Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1862-04-05
ARTILLERIST.
9Th PENN'A. CAVALRY,
CAMP LESLIE, March II, 1852.

""A |"i"p VI 'hO e"eAcu Soll VI virginia,
to write few lines to inform your read
ers that we had the pleasure of being the
first in Manassas, since the battle of Bulls
Run. On last Monday morning at three
o'clock, our Regiment was drawn up in
line for march, we started for parts un.
known to us, at eight o'clock we found
ourselves in Fairfax, and we hoisted the
Stars and Stripes on the Court House, and
took up the line of march again, and at
three o'clock we found the village of Gem
treville.
That village is well fortified in the reb.
els estimation. I will give you sketch
of it. There are seven forts, two masked
batteries and breastworks, thrown up for
six miles around the village. The cannon
they have mounted are wooden logs with
the end of them blacked to represent can
non. The rebels had left that stronghold
which the people of the North thought
was well fortified the evening before. Gen.
johnson was there with forty thousand
troops, SO | was informed by negro.
AT five o'clock we started for Manassas
The sun was just setting when VIC came to
Bulls Run and we examined their tents
and found their tables sitting full of cooked
provision. The coffee was steaming and
cakes on the fire baking, they had been
there half an hour before. When we
came to the Run they had blown up the
bridge and it was on fire. We had hard
job crossing the stream. We forded it,
water was about five feet deep. Some of
our men met with cool reception in the
stream. 1t was dark when we got ready
to start again.
At nine o'clock we came in sight of
Manassas. When we arrived at that
place the whole place was on fire and
wooden guns mounted as usual. They
did not leave one building stand at that
place. Your humble servant got some
sesesh tobacco. 1t is splendid smoking
tobacco. Every man got some small ar
tick to send home. They left Bowie
knives, swords, muskets, and a weapon ;
would call it a pike. The latter is a
sharp piece of iron, stuck in a pole for a
bayOnet. We planted the flag of our
Union on the Fort and started for Centre
vile again. About every fifty yards we
could see dead horse, and l counted "a
in one pile. The majority had their legs
broken in the retreat of the rebels. Any
amount of flour was along the road, and
broken down wagons.
At twelve o'clock that night we returned
to Centreville again. We stopped there
that night, We travelled as miles that
day. The next morning got my break.
fast at private house. Only one dollar
u meal Some of our men found the bake
house of the rebels, and eight barrels of
flour and cask of lard, and some molas.
ses and myself with the rest built fire
and commenced baking cakes. The great
discovery went through the camp like
wildfre. Dear reader, it would have done
your soul good to see that bakery in one
hour afterwards--to see ten or fifteen mix
ing dough for cakes, some on the table,
some on the stair steps, some on the floor,
and some on the head Of -four barrel.
About noon the men came to camp with
their cakes in their hats and caps. That
afternoon we started for Fairfax again,
and there we encamped until Friday, when
we started for Camp Leslie While at
Fairfax, one Of our men shot Il Michigan
soldier through both legs close above the
knee. The wound is not dangerous. Il
was done accidently by removing cap
from the tube of his rifle. Col Gregg
our present Colonel, acted with the great.
est GOODNESS at Manassas when the order
was given "Mon do your best you could
not see the appearance of fear in one o
the men. All eager to get shot at a
scesesh. We were very much disappoint
ed that we could take all of the place;
that we were in, and not get shot at q
scesesh.
On Thursday Gen. Porter's Division
was reviewed by Gen. Mcclellan. Yester,
day, Sunday, it raiucd hard all day. The
Potomac is high the said Bulls Run is
very high, and can't be crossed, Three
companies OF our regiment went out scout.
ing on last Saturday, and came to the
rebel cavalry and killed five and wounded
fifteen. One of our Lieutenants was shot
through the check. The wound is moi
dangerous.
To-day it is clear and cold. We have
Just received marching orders. | hope
that when you hear fl n me again, We
will be further South, re- lion crushed tc
the earth, and all the leaders hung by the
Ia la ak Ira