The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-06-02

Today am one OF detachment on board OF the
Steamer Baltimore lying at the Navy Yard waiting for
orders Perhaps she will be ordered to sAI up the
Aqua river. B. J. g,
Company A. Seventy first regiment, N. Y. 3. NJ
THE MIDNIGHT MARCH ACROSS THE 20.
TOMAC.
LITTER FROM THE QUARTERMAsTER OF THE SIXTY
NINTH REGIMENT.
The annexed letter from Mr. Joseph B. Tuliy, Quarter
master Of the Sixty ninth (ish) regiment has been
ceved by friend IN this city, and placed ut disposal
FOR publication. AS furnishing a ghy interesting
count Of The midnight march the Potomac. and
the operations Of the regiment up last Saturday II
win be perased with interest by readers
GEORGETOWN, D. G., May 25, 1861.
E,husiasa Of the Nea-Coloncl C0rcoYaas address TO HIS
Soldier5-7ae Runored Assault on Harpas Fsr7y-7hc
Sixty ninth ain Fsga. TO The Last Mdn-Cdptan Thomas
T. %easher's Irish Zouares at Camp Saca7d-Gotd
Heona and Spirits P1ero,liug, dc.
MI DEAR QUr Non the eve OF the Virginia election,
to determine for against secession most Of the regi
wens in II District received orders 10 hold themselves
ready for service ut amomens notice These orders
not communicated 10 The generally but they
at directed 30 keep in their quarters and - that
their loaded and that they fully supplied
with ammunition Activity Immediately peroeptible
in every camp and the spirits Of the soldiers who had
long been desiring have brush with the enemy and
the banner of the Union, at eatcd. Our
impatient to move and, judging that such orders
lot given without expectation Of being marched
into territory looked anxiously towards the
heights ond the river and onged for the hour when
they would be ordered mount them and plant thereon
the Stars and Stripes. The officers who supposed
to be in the secret, may so speak, were importuned
with questions TO the time and place Of the march,
General Mansfeds orders forbade their whole purpor
beng communicated TO the men, and 80 the information
sought could not be given
But the secret revealed to all on Thursday night
last The whole evening spent furnishing the
cruts, just arrived shat day, with the necessary
and equipments and at midnight the drummers beat to
arms AS every ono had anticipated the CALL there
little excitement but every brow in the Sixty ninth
there impressed look Of bold determination with
strong expression Of qualification that now an
| opportunity at hand to demonstrate their
| devotion 10 the Union, their pride In the char
acter Of their and fatherland and their own cou
rage fcrtuoe and fidelity AT one O'Clock the Colonel
what their KINDRED and feo Citizens Throughout tue ne
ton expected from them. His remarks responded
to by cheers and urgent solicitations to lead them
against the enemies Of the republic At half pat one
thirteen hundred marched out OF the garrison eayng
hind about two hundred, amongst WHOM, were Capt r.
tend to The baggage These in pant here yot with
few ocers amongst others your humble eervant under
eommshd q MAJOR Bag.oy The Fifth (New York; aud
fer the Sixty ninth, together with tho President
Guarda company Of mounted militia belonging 10 this
District They al Immediately prepared to BY the
aqueduct the Fifth taking the right and the SIXTY ninth
the lett OF the line.
III we're an artist would make that scene tho work
OF my hfe 1t was the most impressive and grand spec
'ace have witnessed. The bridge or aq deduct s
about half mile long with passage way on SIDE
o. the canal about four feet wiae, and stands some
forty feet above the surface the Potomac Tho moon
vas full ard the sky cioudless. There was not u
mirror in the sunlight Silently, soleunly and firmly
the gallant troops ched across the river
disturb the soemni'y but that Of their footsteps
the orcer and ilrmness Of which beghtened the effect
Every form and motion pbove reflected with dis
ance OF TWO bodies moving at tue t'me opposite
sioes Of Ono plane. The line of the Sixty ninth
extended along the whole aqueduor and the constitution
Was proclaim By the right bank before we
had all leit the left bank of tie say again,
wish artist to reproduce that scene; for when
agsn thau we sec our brave fellows in CHARACTERISTIC
pace at such solemn time, Ia grand cause with
such b0ur ding hearts and determined s and the sons
OF Erin side by side, with the flag Of the Uniou
other sight so gratifying an impressive1 may when
those two grand sgs and these brave forms shall
reflected 10y that same moon clear light in tho silver
likes OF emancpated Ireland.
other regiments passed into Virginia by other routes
Their prog unattended By incident, Alex
ardra, where poor Ellsworth fell naryr 10 his c)un
try cause. Thus have lost two popular officers
brave men Colonel vosbursh--a generous and faithful
rieno en- upright and enight ned citizen ana heroi,
ano efficient ofcerdied, ns are aware, few dase
ego. Our egrent the rwei III, ana the Rhode leland
regiments tended bis funeral We had flags draoed
In mouroipg and Grape tho left swords of
our officers. This showed particular desire to do all
the poor honor left IN TO the memory OF
whom Se es'es med as TREND aud I'D nired soldier
Pcor Nosburah he dined with Us and attended our
afternoon paraoe two days before he died.
fesioTda? was Gay Of terrible excitemen. In
Washington. At early hour u report soread
that the United States forces had taseu
Harpers Ferry, and also that The troops In tho
rhocd Of Alexandria in actual eDgagern
with Me secession army Orders wereat once givec tor
and every thing In Washington hurry and excitement
Troops dashed furcuty through the streets for their
place Of destination and all thought was indeed
come The report reached US, an gallant Coiopel
lead and cold steel! Our earhworks had already pro-
crossed considerably, but after line formed arms
were stacked and every soldier had spade, shovel or
pckaxe working eagerly in the trenches It lie astonish
ing how fast they have progressed We determined
to hold post at all hazards for has complete
mand OF The city beyond The rebels will have their
ranks well thnned before driven Of this The
Sixty ninth VIII 0ght whilst lasts than yield
al inch to the rebels Let them understand this for they
will learn before long have the chance TO teach
them.
It WAS impossible TO say, during the last two or three
months what would be the policy of the Administrations
but now all doubt seems to be removed and we shall
certainly have war If the South does not fall back.
or national greatness and free institutions GREATER
and therefore, while shall regret the necessity, We
ehs enoorse the policy that maintains the laws cost
what sacrifices OF life and property it may. rho
sixty ninth regiment is composed Of men who have
Away stood by the South In cor stutonL way They
have never had any utilization with aboltionism but
,ber regard for tho South s from eQuaug their
for the Union The hitter must aud shall be preserved
II the blood OF ourselves and all who feel as we do Can
elect that preservation.
IN tnNuv that