Army Correspondence.

Mr. Editor:

A detachment of the 9th N.J.V. including the veterans who did not re-enlist and the recruits, removed from Newport News to this place, on the 22d and 23d of Jan. Here we have had comfortable quarters and rations, and generally a quiet time. The only exceptions have been occasional picket skirmishing within from four to eight miles of this place. We are about 5 miles from Portsmouth by way of Getty's Station, and about 3 miles by direct course. The 10th New Hampshire, and 8th Conn. Are stationed near us. We have near us several pine-log breastworks of several miles in extent, also several forts with big guns ready to spout iron hail and thunder whenever the rebs show themselves. At Getty's Station about 2 miles from here, are stationed several regiments and batteries. All these forces are under the command of Gen. Heckman, who formerly won such laurels in North Carolina. The Chivalry [sic]till quite recently have kept themselves at respectful distance. They have occasionally given us alarm by driving in our outer pickets. One night about three weeks since we had distributed to each man forty rounds of cartridges, with the expectation of having a chance before morning of burning said cartridges under the noses of unwelcome visitors.

The first of last week about 125 veterans, and 40 recruits returned to camp, under charge of Captain Thompson, of Co. F. These veterans were the first who left Newport News on a home furlough. The remainder are expected next week. We were glad to see the boys back again, and especially our good- natured Captain. Captain Thompson seems to believe in Bo Burn's theory "That a man is a man," although a private, and treats those under his command accordingly.

Last month during monthly Inspection, word came in camp that the Rebs were gobbling up our front[i]er pickets, shooting some, and starting others towards Richmond to taste the sweets of Libby Prison. Gen. Heckman immediately ordered our from this, and two adjoining camps about 400 men. The squad from Co. F and Co. D, went out under Sergeant Amos Evans, orderly of Co. F They marched out as far as Deep Creek, about 4 miles from here. Gen. Heckman ordered out two Companies of Cavalry to aid the others. Yesterday they were attacked by about 500 rebel cavalry. At the first brush our cavalry ingloriously fled and left our boys to fight it out as best they could. These gallant horsemen came in with such pell mell order that they ran over several of our boys, who were on their way out to aid in the skirmish. Last night one of our boys was brought in severally wounded in the shoulder. His name is Hulty of Co. D. Another from the same company by the name of Nutt, is killed.

Last night, another company of Cavalry went past here on their way to the skirmish. These I trust will behave better. Those who behaved so badly yesterday have been stationed near here. They are, I believe, noted for bravery in all kinds of debauchery, but when they come to face honorable danger, they turn tail to the enemy and their courage escapes through horses heels, as rapidly as steam through a safety valve. From respect to a sister State I will not mention where these cavalry belong. But I will gladly state that they do not belong to Jersey. Our boys have not yet returned to camp, but I think, they have done their duty. As yet none but veterans have been ordered out on this frontier picketing. This, I suppose, is because they understand bushwacking, while the recruits do not. But we expect soon to have to learn that beautiful art.

Yesterday the veterans of the 8th Conn. Returned to their camp, close by ours. We were glad to see them, especially at this juncture. If the Chivalry [sic] will only hold off, till all the old 9th N.J. return, I think we can give them a suitable welcome. Last night two cannons were sent out to aid our boys. We have heard them speak several times during the day.

The chivalry [sic] after killing poor Nutt, stripped him and threw his body into a ditch, whence it was afterward recovered by our boys. The secret of this disturbed hornets nest on this frontier, is probably this - the rebels are making a desperate effort to recover North Carolina, and they are attacking us here to prevent our sending more troops to Newbern and other places in eastern N.C. They seem now to be making one last desperate effort to retrieve their waning fortunes. If they are foiled in the coming campaign the work is done, the Union saved, and the future glory of our nation secure.

L.S.H.
Co. F, 9th N.J. Vols.

P.S. March 3d. To-day our boys have returned from the picket skirmish. They succeeded in reestablishing their picket forts, and driving the rebs several miles beyond into North Carolina. The detachment which Capt. Thompson sent out from this camp, consisted of about 100 men. This number of Jersey boys, and those fugitive Cavalry were in advance. The Rebs were lying in ambush, and the advance were past them before they were discovered, lying low, with pieces cocked. The Rebs suddenly fired on our boys, who immediately returned the compliment. Our boys believing themselves largely outnumbered retreated about one mile till they met reinforcements. Then our boys turned on the Rebs, and drove them in turn back to the North Carolina line, and re-established all their picket posts. To-day they have returned to Camp. This picket skirmishing commenced last Tuesday and continued more or less till yesterday. It was on Tuesday that the cavalry, sent out o sustain our pickets, so suddenly took the back track, and that too when so well armed with sabres and carbines. Some of them were captured, some jumped into the canal, and took to the swamps, without having burnt gunpowder enough to scorch a feather. These can be well spared, and cannot properly reckoned to our loss. Our boys think they dropped a few of the Rebs. They certainly made them skedaddle at last, driving them entirely beyond our lines, where I hope they will stay for a while at least. Captain Thompson, who now commands this detachment, appears to be satisfied with the conduct of our boys in this late picket skirmishing. It is impossible to know the exact force of the Rebels in this raid. They lay in ambush, and crawled on their bellies so much that their noses could not be counted. And when their legs came into use, their noses were in the wrong direction to be visible.

L.S.H.