The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1861-12-18
OUR ARMY CORRESPONDENCE.
CAMP CALIFORNIA, Va.
Head Quarters, Co. G, SD Reg P.V.
nrc & 1851

Dec &, 1861.
FRIEND MAC: As our Company is now
fan erratlc nature, often changing its To-
cation, | thought To spend few moments
10 writing to you Since writing you
Iast We have moved quite often pro
pose to give you and your readers an
abridged detail Of our various movements
since that time At dismissal Of dress
parade" on the 9th uf November, our
Colonel informed Us that lie nad orders
to strike teuts at 6 o'clock \. VI next
day, and TO report at the earlic> possible
moment 10 Gen. Sumner, at Springfield
Station, on the Orange and Alexandra
Rail Road, some nineteen miles distant
from Washington Pursuant 10 thu>e
orders, on the following morning we
"struck tents aud took up the IIue If
march for " Sacred SOIL" passing over
the Long Bridge at about ten O'clock
A. NJ. We arrived at Alexandra lit.
tie past noon. We had expected to have
taken the cars for the remainder Of our
journey, but for some reason as vet not
fully explained, our first orders were cuun-
termanded aud instead Of proceeding, We
we're ordered to encamp for the night on
the first suitable ground 10 which We
should come. La accordance with these
last Instructions we proceeded about two
miles this side Alexandria aud pitched
tents on an eminence known IS "Oakshee
Farm" This eminence lie, directly and
about midway between Fort Ellsworth
aud Fairfax Seminary. 1t was last SUN
mer occupied by the Fourth Regimen
Maine Volunteers. Strolling out back
Of this Camp distance of perhaps half
nile We como to what was formerly a
beautiful residence. but is now wreck
The design was a good one and the finish
excellent. | was informed that the f,r-
Olture was magnificent almost beyoud
description. But when the taree months
men came on. the owner "a Rebel) mi
grated 10 a more congeniai climate, aud
the exasperated volunteers cut down his
orchard, ruined his furniture, tore the
partitions and floors from out the house.
and defaced the walls in most shameful
manner, wantonly destroying about ten
thousand dollars worth of property and
this, am informed, is only one instance
Of many While have no sympathy for
those designing men who have 50 wick
edly brought untold misery and destruc-
ton upou themselves, still could wish
that our own soldiers of the free North
might conduct themselves in manner
better suited to the cause in which we are
engaged, and to the age in which we live.
Going over the Hill and walking nile
We came to Fort Ellsworth. | AIN not
suflelently versed in the structure Of,
Forts - be able to describe it ycu. My.
conclusions, however, after rambling thro'
a halt hour were, that with its defenceS
properly manned JEFF. would have sorry
ane should he be hardy enough to at
'eupt It's capture. There are mounted
upon 1t sixteen sixty-four Founders. two
heaVy riaed cannon, and four smaller
orass pieces In addition to these de-
iehees. situated at few PAGES fr4m the
Fort is a strong masked battery. The
Hhoie structure, TO the inexperienced eve
OF one unaccustomed to such arrange.
ments, conveys an idea of strength. and
causes him to think he would not like to
oe OF the number who should attempt to
test Its capacities for dealing death to the
enemy. Stepping upon the parapets, we
OehoId In the distance up the Potomac,
,ne city Of "uagnidcent distances" and
looming up far above the rest, the Capi-
!oi aud the Washington MonumenC. 1t
beautiful sight indeed Lying down
'ne river we see Fort Lyon, structure
which we judge to be considerably larger
.uaA Fort Ellsworth, and just beyond it
@rge encampnent said to contain four
zen thousand Union troops. Tic senti.
O'' standing at our side informs US that