Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-07-03
BIJSSERHAssETT's ISLAND, ONO RIvER,
NEAR PARKEKsBURG, Va, June %, 1861.


BIJSxERHAssErT's ISLAND, Ono RTvER,
NEAR PAEKEKsBURG, Va, June %, 1851
DEAR SESrINEL-A few Of US came down here
to-day, two miles below Parkersbnrg and four
teen below Marietta, to see the spot made sacred
and historic by the genius of William Writ,
in his speech on the trial of Aaron Burr.
On the identical site of Blennerhassett's mansion,
on the spot where the traces of his shrubbery yet
are to be seen, / sit down this Sunday afternoon
to invoke the gods of thought-the powers of
ideal life-to bring me back in memory's full
dreams to the day when Blannerhassett and his
beautiful wife walked through these groves and
when Aaron Burr, right here was bordering under
these trees an expedition which Jackson believed,
although he was the friend of Burr, was intended
against the Government. The truth is that this
present secession scheme is but the child or rather
the manhood of the scheme of Burr. 1t is am
bition's proud aspirings, not Southern statesman
ship or demand for Southern rights that now ere
ates this desclation from one end of the Union to
the other. So regard it. 1t is the unnatural
ambition of few. This place is now deserted,
vet beautiful island. There is fine view to-
ward Parkersburg, as well as down the river.
We arrived at Parkersburg on Friday morning.
description. Six steamboats, lay at the Marietta
wharf, alive with men that had come board
the night before after dark. Each boat at day
light presented the appearance Of busy hive of
men, On one of them was Gen. Mcclellan and
his staff, with their horses and requirements,
camp equpage, &c. On the others we're Ohio,
indiana and Illinois truvps.- ws.l. Gen. McCIei-
Ian as a body guard, was a fine company of in
fantry regular soldiers from Fort Randall, Ne
braska. They were very orderly, quiet, well be-
haved men, and there was quite contrast between
their general conduct and that of the vivacious
volunteers, so exuberant with life and new scenes.
We had no supper the night before, and morning
found us without breakfast, but the promise of
breakfast on the boat or elsewhere, made all
right The boats started, Gen. Mcclellan in adj
vance One after another left the wharf, and
soon a convoy of steamers, half mile apart,
single file, covered on bow, deck, guard and bur-
ricane deck with sturdy soldiers with occasion
al officer, with regimental flags flying, drums
beating and bands playing. 1t was grand scene,
but the mission of these men was grander than
the scene. IL tras to sustain the best Government
the srorld erer salc to sustain Il against rebellion
The boys were now on the road on board
steamboat. No one knew his destination. The
Commanding General, Mcclellan, was leading,
and something going to be done. On one
side of the river was Southern territory. All
eyes were bent to find out the feeling, and it was
gratifying to see that at almost every house on the
Virginia side Union flags were flying and BOYS
girls and old folks gathered to give hearty cheer
and wave their hats, bonnets and handkerchiefs.
Once in awhile man could be seen who would
not cheer and then shout would go up, "Take
off your haiti Take it off, and it would gen.
orally whistle around. Such was the scene The
Ohio side was also lined atevery farm, also along
the railways.
The bows began to think that the enemy was
not 50 close as they thought, but still looked with
suspicion upon the Southern shore, and some in
quired if they had better not load their guns and
be ready. This was over caution, but commend
able. This river scene. so changing, at every
stroke of the powerful engine gave rise no doubt
to serious thoughts in many minds. Where were
we drifting upon this noble stream? Some said
to Memphis some to the Kanawha, some to Par
kersburg. Twelve miles brought US to Parkers-
burg, and there, at a beautiful landing within
sight of Blennerhassetts Island, a nice town OF
$780, on the river bank, we hauled to, or rounded
to, as river men say.
One boat after another took its station; guards
were placed on the lower decks to prevent sol
diers from going on shore. Preparations were
made to get rations. The rations were got, the
boats dropped down two hundred yards below
then the companies went on shore in order and
cooked their meal on the old Virginia shore As
they stepped from the boat on the soil you could
hear one after another say, well now, we are
in Southern territory" "We're on old Vir-
giny's shore" "We're in the land of Dixie
&c, &C., and they looked around right sharp for
secessionists. After hunting for cooking utensils
for a long time in the wilderness of baggage oil
1900 men slowed in the lover decks promis-
cuously, and 9Th and 10th well mixed we at last
got some out and went to work to make meal
on bacon, hard bread and coffee. 1t was stump
tuous meal, however, for it was o'clock p NJ.
and just twenty six hours since we had seen any
grub. This was Friday afternoon, and as we had
had tiresome journey every one was allowed tc
look around for several hours TO rest At night
we came on board. The next day was occupied
in fixing guns, asserting baggage, &c. a new
brigade was formed consisting of the 9Th and 10th
Indiana aud the 18th and 18th Ohio, Brigadie
General Rosecrans, of Cincinnati. commanding
Rosecrans is naturally military genius, gradu
ate of West Point and has seen much actual ser
vice. He has great activity of mind and grea
knowledge of the details of a company. Hi.
staff was formed on Saturday morning and an
nounced 10 the regiments, and is as follows: Capt
John W Blake, 10th Indiana, Brigade Major
Adiutant Harrison, of the Sth Indiana, Abide
Camp: Capt Kingsbury, Of the 18th Ohio. As
sistant Adutant General; Lieut.. Perkins, of the
10Th Indiana, Brigade Commissary; Col. Tall
madge, Of the Ohio brigade, Quartermaster.
HEADQUARTERS were Immediately established and
preparati0ns made for active operations. which
must be in a few days. The sth and 10th In
diana received orders to leave by railroad on Sat
urtiay, every one with one days rations in haver
sacks and forty rounds of ammunition in th'
cartridge boxes / was present when the TIVE
Colonies, Benton and Manson, received the news
They quietly conveyed it to their Captains ant
the Captains to the men of their companies
There. was no shouting, but every one went L
work In a quiet, business way, to fix up. Th'
steamboats, again bristled with men and bayonets
The hive had been tapped aud the humming nois'
showed that they would swarm The boatsdrop
ped over to Parkersburg again, baggage wa
hurried forward, men hurried up their cakes fo
one davis rations. The regiments filed out o
the boats and formed on one Of the streets, AM
were inspected by Gen. Rosencraus and stan ans