Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1861-09-14
tFor the 'Sunbury American"
Letter from the Highland Regiment
In BIvoUAC, near the Chain Bridge,
Fairfax County, Virginia,

tolriax County, virginia, [
HEApQuARTERs 18th Reg, n. Y. IS. Nj,
September 7th, 1861.
II. B. MAssER, Esq. Dear Sir In lack oi
The usual facilities. my writing must be lini-
ted and condensed Our Regiment under
Col. Stevens, though less than 500 effective
men, was ordered here on last Tuesday night,
from Camp Hope. Intelligence had been re-
ceived that the enemy was advancing and had
shown much impotence. 40 less thau two
days an immense Federal force was assembled
at this point. ranging about a mile nlong the
banks Of the Potomac, and extending about
mile and half inland. Ger. Smith has com.
mund, with bis Headquarters on the main
road leading too Leesburg. Col. Stevens has
command of the left wing. numbering 4OOO
or 5000. By Thursday evening formidable
breastworks we're thrown op OD the highest
hill, which is au admirable military selection.
and commands wide range ofcountry. In the
Fort, which includes an are Of about two acrs,
and 10 my judgment, is superior to Fort Cor.
Gran. there are many 81 Founders, and one
! 6S.pounder Outside there is trench to be
used as rife pit. ln front there are nume.
| rous masked batteries, surrounded by felled
J timber, which will very materially impede the
| eneUy's progress. The timber has been near.
| " all felled for some distance in aud around
the intreuchments.
Ia our vicinity are other forts. and under
staud that all along the line of the Potomac
there are ample preparations made to receive
the enemy. Here 90 the left, at an elevation
from which you can plainly see the dome OF
the Capitol, some seven or eight mics dis.
taut we have also breastworks, rifle pits, and
many pieces Of ordinance. 1t is highly proba
BILE that all these preparations, which have
been made in an incredibly short time, operate
to hold the enemy 10 check. Yesterday and
the day before. a rebel 6Ng could be seen at 9
distance ofabout two miles from opr lines, and
we were in hourly expectations OF an attack
Bnt up to this (Saturdayl morning we are it
statu quo. The impression seems to be gain
ing ground that the Rebels are beginning tC
see that the call for 100000 Union troops II
a sober reality, and that with them discretion
wonld be the better part of valor.
You may rest assured that our GoVernmeD
is truly in earnest now, and that Genera
Mcclellan is tbeman for his work. can SCI
the most manifest improvement 10 our militia
ry operations. Col. Stevens, as well as Gen
Mcclellan, is q rigid disciplinarisn. He toll
me the other day, that be was "a perfect oil
YER Cromwell on the subject of religion ir tb
army" and that he felt greatly the importanc
of q chaplain especially when going into az
e tioa. "lfyou cannot pray ,cih the Regiment,
said he, IL want you to pray iu secret, for
e have the most implicit confidence in prayer.
| have noticed, also, that since the battle I
f Bull Run, no movements are made on th
Sabbath, as had previously been the case.
>, Yesterday, Captain of the 5th Wisconsi
Regiment, quartered on the same hill with
went out some Two miles scouting on bors
:, back, ard happened to fall 10 with four reh
n scouts. He was Immediately ordered TO su
render. The Captain, putting bis hands b
IF hind bis back, apparently TO present his pi
.. tolls, cooked them, and drawing them rour
!. ore in each hand, instantly fred them bot
e and killed the two mounted scouts. Those {
foot then fred at him while he was retreatir
n in fuil gslop. One shot took effect slight
j. 10 his left arm. and the other penetrated bo
cheeks, without, however, doing the slghte
.s damage too q good set Of teeth. The wouu
b. ed Captain is not much hurt.
le saw two live rebels under arrest day b
fore yesterday at the Headquarters of &c
Smith. They had au impudeut appearance
God grant that this wicked rebellion m
- soon be put down.
Yours, Truly.
P. P.RlZER, Chaplain 10th Reg.
P.S. Capt. Fl. Ellis has been prom ote
= and is now Major, vice Mcclellan, resigned