Poughkeepsie Eagle Dec. 4, 1863
Headquarters, Purnell Legion, Md. Vols.,
Chapel Point, near Port Tobacco, Md.,
November 27, 1863
Dear Eagle:
I am not dead yet, but so far out of the way of civilization that I might, without much trouble, imagine myself so. This country is as ? ? ? from appearances, finished about fifty years ago. If you want to see people working with corn-husk collars and rope traces on their cattle, here is the place to come. Perhaps the mode of churning is the most interesting; it is done in a stone preserve jar, with an ordinary stick, making about a quart of milk into butter, after churning. Think of the people of this age, living in the midst of a fine agricultural country (for this is one), sending to Baltimore (two days travel) for their butter and eggs. This shows how that "peculiar institution" of slavery develops a country. Had it been abolished years ago, this would have been one of the most promising sections of the state. And yet the inhabitants are, like people of old, "joined to their idols", and opposed to emancipation. I am credibly informed by one who is posted, that but eight Union men are to be found in the whole region. I hope after this rebellion is ended, that some enterprising men of the North will settle here, and then the country will be so transfigured that the inhabitants would scarcely recognize it.
Port Tobacco is but thirty-two miles from Washington, yet there is not such a thing as a saw mill nearer than Salisbury, Somerset county, or the capital. Here’s a chance for somebody. However, this is an important port, for a brick business was carried on with Dixie in spite of the blockade. If you will look at a map, you will see an arm of the Potomac makes up toward Port Tobacco. This is called Port Tobacco River, though it is part of the Potomac. Port Tobacco was formerly at the head of navigation, but now the river at that place is not more than two feet deep and about twenty wide. What has caused it to change I do not know. About half a mile above this place is the head of navigation for sailing vessels, and the Point, which is 3 ½ miles from Port Tobacco, is the last wharf for steamers. Yet neither here nor at the dock above is there anything more than a warehouse, while the wharves at both places are so rotten that a team cannot go upon them. A short distance below can be seen Mathias Point, once so celebrated, but now harmless; and in that neighborhood is our blockading squadron.
From Chapel Point, so named from the Chapel which adorns the head of the hill, went Sothron, who killed Lieut. White, of the 7th U.S. Colored Troops, a few weeks ago.
Very few of the slaves in this region have gone into the army, no recruiting station or posts having been nearer than Benedict, about 40 miles below. Nearly all the inhabitants are Catholics, there being two churches of that faith in the vicinity - the one before spoken of, the other at Port Tobacco. Besides this, there is an Episcopal Church, the pastor of which is a strong Union man. Previous to the war, his congregation numbered from 800 to 1000 members, but when the rebellion broke out he was requested to leave. He refused, saying "the church was as much his as anybody’s." All his communicants left him but four. He still persisted in his Union sentiments, and when the Secretary of War heard of his case he sent the old pastor a Chaplain’s commission, and he still preaches in the old pulpit. He is nearly eighty years old. All honor to such men, say I.
We are awaiting orders and are still unsettled. Occasionally a paper makes its way into camp, (generally a week old) and is eagerly perused by all before it is destroyed.
We have but six companies of the Legion at this point, two others being on the Pautuxent, and the others at Annapolis.
We have had some cold weather, and this morning the ground was white with frost. Nuts and persimmons are plenty, and partridges, squirrels and rabbits are seen in camp (dead of course) very often. The trees, with the exception of the evergreens, are entirely denuded of leaves, and the landscape presents a dreary view.
Yours,
S.H.B., Jr.
Poughkeepsie Eagle Nov. 3, 1863
Personal - Among those of our soldier friends who have recently returned from the seat of war is our occasional correspondant, Lieut. S.H. Bogardus, Jr. He looks well and healthy.