Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1861-10-24
The Army of the Potomac.
FAIRFAX. October 10, 1861

The Army of the Potomac.
FAIRFAX, October 10, 1861.
Desertions are becoming very frequent
from the Federal army. Yesterday three
men came into our lines. Through the
courtesy of Col. S. B. Paul, the popular
Provost Marshal of this post, was allowed
to converse with them. Having been for
some time on the outpost, this side of the
river, they were not we'll acquainted with
the state of affairs in Washington, and
knew comparatively nothing beyond what
could be CLEANED from the newspapers
From young man of much intelligence,
from New Jersey, succeeded in getting a
few facts that may be interesting. His
name is William s. Clark, of Newark, be.
longs to the Sd New Jersey regiment, and
has been FIVE months in the service. While
on picket near Bailey's Cross Roads be was
detected in giving papers to our men, and
was ordered under arrest. He was court
martialed, but the result of the trial was
not known to him, aud he was Immediately
returned to the guard house. As there bad
been so much shooting going on for trivial
offences, q give his own words,) he con-
cluded the safest way was to 'slope for the
land of Dixie" The next business was to
obtain an opportunity, and Clark says:
81 wanted to wash, and got permission
of the officer of the guard ogo to the stream
and return in three hours. A guard was
sent with me, but we procured some liquor,
and in short time be got very drunk, and,
while I was washing, fell asleep under
tree. took advantage of the chance, and
ran to where had seen some of your pick
cts. waved my haversack to them, and
said surrendered and was deserter. They
brought me here.
"Soldiers are coming this side of the river
every day. They are fresh arrivals, but
are nearly all drilled. There is great deaI
of cavalry-some say as many as fifteen
thousand, and some more. 1t is generally
thought that Gen. B. Mcclellan has 95, ,00C
men under him. General Mcdowell ha:
command of division of the army now ii
Alexandria, Brigadier Generals Kearney
and Franklin have command of the ad
vance.
"They are responsible for everything out
side the Qualifications as far as the picketS
90. General Kearney's command consist:
of the lst, End, Sd and 4th infantry regi
ments of New Jersey, battery A OF Hobo
ken, seven brass pieces, and three or foul
companies of Colouel Young's Kentucky
cavalry General Franklin commands the
first division of the army of the Potomac
His own brigade is composed of four New
York regiments, light battery of more
pieces than the Hoboken battery and some
cavalry. These generals have been made
responsible for all property embraced IN
their lines. If any man is caught firing
any house, barn, out-building or hay-rlck,
he is to be shot
~ cannot notice any diminution in the
war feeling, judging from the papers, but
know of many brigades that are opposed tc
the war All the New Jersey papers thai
spoke against it have been destroyed.
recolect three now that have been mobbed
the Newark Evening Jouraal,' the Bur
lington Democrat the Trenton Journal,
some others,.but the names have
gsped me- General impression a
&arong the men is thsft they are going to whiI
III II the next fight, aud that it will settle th'
war. All believe they will be at home b.
the Christmas holidays.
1.-The excuse offered by those men VIII
are ashamed of the whipping they got a
Manassas is, that the troops were all enlist
ed for three months, and as their time MA
out, or nearly so, they did not care to fsstt
"McClellau is very generally liked b:
the men. He is so kind to every body an'
does not only bow and touch his hat, bu
will converse familiarl with his men. h
often rides about amongst them, examining
the tents aud provisions The morning
that your men left Munsop's Hill we hear
that Mcclellan had slept in Fairfax Cour
House, and there was great cheering at tn
news. have heard it said that Mcclellan
is not ready to advance and will not oe 70
two months, and that he will resign if tn
Administration insists upon it. He wishe
to drill his cavalry.
"Our men are we'll provided with al
kinds of equipments, and of the best quail
ty. Our tents have floors. We are no
allowed straw, but have our heavy over
coats and the large army blankets. Th
men grumble most at meat. We hav
nothing but salt junk, that appears to hav
made several voyages around Cape Horl
and back Occasionally we get fresh beef
Most of the brigades have a bakery. Tn
companies are allowed three cooks cach-
The messes are variousy divided, bu
some regiments have company messes.-
The living is not very good. We get bu
little liquor. IF any person is caught sci
ling it in Alexandria he is banished-tha
is new mode of punishment-they haV
adopted. Negroes are at once put to wor
as cooks, officers servants or teamsters. =
They are generally very hard upon them
and are less merciful, l believe, than thei