As October 1861 drew to a close, a vast fleet began assembling at Hampton Roads, off the US Army’s stronghold at Fortress Monroe. Among the regiments camped near the fort, on the southeastern tip of the Virginia Peninsula, was the Schuylkill Regiment: the 48th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry.

As the ships gathered, a member of the 48th wrote a letter from Fortress Monroe that the Miners’ Journal of Pottsville later published.

“It is a most gigantic Armada, numbering over one hundred vessels, and containing a large body of Infantry, fully provided with cavalry and artillery,” he wrote. “It was a fine spectacle, especially at night, when all the vessels were lighted up, giving the Roads the appearance of an American Venice.”

In all, 77 vessels sailed from Hampton Roads for Port Royal Sound, South Carolina. The harbor held strategic value because it lay between Charleston and Savannah, Georgia. No larger fleet had ever sailed under the American flag.

The 48th Pennsylvania stayed behind at Fortress Monroe, drilling and awaiting orders of its own.

From the Miners’ Journal, November 2, 1861

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CAMP HAMILTON, NEAR FORTRESS MONROE,

October 29th, 1861.

The JOURNAL paid us its weekly visit today, and we were sorry to note another fearful fire-damp explosion, by which an energetic and useful operator lost his life.

I was amused at reading this morning in the New York Herald, a glowing description of the sailing of the Great Naval Expedition on last Saturday,- which in reality, did not commence moving out from Hampton Roads until last evening, and did not entirely get off until this morning. It is a most gigantic Armada, numbering over one hundred vessels, and containing a large body of Infantry, fully provided with cavalry and artillery. It was a fine spectacle, especially at night, when all the vessels were lighted up, giving the Roads the appearance of an American Venice.

Our Regiment is improving quite rapidly, being second to none, and superior to all others in Camp Hamilton, excepting only the 20th New York, which has been 5 or 6 months in service. The men are in excellent health, and seem contented and happy. Instead of going into wooden sheds for the winter, they will be given the round Sibley tent, and provided with stoves.

On last Saturday afternoon, General Wool had a grand review of all the troops in Camp Hamilton, and our Regiment was highly complimented for its neat and soldierly appearance. There will be a muster for pay at the end of this month, and the soldiers will soon have an opportunity of sending money to their friends at home.

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Read the previous letter from the Letters from War: 1861 series.

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This is part of an ongoing series called “Letters from War: 1861” that will share correspondence written on the front lines during the turbulent first year of the Civil War.

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