Camp of the Berdan Sharpshooters before Yorktown, Va, April 1862, by Alfred R. Waud.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division
This drawing is located here on the Library of Congress website.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Joe Howland to Eliza Woolsey Howland.
York River, April 24
Yesterday, at last, I landed the regiment, having asked permission to do so and have the boat thoroughly cleaned. Having picked out a piece of level ground at the head of a little bay where there are lots of oysters, I got a stern-wheeler and sent the regiment ashore by companies, and got all fairly into camp before sunset. I put the major in command on shore, keeping my headquarters on the steamer, and had the work of purification begun as soon as the hold was cleared.
I saw Franklin yesterday, and he asked after you and ours. I took the steamer’s quarter-boat last evening and serenaded the old chap with our stringed band. He seemed pleased and the music sounded very sweetly on the quiet water.
I suspect Commander Rodgers is the right sort of man for the Galena. I heard a story of him to-day. Some one said to him, “Your iron plates are too thin; their thickness should be at least four inches.” His reply (somewhat pro-fane) was, “What to h— do I care about their thickness,—my business is to go up York River and shell the enemy.”
April 24th. A very sudden snap of cold weather came upon us last night, the thermometer going down to 34. It was so cold and uncomfortable in my tent that I got up and took a run in the open air to get up my circulation. Battalion drill in the forenoon, then office work until quite late. Nothing unusual from the front, the earthworks are steadily growing larger and parallels advancing nearer and nearer to their goal. The men have acquired great dexterity in the use of the shovel and pick-axe and can do twice as much now as they could at first, in a given time.
April 24.—Yorktown, Va., was shelled by one of the United States gunboats. She moved up to the mouth of Wormley’s Creek during the morning, opening a well-directed fire on the rebel works, which was promptly answered. The boat then fell back a distance of three miles from Yorktown, when she again opened fire, the shells exploding each time within the enemy’s works, but obtaining no response. A few shots were fired during the day along the whole line, to keep the rebels from strengthening their works. No one was injured.
—The United States Government steamer Eunice was run into last night by the Commodore Perry, off Ashland, Ky., and sunk. No lives were lost.—New- York Tribune, April 26.
—A reconnoitring party, under General A. J. Smith, left Pittsburgh this morning and attacked the rebel pickets, one hundred and fifty strong, who fled in great haste, leaving knapsacks, blankets, and everything else. The party proceeded on foot to Pea Ridge, and there found three or four thousand drawn up in line of battle, who, at the first fire of artillery, also decamped, leaving tents, equipage, private baggage, half-written letters, and other things, indicating a great surprise. Enough tents were left to accommodate a division. Everything was burned. The Nationals captured twelve prisoners, none of whom expressed regret at being taken.—Chicago Tribune.
—The United States Senate passed the bill for the appointment of diplomatic representatives to Hayti and Liberia.
—Col,. Crocker and Major Cassidy, belonging to the Ninety-third regiment of New-York volunteers, were this morning taken prisoners by the rebels near Yorktown, Va.—Phila. Inquirer.
—Gen. Banks’s advance-guard, Col. Donnelly commanding, took three prisoners to-day, at a point nine miles beyond Harrisonburgh,Va. One of them says he belongs to company B of the Tenth Virginia regiment of infantry. This regiment had been on the Rappahannock, according to previous information.—Gen. Banks’s Despatch.
—A body of National cavalry from Forsyth, Mo., destroyed the rebel saltpetre manufactory near Yellville, Ark., this day. Lieut. Heacock. of the Fourth regiment of Iowa cavalry, was killed and one private wounded, in the fight with the rebels.— (Doc. 146.)
— The Dismal Swamp Canal, N. C, was destroyed by the naval forces under Commander Rowan.—(Doc. 147.)
—The National fleet, under the command of Flag-Officer Farragut, after bombarding Forts Jackson and St Philip, on the Mississippi River, passed by the forts to reduce New-Orleans.— Gen. Butler’s Report.
