From Fortress Monroe--a Yankee account of Doings about there.
A New York paper of recent date contains a letter from
Fortress Monroe, May 30, from which we make an extract:
‘
Matters are going on much in their usual way at this point, and no important movement has been made since my last communication.
Col. Allen's regiment disembarked and went into camp yesterday, taking the left of the line, recently occupied by the
Vermont regiment.
They are now in very comfortable quarters, and apparently well satisfied with their position.
Col. Bartlett's naval brigade were kept on the steamer last night, and this morning placed upon a propeller and disembarked at the camp.
It was expected by all, until a very late hour, that the brigade would be quartered in the fort, in order to enable them to be thoroughly drilled in the use of the heavy guns as well as field batteries; but it was finally determined to send them, with the other New York regiments, in camp, and to-day the troops were sent up there.
I have not learned whether they have camp equipage or not. I think they brought none with them, and they must look to the
Quartermaster at the post for an adequate supply.
They have not as yet received the necessary number of
Sharp's rifles, with which they are to be armed, and as none can be obtained here, they will be obliged to await their arrival from New York before taking the field for active duty.
They seem to be made up of a hardy and athletic set of men. As soon as they get their battery of rifled cannon they will immediately commence their drill, and it is thought will be very soon ready to perform their peculiar duties, both afloat and ashore.
Col. Bartlett expects a detachment of four hundred men to join his force here next week.
His Brigade will then be full.
The ladies, wives of the officers, return to New York in the Coatzacoalcas to-night.
Col. Duryee's Zouaves are famous hereabout for their reckless daring.
They are great lovers of scouting parties, which would seem to promise a bit of a skirmish, or an adventure of some kind, and they sally out in small squads and roam over the country for miles around, picking up strangers and bringing them up to give an account of themselves.
A party of them, while out yesterday, came across and seized a secession flag, which they brought into camp as a trophy.
Another party visited a building formerly occupied as a ladies' seminary, and discovered concealed therein over fifty muskets, with bayonets of a late pattern, and a keg of powder, all of which were brought to the
Colonel and confiscated as contraband of war. A narrative of their exploits would fill a volume.
They succeeded yesterday in penetrating through to our camp at Newport News, without meeting any opposition.
But I fear their fortunate escapes from capture by a large force may not be the lot of all. A party of five that left camp yesterday on a scout had not returned yesterday up to 10 o'clock to-day, and not a word has been heard from them.
It is feared that they may have been cut off by a superior force, and are in the hands of the enemy.
The Virginia troops about here are well mounted, and are able to move with a greater celerity than a foot force; and it is by no means improbable that some party of dragoons has captured the ‘"Red Devils,"’ for whom they have the greatest fear and hate.
It is hoped that they may have returned before this in perfect safety.
At all events, no more scouts will be sent out unless fully armed and accompanied by an officer.
The Quartermaster received between forty and fifty large draught horses by the
City of Richmond and a number of heavy transportation wagons, which are now in use in drawing immense quantities of stores, munitions of war and other articles to the post from the wharf.
This is a great relief to the soldiers detailed for fatigue duty, and I can assure you that hauling four or five tons over a hot dusty road by hand is fatiguing.
The fatigue parties will now devote themselves to the duty of hauling in and mounting heavy guns.
Large numbers of gun carriages arrived last week for the columbiads,
en barbette, and also for casemate guns.
The barbette guns are nearly all mounted now, and prepared for service.
The remainder will be mounted as soon as possible.
’
