March 13, 1896

Our Portsmith Correspondence

CAMP BLANCHARD, NEAR
PORTSMITH, Va., Feb 28th, '62

Editor Courier:--There has been 
considerable excitement prevailing in
our camps, for the last week.  There
have been a great many reports that
the enemy were about to attack
Norfolk and Portsmith.

   On Sunday morning last, 22d inst.,
Col. Jones received orders from Gen.
Huger to hold his Regiment in readi-
ness to march at any moment; that 
the enemy had come up with their
gun boats, and were concentrating
between Pigpoint and Crany Island;
he supposed their object was to land
near Pigpoint--which is only four or
five miles from our camps--if they 
should land, we would have to meet 
them.  Col. Jones ordered three days
rations, to be cooked, and made a few
brief and encourageing remarks to
the Regiment.  Every one seemed
to be willing and anxious for a
fight.

   About 12 o'clock the same day,
there was a salute fired by our bat-
eries at Pigpoint and Crany Island,
celebrating the birth of Washington
and the day of President Davis' In-
auguration. The boys thought it was
a fight and they would soon have an
opportunity of trying their hands,
but we have received no further
orders.  We are expecting an at-
tack in a short time.  Let it come
when it may, the boys are willing
and anxious to meet it.

   The Roanoke disaster has dwin-
dled down considerably.  There were
only thirteen killed on our side and
about thirty of the enemy killed.
There were tewnty-two hundred of
our men taken prisoners.  They
have since been released on parole
of honor, and sent home.  A great
many of them have been in Ports-
mouth since their release.  They seem
to think it was bad management
of the officers in command that caused
the Island to be surrendered.  It is
to be hoped that the reverses in our 
army will arouse the officers, soldiers
and the people generally, to a dili-
gence, energy, and perserverance in
action that heretofore been too
weak and too much neglected.    J.