The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1861-10-31
rrom Our yoIun te-ers.
CAap P1ERpoxr, October %, Is6

We are still at the place of my las
writing. We have become pretty vel
domesticated to the ''sacred soil" ant
make ourselves perfectly at home. During
the first ten days, We had to sleep a
night with nothing but the canopy o
heaven for covering; but we have oul
tents now put up, which makes it muck
more comfortable.
The country in this vicinity is hilly, and
the land in many respects inferior to that
Of Pennsylvania, and even to that Of ''Lit-
,lc Cambria" There are, however, some
yery good farms We are encamped not
far from the plantation Of Commodore
Jones, formerly of the L. s. Navy, but
now in the Confederate army. The fami-
" have all left, and the farm is in the
hauds of domestics. The house contains
large and we'll selected library, several
piaaos and other luxurious appurtenanecs,
showing the recent occupants to have been
Of refined and elegant tates.
The first day we were here, the boys
Rad, in consequence Of no guard being
placed around the several camps, quite a
gay time of 1t in piifering the farn-houses
Of their occupants in the shape Of turkeys,
chickens, geese, and also potatoes, cabba-
ges and turni ps. Ia one case that l no.
iced, small rig was even confscated.-
When Gen. M'Call got wind OF the pro
cceding, he pat stop 70 it forthwith by
punishing the .'grabbers' and requiring
them to return the stolen articles TO the
owners This is the right course, and
the orders Of Gen Mcclellan will be car
ried out to the letter. Were it necessary
for the men to provide for themselves in
this wise, the case would be different; but
| ain happy to state that we a1e by no
means reduced to such shifts, sufficient
!oOd Of all kinds being furnished US
On Saturday last, the "long roll' was
teaten, and our whole division was marched
UOt ami formed in line of battle, with or
teFs 10 await further developments. The
cause Of this was report to the effect that
our outpost pickets had been driven in,
snd that Johnston was making an advance
mOTement-all of which proved to be
false Again, on Monday morning, at 2
o'clock, the alarm was sounded, and we
ReFe under arms in very short space of
time; but, as before, the alarm was total
y unfounded Such is the life of sol
dier-excitemept and constant action
Liable to be called out at any moment, he
must always be prepared for the summons.
\ large force of men have been en-
aaged for some time past IN telling the
woods around our cncampment. Co A
vas out on fatigue duty one day last week,
md We did some tall chopping, l assure
you. The timber is not heavy in this
'ection, it being nearly all stunted pine.
thousand men can make a considerable
zap in it in one day.
on Friday night, Gen. VI Calls division
seelyed marching orders. We packed
'aF knapsacks, put two days rations in
.aF hayersacks, anG at s o'clock next
2orning, We moved up the Leesburg pike
the following order: The first brigade,
sValry and artillery, formed the advance
lie second brigade the centre; and the
@lFd brigade brought up the rear We
--ted 1t about one o'clock, having ad-
SAeed SIX miles, TO within a short distance
DralnesVille. Gen. M'Ca!l then made !
'ec0nnolzance, and surprised party OF
'oes, i've of whom were killed One Of |
~' number belonged to the famous Lou
'AAs Tiger Zouaves. None of our men
we injured. We encamped there till /
''aaay morning, when we marched back
'''Ap, without anything of peculiar in
'est occurring.
'Ae farmers up there are very badly off
SAT-, sugar, coffee, and other necessa-
oi lie. | took dinner at farmhouse.
TIE farmer informed me that he had
niue dollars per bushel for salt, and
~ sugar and coffee, it was impossible to
'U'e these articles for either love or
'sy' rn-bread, pork and butter were
''sS had on the table. They seemed