The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1861-11-27


snd patches Of woods which did exist
are fast fading away. The great demand
for wood, which is hourly and daily be-
ing made upon the remaining forest, will
soon reduce the surrounding country into
an open and wide extended view. Our
left faux rests on the Blue Ridge our
right on the Potomac. Our Brigade oc
cupies somewhere about the centre and is
in the advance. For the present we are
separated from the Brigade OF Gen. Bon.
ham-they are at their former position,
few miles south Of us. We regret the
separation Of the South Carolina Brigade,
but hope it will not remain so long. The
5th, 9Th, 4,h anG the 9th still constitute
the third Brigade, under the command OF
Gen. Jones. Our regiment is famiiarIy
known in camp rs the bloody 9Th. | am
responsible for that appella,ion, having
termed it such in playful and jes,ing
humor. The name is likely to stick as |
see some correspondence have so styled
the 9th, in some Of their letters from the
seat OF war. am satisfied from what
have seen, that if an opportunity ever
presents, the 9th will be entitled to wear
the appelletion.
This is grand strategic point" or
rather "points," and the move OF such an
Immense mass Of soldiers to this place is
believed 10 be a grand strategic move
ment." Redans, redoubts, forts, eutrench
ments and breastworks have been con
structed and erected around and about,
and are still going on. Since our arrival
Capt. Wyie hes been temporarily de.
tached to lay out and superntend tho
erection and construction Of suitable for.
t;hcations and entertainments for our
Brigade. Yesterday he WAS engaged in
viewing and laying out the necessary
ground works. His plans and arrange.
ments me. the appreciation Of Gen.
Jones' and Gen. Beauregard, who were
with him most Of the day. Capt. W., is
charmed and carried away with the
quick and observant eye and the thorough
scientific knowledge Of Gen. b., as to
such matters. Heretofore, | supposed
there was no science required in en-.
uenchments and breastworks, that all
that was necessary was the dtches and
embankments, but find was mistaken.
They have to be constructed with various
angles and crooks, SO as 10 protect the
forces behind from an enfilading fire, and
to enable our forces to operate with di.
rect and cross fire. The enemy cannot
approach them without eucountering a
murderous and destructive fire. There
are AS many rames for The different
works erected scientifically as there are
letters in the aIphabet-cer,ainly more in
number than the number Of Miss Bet
sey's calico dresses.
The roads Of the Turnpike have be.
come almost impossible. On the way
from McLean's Ford to this place, in a
distance Of two hundred yards, there
were three new wagons broken and left
on all other dirt roads il is said to present
a similar appearance. The grand army
Of the Potomac are more concentrated
now at Centreville, than have seen it
since my membership. Some say We
can, and do see, thirty six Regiments at
one sight, besides 3 number Of batteries
The extended and immense view of white
tents, dotted all over tue hills, valleys
and plains for miles around fully jus,ities
the belief that there are fully that num-
Der. II Miss Betsey could only Le trans
ferred % this locality and take one look,
in the fullness and goodness Of her soul,
she would exclsim "a sea Of tents" an
''ocean Of soldiers" bee that Bennett
Of the New York Herald, estimates our
forces from the Great Falls to the mouth
OF the Occsquan on the Potomac, a. one
hundred and fifty thousand. We who
are here are at a loss to find out where
that immense force is located. 1t ap.
pears we have sufficient force and a, the
same time fall lar, very 'sr below that
exaggerated estimate. What we are to
do for wood for the number now in sight,
is more than most Of US can now figure
out. The nights are quite cool, and the
wind meets with no obstruction from the
top Of the mountains about fifteen miles
distant 1t will lie impossible, out Of the
question to winter here, even il fire wood
was handy and abundant. I. is too ele.
waited, too open and too much exposed TO
| tha taan cuttinu and dash;no No~,l