Poughkeepsie Eagle Feb. 19, 1862
Camp Bay View, Townfield, Va.
Monday, Feb. 10, 1862
Dear Eagle:
It is some time since I wrote to you last, and perhaps you would like to hear again from your old correspondent. Scarcely anything has occurred lately worth noting. In fact, until the last week, we have heard nothing from the northern world on account of bad weather. Saturday was for a rarity a beautiful day, and we improvised <?>. We <?> to the island that lies about two miles from us. It was formerly a part of the main land, but the connecting land has been washed away by the see. The sea is continually encroaching on the land everywhere in this vicinity. At least half of a mile has been washed away from this farm. At low tide, far out in the <?> that once towered far above Neptune’s domain. On this plain is an old windmill, once considered the centre of the farm. Soon that will fall, and nothing will be seen of the place where it now stands but a dreary waste of water. This is another "irrepressible conflict," that can be witnessed anywhere on this peninsula. But this is a digression that you must pardon. I will return to our voyage before mentioned. We arrived there without any trouble.
This island is about 15 feet above low water mark. The first article we saw was part of a vessel lying high and dry, half imbedded in the sand. What story could be made out of that piece of timber, scarcely 12 feet long! How long it had lain there, I could not tell - nor whence it came. Perhaps it was a part of the wrecked Arctic - the long looked for Pacific - or the anxiously watched for City of Glasgow. Near it lay a ghastly skull, with its hideous grin. Whether it was another relic of the same wreck, I do not know - but it set me thinking. What hopes, what fears, were quenched when the vessel went down with its living freight. Perhaps it was but the wreck of some small coaster, which was never heard of more. Somewhere a wife or mother was looking continually for the return of the wanderer, and turning sadly away from the window with the exclamation, "Will he never come?" Wearied with watching, she died broken-hearted, sorrowing for her long lost son or husband. Were I an author, what a romance could I weave out of that log of wood with its luring companion. But I am no writer - nothing but a soldier fighting for his country’s honor. I saw nothing on this island, with this exception, worth noting.
Like the rest of this part of Kanawha, it is sandy - producing nothing but sweet potatoes and corn. Perhaps one word in the above sentence needs explanation, viz., Kanawha. Although the inhabitants of the peninsula do not call it anything else than Virginia, still they recognize the authority of Gov. Pierpont. At an election held under his proclamation, all the Union candidates were elected by a large vote. But here is another digresssion. Well, we left the island, and shaped our course for the North Point lighthouse, which lays about three miles from here. We reached it without accident in a short time. It is and has been deserted ever since the breaking out of this war, that distracts our once happy country. The keeper, whose name is Floyd, (a relative of the notorious John B.,) fled for Dixie after destroying all useful property. His books and papers, that he left in his flight, show that he had profited by the example of his illustrious cousin. It must run in the family, I think.
The place was deserted, and with the exception of a stove that he could not remove, nothing of use could be found. The floor was strewn with the remains of property destroyed. However, he left his government blanks, which are now in our possession. We struck the fog bell several times, and it rang dismally over the deep, startling the gulls from the water - and they circled round the lighthouse with discordant cries. The bell was covered with their excrements, and for many a day had served them for a roosting place. They were angry, no doubt, at us for disturbing the silence of the place. This lighthouse is strongly resting upon fluted columns of solid iron. It is not very high, but contains a great deal of room. There are two tanks of water, still full, and parts of the lamp are in different parts of the building. But they are of no use, for there is no keeper to collect them and have the lamp lit. After looking through the building we started for home, where we arrived safely in time for dinner.
Yours as usual,
S.H.B.Jr.