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boys who have been out, saw none in their travels.
But there are plenty of negroes; and they bring forth their masters' stores plentifully.
The boys of our regiment generally remained in camp, and attended to building the embankments.
But the Massachusetts boys and the “Dutchmen” went into it quite extensively.
The latter have filled their camp with horses, mules, carts, wagons, and often furniture; but Gen. Butler has put a stop to such proceedings.
He has given strict orders against any one's plundering the enemy, and the consequence was, that the day his order was received, over fifty men were put under guard.
They were out when the order was received, and when they returned, laden with spoil, both were taken care of, much to their chagrin.
But four or five of our regiment were caught in such disgraceful acts.
Night before last, those long looked — for provisions came, and if you ever wished to see a set of fellows highly delighted, you ought to have seen the B. L. G. When box after box and package after package were opened, containing the choicest delicacies of “home,” many a blessing was showered upon the generous donors, as we ate the cakes and cheese, butter, and other dainties too numerous to mention — delicacies that we have been strangers to for four weeks--I was going to say four months, for that seems to be the length of time that I have been absent.
But when you come to be deprived of the best of living, and feed upon the hardest of crackers, salt pork, beef and coffee, you will then be able to appreciate food that you now call quite plain.
If we could but have more vegetables we could get along very well.
We do not expect pies or cakes, nor nice wheat or brown bread, but we do think we ought to have something better in that line, than these crackers, (shingles the boys call them,) called pilot-bread.
If any more provisions are sent, put in a good supply of Boston or soda crackers, and some vegetables.
Those Havelocks were received before we came here, and right glad were we to get them.
Our faces and necks have become badly sunburnt, so that some of them were quite sore.
All are black enough, I assure you.
The good people of Burlington will be long remembered by the Light Guard.
We shall endeavor to merit the kindness bestowed upon us, and not betray the trust reposed in us by turning from the enemy as long as there is hope of success.
A few of our company are sick, but none are dangerous.
All are doing well.
The embankment we have been building, is 110 rods long, 6 1/2 feet high, and 5 feet wide at the top, and 10 at the bottom, sloping outwards to the bottom of the ditch, but so steep that you could not climb up to the top. The inside of the wall is perpendicular, large timbers being set in the ground, (most of which were brought from the woods by hand,) and the dirt pounded down hard.
The ditch is 7 feet deep and 8 feet wide at the top; the bottom is to be set full of wooden pickets, sharpened at the top. It would not be very pleasant to fall into it. One part is built, and we are at work on the bastion on the right, and shall have to help the others, as I fear these never will be completed.
I find the Vermonters are a little better to work than most other men that I have seen.
Our tents have little piazzas built out in front covered with boughs, which makes them quite pleasant in this hot climate, the thermometer standing at from 70 to 80 degrees.
I am thus particular about our fortification, thinking that any thing we fellows do would be interesting to you.
A. S. H.
