Poughkeepsie Eagle Dec. 18, 1861
In Camp, 9 miles from Drummondtown, Va.
November 22, 1861
Dear Eagle:
We arrived here last night, very tired, after two days tramp. On Wednesday we travelled to a small village called Temperanceville, about 8 miles from our old camping ground. Yesterday we marched from there to this place, a distance of 26 miles. Many of the men gave out from fatigue, and had to be carried in the baggage wagons. Every member of the brigade had blistered feet or lame ankles.
We passed on our march through several small villages, but I could learn the name of only one, which was called Modesttown. From the only hotel in the place, a large American flag was flying. Of course we saluted it with Zouave enthusiasm. On our way to this place we passed a deserted house, in front at which was a tall flag staff. On the summit of this was a small Union flag. Where the occupants had gone I know not - but nailed to the pole, flaunting in the breeze and defying secession, waved the stars and stripes. The boys hailed this incident with nine hearty cheers, such as only come from the heart. The inhabitants of this country are either very ignorant of distance or have never travelled; for no two are agreed on the length of the road. I have since learned something that accounts for this, namely, that this is Henry A. Wise’s Congressional District, in which he boasted there was never newspaper, schoolhouse nor post office.
Most of the white people between Temperanceville and Modesttown are strong Union men; one of them remarking,"this is the Union neighborhood." In connection with this, I still mention a laughable scene that occurred on the way to Temperanceville. We had just emerged from a wood, where we saw, about a quarter of a mile ahead, a primitive sawmill, not in motion, although a man was in charge. As soon as he spied us, he started the wheel, and worked as though his life depended on his exertions. At first we saw nothing singular in this, but as we passed a turn in the road we saw a large tree felled across the road. Upon examining the road we found that it was obstructed in a similar manner for two miles in advance. The owner of the sawmill knew nothing about it, and could not show us any way to get past them. A pistol presented at his head by one of our officers soon changed his mind, and he volunteered to show us another road. He stopped his mill and mounted the Colonel’s horse and set off. While he was gone the boys started the mill and could not stop it. It kept sawing until the log was sawn through. As it could not be stopped it tried to cut the iron - but here a match for it was found, for the teeth of the saw flew fast. What the owner of the mill said I do not know, for just then the bugle sounded Forward, and off we went. We followed the road he pointed out, and had no more trouble.
After passing Modesttown we found the secession sentiment predominating, till we reached Drummondtown, where a Union man is a rarity, in fact, we found only one Union man in the place, and he was in jail. We passed, before reaching Drummondtown, another battery of 14 guns. The embrasures, however, were so close that if a gun had been fired by the rebels, it would have destroyed half of the fortification. The whole concern was no better than the other of which I spoke in a former letter. Drummondtown, which is the county seat of Accomac, and the headquarters of secession in the peninsula, is an old town, dating far back in the past. I believe it <?> in the war of 1812. In front of the principal hotel was an old cannon, that had been captured from the British during the war, planted muzzle first, to serve as a tie post. The place in good times must have been quite a thriving little town, judging from the number of closed doors. A little paint would help the appearance of the houses a great deal. Some of them look as ancient as the cities of the old world. No business seems to be doing - a sure sign that no Union feeling is allowed to show itself. Find me a place where business is thriving and I can tell you at once that Union sentiment prevails. But show me a town where the stores are closed and the houses deserted, there you will soon see that the place is a hot bed of treason. Thus it is in Drummondtown. It wears a half dead look.
The faces of the inhabitantsleft in Drummondtown were very long as we passed through. We halted on the outskirts for a few minutes only, and then marched on. We stayed here long enough, however, to find in the jail a large lot of concealed weapons, accoutrements, &c., including seven pieces of artillery, elegantly mounted. Had we been allowed to search the houses, without doubt we would have discovered enough to supply a regiment. But we had no authority, and so refrained from doing it. After we passed this place, we marched on as well as our weary condition would allow. Several incidents occurred to set us in good humor, one of which I must mention. As we passed by a wood a negro appeared, who was very much excited at the sight of us. He shouted "Hurrah for the Union," and ended with a whoop that might have been heard for a mile. At the same time he would junp up and down, contorting his body into all kinds of shapes. He made such a laughable sight that every body roared. But I must close, for we are getting ready for another march. The doctor has prohibited the Colonel from going so far again in a day. The remainder of the Poughkeepsie boys are as well as they can be under the circumstances, and send their respects.
Yours, &c.
S.H.B. Jr.