The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1861-11-20
OUR ARMY CORRESPONDENCE

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"Dress Parade" and while waiting for ra-
tions, | propose to spend few moments
in writing to you. Contrary to our ex
pectations, we were assigned to the Fifty
third Regiment, Col. Brooke, instead of
the Second, Col. Mann. Speaking my
own sentiments, and that of the members
of the Company generally believe the
transfer to this Regiment is highly salts
factory. Unless we are most wofully de-
ceived in our cancellations, based as they
are on close observation, our Colonel is
noble le-hearted gentlemen, and true
soldier. Though yet young he has seen
FIVE years of service in the regular army.
The other regimental officers are men of
true soldierly and gentleman-like bear
ing, nearly all Of them too, are like the
Colonel, yonng men. The Company Of
fcers so far as we have made their ac-
quaintance are men whom one can not
but respect; men who set good examples
for their men, and who, as consequence,
exert a good influence over them. All
along the road from Harrisburg here We
were praised as being the best behaved
Regiment which had passed along the
road for many a day We mention this
fact for the better satisfaction Of our
friends at home, who we know are anx-
iously waiting for news from the boys,
and who, we feel assured, will feel our
absence much less keenly to know that
the organization into which we have been
thrown is good one. We are at present
encamped just out of the city, distance
of perhaps three-fourths of mile, and a
most beautiful place it is too. The dome
of the Capitol rises majesticaly in the dis
tance, constantly reminding US that our
duty and purpose is to maintain inviolate
the integrity of that Union over which
float the Stars and Stripes-that fitting
emblem of our country's greatness. In
order to get some idea Of the vastneSs of
the preparations made by Government for
the suppression of rebellion and restora-
ton of peace and harmony, one should
be right here at headquarters. True,
when We read of the regiments which one
after another are transported in rapid
succession from points both near and re.
mote, to the national rendezvous, We
are apt to think that we know nearly ali
worth knowing in regard to the war but
when we get right here, and when for
miles troops are stationed in every direc-
ton, then is it that we sit down and sagely
conclude that we knew nothing before,
and but little even now. We are rapidly
becoming accustomed to the din Of war,
for almost constantly yesterday we were
greeted by the distant boom of heavy
cannonading. Greenhorns that we were,
we had supposed battle on the Potomac.
The firing was in that direction. Again
too was our curiosity awakened and many
conjectures brought up in the evening by
the most splendid display of fireworks
which it has ever been our fortune to
witness. A constant succession of rockets
thrown to a great height and bursting in
mid air, displaying the symbolic red,
white and blue, caused some of US to
think that our conjecture sof battle were
correct, and this display in honor of a
victory gained, while others thought that
the lights were signals denoting an ad
vance movement on the part of the rebels.
The thing turned out however quite diff
ferently. This morning when the news
boys came to camp with the morning pa
pers. there was a general rush among the
officers to obtain them OF course we
were anxious to know what was the occa-
sion of the display in question. Well we
did get paper and 10 and behold Gen.
Blenker's Brigade had been compliment
ing Gen. Mcclellan on his succession to
the chief command of the United States
Army. Thus you see was all our splen-
did conjectures of great naval victories,
of hasty advance movements upon either
side "skedaddled."
Speaking of advance movements, can
see no reason why Government should be
in any hurry to make an advance at pres.