Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-08-21
ARMY CORREsPONDKNCR.
AnLruorOs, Va, advance eolump,) |

ARLINGTON, Va, advance column,)
i7 Aug. 1S, 1861.
ED1roR LEADER: Thinking that you might
possibly like to hear from one who former
ly lived in your beautiful city, who is now
situated in the " Army of the Potomac"
take few moments respite from the mo-
notonous routine of camp life, to drop these
few unconnected notes taken from the diary
Of " soger boy" Our camp is pleasantly
situated to the west of Gen. Less mansion,
(now occupied by Gen. Mcclellan as his
headquarters) in large forest Of white oak,
which, however, is rapidly losing its mag
nifcencs and shady groves before the axes
of those internal Yankee grasers, which
epithet the F. F.v.'s apply to the noble men
of the North, and I think can claim the
name of grnaer since left the machine shop
for the "tented plain"
Among the duties imposed upon is pick
citing. Five men from each company are
detailed each morning for picket duty
This guard is stationed about two miles in
advance of the camp, to give notice Of any
attempt at an attack. Your humble ser
want has had a goodly share of this work,
having been on duty as Corporal Of picket
guard no less than FIVE times within peri
cd Of eleven days, but has not yet captured
f'secesh," but has "drawed bead" on sev-
eral, and only twice in vain. 1t does not
| seem at all strange to some of our boys to
shoot a rebel, and for myself have no COM
punctins of conscience when / see one, and
he "draps."
The rebel pickets have cowsrdly knaek
of shooting our boys from thicketS and then
setresting to their lines, where we are pCsi-
lively forbidden from giving chase, however
strong our inclinations may tend toward
such movement.
''virginny" is great country in the es-
timation of your humble servant. RAIN
are of daily occurrence, generally lasting
from two to three hours; our tents are for
tunately of a good quality, and shed rain
like ducks back.
Our provender has somewhat aecumula
ted since we were paid of, and most of on
} boys have been living on the " fat of tn
} land" Peaches and MELONS are plenty an,
at q tolerable reasonable price. Tomatoe
are played out" having got too plenty t
, be any longer esteemed as luxury. Pota
toes are plenty, and I have had some tip tOl
meals from these t'Irish lemons"
sixty-two non-commissioned officers an
privates of the ID Maine regiment wer
marched to the Navy Ysrc on the l4th for re
fusing to serve for a longer period than thre
months. They will be sent to TortugG
( Island, Gulf of Mexico, and be compelled (
4 do serviie labor until they show by the
4 conduct some proofs of their willingness
bear arms again as soldiers. There hi
b been q great deal of disafection among u
d three months men ofNew York, who clail
II the Government has no right to detain theI
longer than three months. am afrai
they will occasion much trouble unless Il
Government takes some peremptOry NOV
;, in the matter.
skirmishing parties are sent out ever
few days to Falls Church, but few mil'
distant, and luckily none Of our boys haN
: been mortally wounded as yet. The rebe
e in that neighbOrhOOd have passes and carr
them on the heels of their boots, and We 0
ten see the passes when their back. is +
: ward us. and they are on dOuble-quick {
of their stronghold at the church. have be'
l. twice in sight of the church, but had n
time convenient to spare, as the rebels we
=. rather too thick for comfort. Our pickle
& were drawn in Thursday, 10th inst,
:, the east side Of the Railroad
Manassas, and think on account Of Il
numbers Of our men being fred on By 4
sr rebels, and they being needlessly expose
o We are obliged to be ready to march ct I
hours notice. Balls Gross ROads have be-