cvening We wcro undor thecommand of M:ipr Wblch, tho Ooloncl and Liout. Crtlonel bcing on board of tho other steanicr. On gotting board, I found myselfj no:iríy exhausted, so I threw down my knnpsnck, put dowfi my gun, luid tnyelf down, and wont to sleep. March 22nd. - Awoke this rnorning, and found tho boat still at the wharf. About 7 o'clock Gen. Porter carno nlong side, and gavo orders to tho Major to have the boat drop down the river a short dishinc?, and wait further orders. He did 80, and boat aftor boat folio wed uh. At 11 o'clock the signal was givon, and tho fleet was put n motion. Tho flag ship, " Daniel Webster," took the lead. The "Wra. W. Fraaier proved to bo a alow nag, and it was not long bofore the rost of the fleet was out of sight. At 1 o'clock we passed Fort Washington, on the Maryland side. Her wallswerooovorod with soldiers, who cheorod ua as we passed, and hor band played natioaal re. At IJ wo paRsed Mt. Vornon, the former residenco anti estáte of Gen. : Washington. It is situated on a high ( bluff, nnd looked as if it might be a ! pleasant location. Thero ia bot little to be pcon as you go down tho rivcr. ' Tho country is hilly, nnd doos not look as if it was vory thickly sottlod. Occasionally, on the Virginia side, we could see deserted houses, houses parlly torn down, plainly Bhowing tho 'oot-prints of war. Now and then we 'ould cateh a glm}s oí íi robol buterv, now doserted. Tho weather wus oíd, and we occasioaally had a ebowor. At 8 o'clock, in tho ovening, the boat ran on to a sand bar ; sevoral attempts wero made to got her off, when I made up my mind that WO were safely anchord for Iho night, and wont to bod, once moro on tho floor of the vessel, with my knapsack for a pillow, and plonty ol bod fullows, for we lay about two foet deep. March 23Z. - liad a good night's rest, got up and found tho vessel still sticking in the s:ind. Tho Captain now went to work to get her off, The small boats wore lowered, an anchor taken in!o one of them and cariied soine distance from the ship towards the channol, thon thrown overboard, a pull hitched to it, and all hands that could gbt hold, took hold and pulled, but it was no go, she refused to :novo. While we wero n this position, as hick would havo it, tho steamer "Williain Kunt" carne up the river, hitched on to us, and after an bour'a work man aged to get us off tho bar, and wo once more moved on our course. As vo approaeh tho Bay tho land grows more leveï, and finaly enürely disappeara on tho Maiyland sido. The day has been ploasant but rathar cold, as a cold wind blows stendily up tlio Buy. Hampton, Va., March Uth. - Wo arrivod and anchord oF Fortress Monroo, at 2 o'clock tl.is morpiog. At day break the anchor was raised, r.nd we sailod for this point and laudad. Hampton, at oiip time has boen a beauliful place, almost entirely built of briek, but is DOW eHtiroly destríiyedj burncd y the rebels. It ia a very leve! country, hora. Thousands of soklitíi'f aro encampod here. Where we are bound for I cannot gay. The rebels are encnmped within siífht of this placo. More anón. J. P. O.' Ticket, 3 miles FR0M Bio Bethel, Va., ) March 28th, 1862. ) Dear Brotiier : - Although I havo boen unable to sentí off the letter thut I have alroady written to yon, I vvill still continuo my experience here: On tho morriing of March 25th we 8 truck tents, and tnovod four .miles towards Big Bethel, whero wo again pitcbed them, nnd whero wo now are. The country betwcen Hampton and this place is voi-y levél. This ia docidely Iho most beautiful, and tho best part of, Virginia that I havo yet .seon. ïho soii is good. Thé destruction of properly betwoen hem and üumpton bas been great, hardlj a house stands. Tbey havo been aither pulled to piceos or burned. On Thiirsday, March 27th, this Brigade vvont out on a scouting expodition. After preceedingsotne distanco, Company A was thrown out as skinnershers, on tho luft flank of the regiment, to acour vhe woods, and give notice if an enemy was hiding there ready to pounce opon the regiment. At it we went, sometimos at quick, and soniotimes at doub!e-quick, ovor fonces, tbrough fields, kito ïWfimps, through mud and wutor knoe deep, now jumping ditches, Rometimes landing into them,- and in jumping one our Captain did this most effectually, for he landod in about throe feot of water and rnud, - now crawling through buehes, briars, and brambles, until we rooched tho open country, 112 miles this side of Big Bethol, and in sight of a number of breastwork?, where we joined our regiment. Without halting, the Brigado was formed into line of battle, and marchod into the brenstwovks but no one was thero to moet us ; they lind evaouatod their works, not even loaving as much as a wooden cunnon behind them. Ia ene of the works was n board nailed toa post, whieh informod ns that, its name vras " Fort Ascensión." ! We now boro off to the1 luft of Big Bethel, marohed sorao two miles, hal ted, took dinner, and relurnod to camp, I having seen nothing more formidable . 1 than an empty breristwork, and wooden suunon mounted on wheels, wha-h we disüovure d in tho woods through whicli we 'vero scouting. The same day, Morell's Brigade raade an advance ns far as Big Bethel, and managod to take a few prisoners, at least so one of bis brigade told me. This is a good fatming country. - There aro oaaoy very largo farms that havo been well cultivatod. All of them havo large orchards of peaoh, chevry and apple trees, some of which are at presont in full bloorn, and if tho weathur continúes for a fow days such as it is to-day, thoy will all be. There will be any amount of fruit liere this season, and no owners to claim it. - Most of tho orchards are now open te the commons. The iohabitants have flod, thoir housos have beon destroyed by the rebels, there are but a few left betwoen hero and Big Bothel. Years will pass boforo this country regalns what it has lost by this war. Tht country here is very level, and in placos swaropy, but it is well ditched, and im menso suma of monoy must liave been spent upon ihem. Evory thing goes to show that the farmers hereabouts vvoro well oft. The houses that are left standing aro large and well buil', bufc rathor old fashioned, the chimneys -boing built on tho outsido. Tq ranny places thoso nhimaeys and the charrod remains of timbera, aro the only tbings that remain to show that a house ever stood thero. This section is very wel] timberod. In our scout yesterday wc pas-ed throngh timbored land, consis ting of Pine, Oak nnd Boeeh. "Wïiilo encamped at Hampton I eaw a gretit number of Ann Arbor boys, among whom wore Arnold, Loomis, Eastman, Grisson, Wines, Perkins, Oseander, Webster, Cush, all were well. Tho Michigan rogiments down hero are: Stookten', lst, 2nd, 3d, 4ih, and 5th. We went on picket here last night, aftor returning from the scout. It is a most beautiful day. The bird are singing thoir sweot songa. Flowers are begining to bloora most plentifully.