February 9, 1862

Sunday 9th

I woke up this morning feeling as if I had been made for an old man eighty years old . My boots were scarcely dry, but fortunately the Chaplain of the 21st had found a can of lard and by a dint of greasing, and halling I got them on. I found outside quite a little town. Cabins nicely built in streets for the men & log houses for the officers in the order of a regular camp. I saw a great many of the rebel prisoners - among them the Richmond Light infantry blues, Capt Wise’s company, which had so handsomely, entertained the New York 7th. They were fine aristocrat looking fellows in grey uniform like the Lewisburg greys. I found I was but two of three hundred yards from Reno’s quarters through the wood. It was a handsomer set of barracks than the others - the houses built of boards - the chimneys outside of mud and sticks plastered with mud. I found Beaver in the Col’s quarters & the Col told me I need not go back as he had ordered the other companies to come up. During the forenoon I went down to see the forts - there were three - one of eleven one of four, the other of ten - this last one was the one that was bombarded but it had not been materially injured at all. They had spiked the guns, cut the ropes, threw most of the ammunition into the swamp. They are beautiful works built of sod and sand - and heavily armed with thirty two pounders some rifled - they are very formidable, & well manned could not well be taken.

Sunday 9th

The batteries, numbering three, are very nicely constructed of sod and sand. The fort just below here on the beach was called, Huger, now Reno, eleven guns next Blanchard, now Park, four guns mounted and a place for a fifth, lying on the shore at the landing - the third on Pig point, Bartow, now Fort Foster. This latter was not injured any of account. There were two red guns - one or two disabled. The barracks inside were burned and a great many arms destroyed. Houses outside were perforated with shot & shell and we saw many lying far back of it. A great deal of powder had been thrown into the swamp, and are in case number of arms have been fished out of the swamps. On our way back, we met a party who had taken two prisoners. One a bright eyed fellow said he was from Craven County & that his company had worked the guns themselves. The fourth shot had disabled the gun, and one man killed & three wounded was all the casualties. Hassenplug found an old classmate of his when at Union College, Piot by name, from Murfreesboro' capt of a company. He knew John Blair Linn. They had long conversations of old times. He told us a great deal, which we did not altogether. I suppose they placed the same reliance on a great many of our statements. He said the army at Norfolk was 15.000 that was on the Island on Saturday during the battle, and was so hard pressed that he left his overcoat. We heard the explosion of the fortification on Nags head on Saturday evening, but took it for an evening gun from a nine inch shell gun. Beaver picked up a tract “for the times” published at Petersburg Va. He has also one he took out of the cap of one that was shot in the last skirmish just before the the surrender near this camp. Casting our burden on the Lord by Joseph Atkinson. “There is no class of men who excite a deeper interest in every loyal son of the south than our gallant soldiers & who have exposed them selves in defense of our honor our liberties & our lives" The Col sent for the rest of our battalion & our company arrived in the evening. They passed a most miserably wretched night, and said they felt very anxious about me. The barracks put up here will probably accommodate four regiments. There is every thing indicating an eye to comfort convenience and a permanent stay.