The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-11-29
OUR ARMY CORRESPONDENTS.
INTERESTING LETTER FROM THE FIRST
REGIMENT. ~

| REGIMENT. ~
| November in, Naryland-Brigad Review
Visit to Harrison's Island-Want Of Mate.
rails for crossing the Potomac Ru.
| mors-Examination Of Ohieers-De Nor
timers Pie Speculation Colonel Dana
Sunday Services, 10.
CAMP STONE, NEAR EDWARDS FERRY, Nd,
Move mber l4th, 1861.
The November of Western Maryland,
until the present week, has fully answered
to the chill November" of the poet, and
it has been possible to realize, amid the
mud, winds and rains, why the misanthrope
should frequently select this month to
"shufle off the mortal COIL"
But for the last few days Nature has
once more smiled, and decked herself by day
in glorious sunshine, and by night in the
mellowest moonlight.
Yesterday afternoon was an afternoon just
adapted for military review, and it was
selected for the review of General Germans
Brigade, consisting Of the New York Sec.
ond, Colonel Tompkins, the Thirty fourth,
Colonel La Due, and our Minnesota First,
Colonel Dana.
Inspired by balmy atmosphere and
cloudless sky, the soldiers, to those who had
no military experience, maneuvred well,
and without Partially it can be seid that in
promptness, neatness and esprit du corps,
Minnesota was the first.
Among other spectators were General
Stone and aid and General Burns, who has
taken command of the brigade of the la
mented Baker. General German, with his
fine physique, and firm seat on the horse,
attracts the attention of the bystander on
such occasions by his soldierly appearance.
Lured by the weather, day before yester-
day, rode on horseback, in company with
our Brigade Surgeon. DR.. Hand, to the
Potomac, by an unfreQuented road through
the woods and farm enclosures. About
four miles from camp we reached the river
in front of Harrison's Island, hereafter in
the history of our country to be associated
with melancholy "reminiscences.
The island is long, narrow, and CONS
paratively fertile strip of land, forming a
beautiful farm. On it, in addition to a
dwelling, barn, and necessary out-houses,
there is an old ruin of brick or stone that
seems to have been at one time an extern
sive tobacco house. The point at which
the forces of Baker, consisting of the Cali
fornia reniment, Massachusetts 18th and
Goth, and fragment of the Tammany,
crossed, is about mile below Coonrod's g,
not Conrad's, Ferry, as generally written.
1t was first necessary to pass over the Ches.
apeake Canal, which follows the eastern
bank of the Potomac, then cross in poor
and few boats 70 the island, then debark,
march across, and embark again and pass
to the western shore, walled by bluff more
than hundred feet, rising precipitously,
and as much wooded as those of the Upper
Mississippi. To the Impractical eye, the
crossing place seems to have been the very
worst between the two ferries, although it
may have had many decided military ad
vantages. The bravery of the troops was
undoubted, and it was sad to think, as l
talked to the pickets Of the 18th Massa-
chusetts still Oh duty opposite that bluff,
how many of their comrades had been
driven at the point of the bayonet over the
heights and plunging into the Potomac, it
waves rolled over and become to them
deaths cold su!len stream"
The Generals on the Upper Potomac are
able and watchial aud command respect,
yet every one wonders why the lessons Of
history are forgotten. 10 the campaign Of
1902, Villars crossed the Rhine to attack the
Prince of Baden. He constructed one
bridge, but the passage of troops was 80
long and hurried, and the confusion became
so great that he nearly failed for the lack OF
mOIC mCauS AVA GoucpVI totlOu'
Napoleon speaking of his passage OF the
river Pc, said -
ave had no means of constructing a
bridge. Lannes, chief OF brigade crossed in
the first boats with the advance guard. The
Austrians had only ten squadrons on the
other side, and these were easily overcome.
The passage was now continued without
interruption, but very sloa0ly.
If had had good pontoon equipage,
the fate of the enemy's army had been sealed:
but the necessity of passing the river by
successive embarkations saved it."
So every man in the army Of the upper
Potomac can say "we have no means
constructing bridge. We therefore cross"
ed very slowly in scows or canal boats. Ii
we had had good pontoon equipage, the
fate of the enemy had been sealed--Lees-
burgh would have been ours-Baker might
not have been lost to the world. Goggs-