Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-08-30

kindly consented to its publication
CAMP UNION near Great Fall, (about !
Is miles abuve Washington) on the
Potomac August IS, 186l
DEAR SIR Yours of the Ilth inst, is before
ne--In return for your kindness In answering my
last promptly, viii try and give you another
from which you may learn something of the posi-
tiou Of cur Regiment at least, if | cannot inform
you correctly Of the movements of our army.
Last Tuesday morning each company of the
Regiment struck seven eight of their tents,
packed their knapsacks, with what would be re-
quired during a weeks absence, filed their hayer-
sacks with one days provisions, and about nine o.
clock marched from Camp Tennaly (leaving the
remainder of their baggage, tents, &c, under
charge of a Lieutenant and guard of about sixty
men) towards tue Great Falls, passing in review
before Gen Mccall, near his head quarters in Ten
allytown. The distance is about "A miles, and the
march rather quicker than any since our or
ganzmior, the rain falling a lmOSt all day and pre-
tceting the men from the intense heat suffered
former marches. -Four or i've streams from one
TO two and a half feet deep-when we reached the
first the men looked about 70. some means Of coss-
ing, but wheu Cdpt. Cumming exclaimed she's
poor soldier that fears WATER" and suting the ac-
iOn to the word. waded through, he was, of course,
followed by the whole Regiment.
Our men were soon encamped after arriving here,
and the coming ent and the flres being kindled
they soon became comfortable. small stream of
pure water Fuus through tho centre OF the Camp,
separating the tents of the private soldiers from
those of HE officers and furnishes bountifnl sup
ply OF the great necessary of ife-there not hsing
a sufficient number OF tents-large and comfortable
were soon formed out OF bushes AID branches
of trees, &c. and in little while, where the voice
of the PENNSYLVANIA soldier was perhaps never
heard our national airs were ehoTused by the hardy
of our noble state. These times in which the
hearts OF all eheered when, after performing all
that can be required of men, they gather around
the camp fire at night, and in rough, uncultvated
bnt feeling manner pour forth those words so
dear to US ALL
ssTheu conquer we must, for our cause it is just,
Ard this be our motto, iu Con is our trust,
And the star spanged banner in triumph shall wave
Ger the land OF the free and the home of the brave.
1t is in such times, when business, home, friends,
father mother, sisters, brothers. ALL not forgot
ten, bnt cheeriuly left that the county, in this
the dark hour Of its history, may be defended, and
when encouraged, by The e0nsoling trust,
that God will be with the right.
On Wednesday our dnties rs picket guard, be-
gan. Instead Of forming regimental police
guard the guard usually stationed round the camp
ny detailing certain number from each company,
one entire company took charge Of the camp, and
three others were marched out on picket duty
this is Que of the most important duties we are
called upon to perform, the safety of the whole
camp, perhaps, depending upon the fidelity,
courage and vigilance Of single soldier. The men
stationed about IN small squads of from three to
ten, as the exigencies Of the may require,
under the command Of Sergeant or Corporal, and
posted that intelligence be rapidly transmit
;sd through the lines of pickets, each sentinel car
rying the despatch quickly over his f'beat, y and
handing It to the next, and thus in short time
conveying news from Gen. Banks Harper's
Ferry to Gen. Mcclellan at Westinghouse course
one of the guards at least must be at each station
so that the chain may be unbroken-b besides this
chain of picket guards, there couriers posted
several miles apart, who on fleet horses more rap
idly transmit the more important news.
dur line of pickets was stationed and is now
posted up the Canal, about three or four miles (the
Chesapeake and Ohio canal passing between us and
the river) and down the same towards Washington
about two mies-the companies which were first
posted were relieved bg others the next day thus
four companies are on duty all the time and six
companies ire stationed in the camp 10 afford relief
at q moments warning; the latter companies, of
course, spending the most Of their time drilling.
Lieut.. Col. Kirk, Capt. Cummings and | have
been over the line of pckets between this and the
outposts towards Washington, this morning and
have, therefore, for the second time beheld the
Potomac, the great dividing line between loyalty
and treason. At the furthest outpost, where some
of Capt. Cummings men are, vera members
OF regiment, formerly stationed here were shot
by seeeSsionsts from the other side Of the river
the distance not being more than l50 or 200 yards
Our men, however, entertain no fears, Judging from
the manner they stand along the bank and devote
themselves to the amusement and profitable bust
ness of fishing. There is little danger now as
the rebel troops have been removed from their
position on the other side, to points above and be-
low this.
Our Regiment has been most fortunate indeed in
the selection of its leader. Col. McC Camot, as
you know, although not anremarkable for his
social qualities, belongs to that class of whose
administrative abilities mark them as leaders in
any business of life and being thoroughly posted in
military science, having graduated at West Point
and being at the same time Mas Of high moral
and religious character We must depend upon our
snccess in putting down this rebellion and compel
ling obedience to laws, lcthou regard 10 cost of
men or na0ney-there can be no half way business
about this matter. He that can see no wrong on
the part of those engaged in destroying our
property, taking the lives OF men amongst them,
processing allegiance to the government or what is
worse, forcing them to take up arms against it.
trying TO break down our commerce, arTaying and
marching armies against tie Capitol fer the purpose
of turning out the regularly constituted authorities
and occupying and destroying the same; and on the
other hand can, with double extra million
microscopic eyes, examine and condemn every act
of the Government that protects him, from the cal
ling ont OF armies the examination OF teegraphic
dispatches Can act by the way l have always re.
garded as right, and TO which honest man would
not object and villain should not be allowed to-
sneh an one is, al heart, traitor, and only lacks
the courage to act out his treason.
Hoping there viii be no backward movement on
the part OF the Government-that this talk of COM
promise with men whose every right has heretofore
been respected by the Government they now seek
TO snbvert, will never again be attained until they
lay down their arms and then show us where the
government is not sufficiently strong to protect
them and that will have happy and
nnited people instead OF divided one, remain
yours, &c. o. IL. G.
Aug. le.-The foregoing was written yesterday
but was unable to send it, will close this even
ing by stating what has transpired since writing IT,
Last evening Capt. Mcdowell, company d, re-
Turned to camp in company with several privates.
having passed the day on the Virginia side of the
river he was az the house of the mother of Jack
son, the man VINO killed Ellsworth, and foaud all
tne family to be secessoniststhe old lady declared
that if she had one hundred thousand sons she
would giTe them all to ihe cause the one dIed in-
He found Union man, (that had been driven from
bolnc on account of his loyal sentiments, but had
returned to look alter his propery.) who informed
him there were but few seeeasionists nearer than