Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-12-01
Operations at Aqua Creek and Falmouth

Correspondence OF the New YORK Times
AQUA CREEK, Nov. 2S.-One week ago to-
day Lieut.. Col. Pettes of the 50th New York
engineer brigade) landed at this place from
barge, with l20 men of his command, to re-
pair the railroad, rebuild the wharf, &c. On
the previous day small body of rebel parti-
IAN cavalry had paid flying visit, striking
terror to the hearts of a number of contra
bands, who had concentrated here to obtain
transportation to land of freedom.
Col. Pettes found the place desolate and
dreary, bearing only the veStiges of the recent
conhagration. Not knowing how near or in
what force the rebels might be, Col. Pettes
posted his pickets and placed the rest of his
men inside the ruined walls of the engine
house, to prevent a night attack. On Tues
day he sent out accommodating parties, and
during the day was visited by detachment of
New Jersey cavalry.
Previous to leaving Washington, Col.
PetteS had dispatched pontoon train, via AL
exandria and Occoquan, for use on the Rap
pahannock. When the train arrived at the
latter place, the roads had become impracti-
cable from the rains and the mud, and the
pontoon bridges were there transferred from
land to water, and taken thence TO Bell Plain,
the nearest land Transporting point to Freder-
icksburg
On Tuesday, Mr.. Wright and a corps of
mechanics arrived, and assisted by the engi-
neer corps under Col. Pettes, Immediately
commenced wharfing, bridging, and repairing
the railroad. The wharf and the bridge near
Brooks's station were completed, and the tel
egraph corps, under Mr.. McCandless, had ex-
tended their wires to this point, connecting
their line with the headquarters of Maj. Gen.
Burnside and his grand division commanders.
In tha IL, of &C
supplies were landed in barges and floats,
under Capt. Hall, assistant quartermaster, U.
S. A., and forwarded hence to different points.
Extensive frame warehouses are now being
erected, and locomotive with train of plat
form cars were landed on Friday, and made
trip down the road this evening. All these
operations were protected by the presence of
three gunboats and mortar schooner.
linus in seven days time this place, recent
ly so desolate, is now densely populated and
presents as active an appearance as the river
side OF populous commercial city. The
bridge over the Potomac creek is now the
only obstacle to steam communication with
the headquarters of the army opposite Fred
ericksburg, and this will be removed within
the next forty-eight hours. The almost inn
passable state of the roads from Aqua creek
and Bell Plain, render this connection imper-
atively necessary for the transportation of
army supplies.
Almost every farm house for miles around
has been deserted by its occupants, who evil
IDENTIFY fled southwark on the approach of Maj.
Gen. Burnside's army, leaving, in most cases,
their flocks and herds behind, which naturally
fall to the 'teDder mercies" of our soldiery.
Lamb, mutton, beef veal, pork and poultry
consequently are abundant and "cheap," and
form staple dishes on the rude tables of the
camp.
EXpectant ears have been anxiously await
ing the booming of heavy ordnance in the d.
rection of Fredericksburgh, but up to this
time no firing has been heard. The lombard
ment of Fredericksburgh has been postponed
for good and sufficient reasons.