Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-03-17


fegularsl" This remark was echoed by sew
eral other volunteers, who took particular
pains to express their supreme contempt Of
the regulars We saw very plainly that the
volunteers didn't love the regulars very dear
ly-and the feeling is reciPrOcated most
heartily BY the regulars.
After riding nearly two miles over the
bridge and Causeway, we reached the cele-
braied ''sacred soil" of the F. F. VS. We
passed many camps but they were entirely
deserted by the soldiers, with the exception
Of few, left to keep guard. We kept on
and reached the vicinity Of "Monson's HILL
which is about seven miles from this city
Il was here that the "Young Napoleon" was
most seriously sold BY the enemy last fall,
when they erected sham fOrti6cations, mount
ed with uQuakers," or wooden logs, painted,
to initiate guns Itwas here, also, where the
rebel flags Aoated so long in view of the
Capitol, bidding defiance to the remarkably
quiet army of the Potomac.
After proceeding on some three miles, we
overlook an immense train of army wagons,
artillery and eaissons, which was brought to
a complete stand-still, owing to one
of the wagons being badly stuck in q
aud hole at the foot Of a steep hill
We succeeded in threading our way
through the tangled mass of soldiers,
wagons and horses, and soon after reached
q fine McAdamised road running from
Alexandria to Leesburg, and as it was a
very wide one, we had no further difficult
ty in reaching Fairfax Court House. The
country through which we passed presented
an unrivslled picture OF desolation, showing
in the most vivid manner the devastating
effect of war. The fences in every direc-
ton were entirely oblitsrsted. having been
used for frewoOd by the soldiers Of both
armies. Most of the houses were
deserted, and were stripped Of their doors,
windows and hOOrings. We saw the ruins
of quite number of houses that had been
burnt by their rebel owners in order to pre-
vent them from being occupied by Union
soldiers. Nothing in the shape Of produce
did We see, except a solitary load of miser-
able looking corn at q most forlorn farm
house.
At about four in the afternoon we reached
the famous Fairfax Court House, the scene
Of Lieut.. Thompson's exploit last summer,
when he dashed in ct the head of his cavsl-
" ami defeated a superior force Of secession
troops stationed there. Fairfax is rickety
specimen Of q Virginian village-with
Court House about the size of No. As
Engine House in Cleveland, but not near as
ine looking building. The houses are all
of the most ancient style-evidently built
about the time when Lord Fairfax Aourished
in this region over a hundred years ago
The inhabitants had nearly all left with the
rebel army, and the few that remained had
a most seceaionish appearance about their
cadaverous and deceitful looking counte-
nances.
We here Ascertained for certainty that
the enemy had really evacuated Manassas,
which determined US not to proceed more
than mile beyond the village, where we
visited the camp of Gen. McDowelPs Divis-
ion. We here saw camp life to perfection.
The grounds were covered for acres with the
small portable tents, which were carried by
the soldiers themselves in their marches
More sleek, weIl-clothed, well-ted and jolly
looking boys never saw than the Union
soldiers cOngregated aronnd Fairfax. They
were all busy cleaning their muskets, drilling,
reviewing, cooking aud making themselves
comfortable generally.
The ecavalrymen were amusing themselves
by leaping their horses across the fOrti6ca-
tons, erected by the rebels when they had
possession here. The earthworks were not
more than three to four feet in height, with
ditch about Eve feet wide and thres feet
deep.
We were sorsly bothered to get feed for
our horses. The rebels had eaten the town
completely clean-nOt single grain of oats
or corn, or a blade of hay was left. Happily
We came across a goOd-natured Pennsylva-
mia Dutch teamster who very kindly offered
Us some Of Uncle Sans oats which We were
glad TO accept.
While our horses were feeding, we strolled
q short distance beyond the camp to the bury
ing-ground Of the Goth Georgia Regt, which
vas recently encamped here, containing some
thirty graves of the soldiers of that regiment
Each grave had board at its head, with the
name of the deceased and number Of his
regimsnt rudely painted on it. While view
ing these graves, could not help thinking
Of the homes in the far.of South made desc
late by the death of these deluded soldiers.
1t vas & melancholy sight-thOse fOrlorn, de-
serted graves-With no hands Of affection to
embeIlish with turf and shrubbery-no
friends to visit and drop tear over them.
About six o'clock we started back for this
city, where we arrived at half-past nine, hay
ing thus had the doubtful pleasure of riding
46 miles in the saddle since II O'Clock. Our
worthy collector, not having ridden a horse
since che was young man" suffered some
from bis jsunt-svery bone and muscle in
his EeII-prOpOrtiOned body fairly 'jumped
with pain" 80 he said. Several times during
our journey returnWArd, he was on the point
of trying to charter one of the numerous ann
balances we met for the purpose of having
whatremained Of him carried home. Once
he sssayed to quote from King Richard, with
3 slight variation: