Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1861-10-02
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE "goURNAL."
CAMP TENALLY, Sept. 26, Is

| CAMP TENALLY, Sept. 26, 1861.
FRrENn Row IL thought, as | had some
leisure this afternoon Gt being fast day.
wonld write you few lines, by way of keep
ing up familiarity with those at distance !;
thinking the press would be the best medium
| through which to do so.
| hasty glance over our trip will serve to
| bring me to our destination. We left home
on Saturday morning and at l a. m. Sunday
morning we were in Harrisburg, and at a. m
we reached Baltimore. There were 25 or 80
recruits for the several Pa. Regiments, beside
full regiment of Ohio troops on the train.
All along the rout we could see preparations
for war, and abundant evidence of the means
used by the traitors for obstructing the admin
lstration of the government, by burning bridges,
etc. The Relay house is beautiful place,
and memorable as the spot where the famous
Winan's steam gun was overhauled and at
the commencement of this unhoy war no one
would have dreamed that treason would have
dared TO raise its hydra head in that quarter.
In passing through Baltimore l could not
help but think of the unwarranted murder of
the Massachusetts troops in April last the
memory of which is enough to make the blood
of every patriots heart boil with Indignation,
and resolve that he would sacrifice the ease
and comforts of home, yea life itself, before
he would consent to the destruction OF our
| glorious Union by such contemplate rabble.
q
| found there was no regular train to that city
| until Monday. But, through the kindness of
| Col. Irwin of the 18th, (wbo by the way is a
| perfect gentleman,) we obtained a seat in the
| officers car of train he had chartered for
| the transportation of his regiment. 1t was
| indeed glorious sight to see the long train of
| car, laden with their precious cargo of human
| lives and propelled by two ponderous engines,
| vending its way slowly out of the would be
| rebel city to merry tune from the band and
| amidst the waving of flags, and the ladies
| cheering and ,wav ing their bonnets and hand
| kerchiefs from the windows and house tops at
| every point. s.Midst such demonstrations of
| loyalty, where but 4 short time ago an
archy and bloodshed, one would almost be led
] to believe that the stupendous preparations for
| war were altogether useless. But when you
| turn to the scenes that daily transpirin g
| across the Potomac, the mind changes, and
the fact comes home with deep significance,
that before tranquility is again restored many
a brave and loyal heart will cease to beat.
Picket skirmishing is of daily occurrence a.
cross the river. On Tuesday quite sharp
fight took place in the vicinity of Munson S
hill During the action bonn which had been
a bone of contention between the opposing
forces. was fired times (inally with success)
by Federal, who shot hot slugs from his gun
until he accomplished his object. The feder-
| ais consisted of Michigan troops.
There was quite an excitement in camp yes
| terday; caused by the arrival of the 'sBuck
tails'' from Darnstown. They came by order
of Gen. NJ Call, who desires to have his COM
mand as near together as possible. | under
stood last night that all the Penn'a Reserve
had orders to march at nom ents notice
but where do not know. Certainly the time
is approaching when the rebels will have 'oc
ular demonstration of the capacity of the
Government to defend itself.
Gen. Mcclellan will have his defenses COM
pleted at an early day. He makes daily Obser
vations from the balloon on Arlington Hights
or from Chain bridge. We could sec it dis
tinctly on Monday evening from the quarters
of the 5th. Within short distance from
Tin sight) is fortification mounting 10 or II
guns, which is surrounded by ditch II feet
wide and deep. Immediately outside they
have placed trees with the butts next the ditch
and the limbs cut sharp. The men are all
anxious for fight and when the order came
last night to get ready, it was but short time
until the boys were prepared for any emergency.
l have joined company A, 1st Penn'a Artil
lery, Col. Campbell, in the capacity of an
artizan; and hope, by lodging the balls, to do
some little for our Government when it under
takes to teach the rebels a lesson that they
will not soon forget. Yours. W. K. b.