Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-09-06

posted up the Canal about three or four miles the
Chesapeake and Ohio canal passing between us and
the river) and down the same towards Washington
| about two miies--the companies which were first
posted were relieved by others the next day, thus
| four companies are on duty all the time, and six
companies are stationed in the camp afford relief
| at a moments warning the latter companies, of
| course, spending the most of their time drilling
Lieut.. Col. Kirk, Capt. Cummings and / have
been the line of pickets between this and the
outposts towards Washington, this morning, and
| have, therefore, for the second time behed the
Potomac, the great dividing line between loyalty
and treason. At the furthest outpost, where some
| of Capt. Cummings men now are, several members
| OF regiment formerly stationed here, shot
by seeessionists from the other side of the river;
the distance not being more than $50 or 200 yards
Our men, however entertain fears, judging from
/ the manner they stand along the bank and devote
! themselves to the amusement and profitable busi-
ness of fishing. There is little or no danger now
| the rebel troops have been removed from their
position on the other SIDE, to points above and be-
/ low this.
| Our Regiment has been most fortunate indeed in
the selection of its leader. Col McCalmot, as
! you know, although not remarkable for his
social qualities, belongs to that class Of whose
administrative abilities mark them leaders in
any business of life and being thoroughly posted in
military science, having graduated at West Point.
and being at the same time of high moral
and r llgious character, he must of necessity com
mand respect.
If you are not acquainted with Lieut.. Col Kirk,
Won have not yet all the good men of the and
/ kLow nothing OF his early life, having met him
for the first time at Camp Wilkins but from my
short acquaintance with him, | take him to be
man, who, by his own exertious has succeeded in
attaining the position he now we'll fills. He is
strict Off et-requiring officers and men to per
form their whole duy-ytt at the same winning
their affections 10y bis pleasing m and amabIe
social qualities. Should il lie the good fortune,tf the
ltlfh ha rod IN matt ond
OF these two officers the will cheerfully obey
the orers of the first, because of their implicit
confidence in his courage and skill, and win rally
at the cry of the second, because they win recog
II Ze the voice OF the man they love.
Our VI or having been absent recruiting men for
company II, which ne formerly cJmmaadef l. has
but recsntly taken his position in the regiment and
am therefore but little acquainted with hitn. He
appears 20 be IN excellent officer and very much Of
gentleman.
From whatI have learned am forced TO think
what always feared TO be true, that there are
those at home, who regard the course of the
Southern Confederacy to be a just one, and who,
in their hearts, rel DICE at every defeat our Govern
ment sustains. Yet il is almost impossible 10 be-
lleve that any ene could be found, SO mentally
short sighted, not to perceive tstif their hopes
wer0 realzed and this new Government hziilt Ils
pSipi6f te err hqt 81 the lie
must be erected upon the ruins of the present.
Government of the United States, which we have
been taught from childhood to believe viii, exist
as long the sun OF Heaven shines upon man. /
may be wong. but firmly believe, our future, as
nation depends upon our success in putting
down this rebellion and compelling obedience to
laws, scithout regard TO of men or rnoneu-
There car be half way business about this
matter. He that no wrong on the part of
those now engaged in destroying our property,
taking the lives of men amongst them, processing
allegiance to the government, what is worse,
forcing them TO take up arms against it, trying
to break down commence. aFrayin0 and march,
ing armies against the Carfoi fer the purpose of
turning out the regularly constituted authorities
and occupying and destroying the same; and on the
other hand, can, with double extra million
microscopic eyes, examine and condemn every act
of the Government that protects him, from the cal
ling out OF armesto the examination OF telegraphic
dispatches Can act by the way | have always re-
garded as right, and to which an honest man would
not object and villain should not be allowed to,)
such an one is, at heart, traitor, and only lacks
the courage to act out his treason.
Hoping there will be no backward movement on
the part of the Government-that this talk of COM
promise With men whose every right has heretofore
been respected by the Government they now seek
to subvert will never again be attained until they
lay down their arms and then show us where the
government is not sufficiently strong to protect
them-and that will soon have a happy and
united people instead OF divided one, l remain
yours, &c. D. ii. G..
Aug. l9.-The foregoing was written yesterday,
but was unable to send i'll will close this even
ing by stating what has ranspired since writing it,
Last evening Capt. Mcdowell, company D, re-
turned to camp in company with several priyates.
having passed the day on the Virginia side of the
river He was at the house OF the mother of Jack
son, the man who killed Ellsworth, aud found all
the family TO be secessoniss-the old lady declared
that if she had one hundred thousand sons she
would give them al to The cause the one died in
He found a Union man, (that had been driven from
home on account of his loyal sentiments, but had
returned to look alter his property,) who informed
him there were but few secesSionists nearer than
Fairfax CouFti House. He also represents all
things as being in desolate condition, everything
being sent off 10 supply the traitor army.
To-day Regiment of Vermont troops arrived
here from the chain bridge for the purpose OF TAX
ing our place-they were accompanied by a squad
OF men, from Col Campbell's Artillery, with two
pieces-also wagons to carry our baggage away to-
morrow, but where to we cannot now tell as
marching orders have not yet been received from
head quarters, but suppose it viii bs back to camp
Ienaily. Yours, D. n. G..