The latest news from the 51st regiment is to July 9. They were then at Sandy Hook, Md., near Maryland Heights, with other troops, under command of Gen. Naglee. It is said that they were then receiving three days’ rations, in preparation for a movement in some direction. The following members of the regiment had been sent to Baltimore, sick, and arrived there July 9:—
James Palmer of Co. A; Wm. M. Warren, L. D. Legg, musician, and Sergeant Isaac Damon, of Co. B; Elbridge Chapman, David Baker, M. V. Ransom, and Roswell Smith, of Co. D; L. L. Moulton and D A. Tourtelott, Co. F; Jasper Bugbee, Co. II; George F. Hutchins, musician, Co. I; C. H. Walden and John Dennett, Co. K; and C. F. Coe, musician. They were all placed in the general hospital on Camden street.
We take the following from one of the letters received here:
“The ride from Baltimore to Frederick, on the 6th inst, gave us a good opinion of Maryland farms and Maryland people. In Baltimore we found a most powerful and controlling Union sentiment. As we rode to Frederick, from every one of the farm houses and cottages in sight groups of people were gathered waving the American flag. The little people were provided with tiny flags, or in lieu of them shook their handkerchiefs. The Maryland troops with us are very fine looking looking soldiers. At Frederick we passed the night in freight ears, and next day started for Maryland Heights, where we arrived late at night. We ascended the mountain with some difficulty, it being ‘dark as a pocket’ and also as muddy as several days’ rain on this peculiar soil could make it. At early dawn, July 8th, we readied the fortifications on the western side of the mountain and fell asleep in the mud. But the skies cleared, in the forenoon and we were partially relieved of the soil that had stuck to our legs. We put our guns in order and looked about. In a time of peace I advise you to stroll over these hills and look on some of the most picturesque and beautiful scenery in America. We bid fair to see most of the country before we get home.
“In the afternoon of the day of our arrival we were off as a regiment on picket duty, on the Sharpsburg road, and we were out for twenty-four hours. It was supposed there might be a rebel attack from that quarter. While we were on picket, musketry volleys were heard nearly all day. A cavalry sergeant and a squad of men, who were sent off to Antietam creek to discover the cause, reported that the retreating rebel column were engaged by our successfully advancing cavalry and infantry.
“While on the Sharpsburg road I visited the house where old John Brown lived, while preparing to take Harper’s Ferry. It is kept in the best order by its present owner and occupant, Mr. Crampton. Mrs. Crampton observed to me, that all the Massachusetts men were anxious to see the place, and that there had been thousands of people there. She said the place did not cost them much, owing to its John Brown reputation, and to the fear of some people, that they should find old Ossawattamie’s ghost there; but she had seen no ghost. The school house where John Brown’s arms were stored is a clean, white building, in good repair. It has not been in the least defaced or injured. In the midst of so much devastation and ruin, it seemed singular that this little arsenal of John Brown was untouched,—not a bench removed, not a pane of glass broken. Can it be that old Ossawattamie’s ghost still hovers about this wild mountainous region? A farmer near by told me his recollection of his peculiar neighbor, and spoke of Cook and Thompson as having staid at his farm occasionally. He said that all of Thompson’s talk was about the frontier, hunting, &c. Cook, he said, was “gassy.”
“A sad accident occurred while we were marching up the heights, after our arrival here from Frederick. Corporal McClellan, of Co. E, slipped and tell twenty feet into the canal and was drowned. It was in that dark night and his body was not recovered until next day.”
Worcester Daily Spy, Worcester, MA
