The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1861-12-04
OUR ARMY CORRESPONDENCE.
CAMP BROOKE, Nov %, 1861.

FRIEND MCALARNEY : Lying on the
table before me is POTTER JOURNAL OF
the 18th inst the only one which we
have been permitted to see since leaving
home, and this one was obtained through
the politeness of Lewis Mann. 1t was a
most welcome sight, | can assure you. it
being the most forcible reminder of home
which has yet been vouchsafed US.
While sitting here i'll our marquee, ev-
erything around us the most quiet we
have ever known it in camp, the silence
disturbed only by the incessant patterlng
of the rain (Which is coming down IN tor
rents) upon the roof aud against the sides
of our cotton habitation, together with the
shriil whistlng of the wind, intermingled
now and then with the sound of a stray
voice which had pitched upon higher
kew than that of its fellows, finds Its way
from out the owners tent to our own.
Well, then, as | before said, with the
JoURNAL lying before me reminding me
of the wooded hills and wales OF Old Pot
ter, and as well of the many anxious ia
theirs, mothers, brothers and sisters up
there who have so many relatives and
friends here of whom they would gladly
hear. | thought | would spend few mo-
ments in a hasty detail Of our present To-
cation. occupation, sc. Perhaps | have
written you before upon this very subject.
I have an indistinct recollection of send
ing you a hasty, ill-written scrawl since
our arrival at the National Capitol, but
whether prepared since our arrival In our
present quarters, is question we Will not
attempt to decide. However it matters
not, since this is not intended for publ
cation; yet if you choose, you can take
from it any items of interest to your read
ers, YOU of course being Judge.
Camp Brooke, as it is callad-atter our
gallant Colonel-is n01o located on rls-
ing ground something like two miles from
the Capitol We are upon what was for
merly "secesh" territory, it being owned
By a prominent secessionist now ID the
rebel army. The property is now confs-
Gated 10 the use Of goVernment-a large
brick dwelling. back Of, and less than halt
a mile distant from our quarters, the for
mer owners residence, being 10 use by a
regiment eucamped near US as a hospital
THIS is a fair illustration of the changes
effected by Intestine war. Here too, was
last Spring enacted tragic scene A
party of rebels concealed in this very
house, firing upon Massachusetts, regi
ment and killing some forty of their NUN
Der. Of the final issue OF the engage
ment am not informed.
So much for the past-now to the pres
ent Let me give YOU an idea OF the ar
rangement of our Camp The bib slopes
gradually to the southeast As you en-
ter the lines, coming from the city, first
are the tents of the soldiers, nine deep,
arranged By companies IN their proper
position, two rows for each, facing lu-
wards and leaving a street of about one
and a-haf rods in width Here in their
own street each company Is formed as a
distinct company, marching thence to the
parade GROUND, where they are arranged
in order as in line of battle. At dis
ta1ce of perhaps three rods in the rear of
these tents arespiIched the marques oc-
cupied by the commissioned officers, while
upon the right flank Of all are those occu-
pied by the Regimental Officers. Mac,
was you ever tenant of one OF these
soldiers homes? Let me give you a sort
of birds eye view of their inner appear
ance. We will enter the first one to
which we come, which will probably af-
ford you a tolerable idea of the rest. al
though a. tastes differ so do these arrange
ments vary Well, here we are at the
entrance of the first to which We come
Let us enter. The foor-that is mother
earth-is we'll Uttered with straw, at the
left Of the entrance We see a splall cedar
the limbs of which are cut off about three
inches from the body and forming hooks.
This is placed in an upright position close
against the side of the tent. suspended
from the hooks are canteens. &c Oppo-
site is another cedar rugged in the same
manner, and from this are suspended hav-
ersacks, belts, cartridge-boxes, bayonets,
scabbards, &c, while in a promiscuous
heap at one side of the tent are piled
knapsacks, overcoats and blankets Then
come the muskets in corner, and you
have pretty general idea of the furniture
found in a soldiers tent. Entering a
marquee you will find one or two camp
cots, chairs, table, haVersacks, uniforms,
swords, revolvers. belts. ard sashes, while
scattered about in complete confusion are
company books, reports, pens, ink and
paper, with many other articles-as the
Yankee notion dealer would say too nu-
merous to mention Our occupation is
chiefly Drilling BY squad for az hour
before breakfast, by squad or company