The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1862-03-08
Gen. Banks Column Crossing the
PoteiMaC.

On Monday. Feb. 9th, concentration of
troops took place at Sandy Hook. BY Il
Temporary structure thrown across the Poto-
mac, several regiments, including that Of
Col. Goarv, crossed to the opposite shor-,
and occupied Ilarpcr's Ferry.
| The construction of a pontoon bridge was
commenced, bnt owing to the swiltnrss of the
current and unavoidable delays, it Was not
until Wednesday evening that It was suili-
ciently advanced to permit the passage OF
/ troops.
| The pontoon bridge. on Wednesday and
| Thursday, was in continual usn and stood
/ the test Of The heaviest burdens. 1t WAS
! thrown across the river abOnt three hundred
yards above the piers Of the railroad bridge
destroy d by the Rebels. It was about 30
| tect in width. third Of mile in length.
and consisted %! phDlis placed upon a num-
Der of small boats stationed with their bows
tn the current A few temporary disarranse-
ments of the planks occurred, but beyond
this and the drowning Of several horses, the
passage Of the troops was effected in entire
| safety.
On "Wednesday, General Mcclellan. accom-
panied by his staff and body -gnard of Bty
regulars, left Washington in a special train,
consisting OF two passenger, and sufficient
| number of freight cars, to accommodate the
horses OF the party. lie reached IIarpeI's
Ferry in time to witness the principal part of
| the operations.
The crossing continued until Saturday
| morning. On Friday afternoon the bridge
required repairs, and u temporary check was
the result.
The scene at Sandy Nook, during the
! arrival ofahc troops, was almost in,lcscriba-
bic The fire. cars, for in these the sol
,liers were Obliged to travel were fitted up as
well as circumstances would permit, with
straw and wooden benches. The trains fol
lowed each other in quick succession, and
generally brought complete regiments. with
baggage and all the paraphcrnalia. These
trains occupied every foot Of the three track :
at the base Of the mountain opposite Iiarpcr's
Ferry, extending in length nearly a mill,
| towards Baltimore.
The wind upon Thursday, Friday and
Saturday last was exceedingly cold, sweeping
around the base Of the mountains and dow n
! the valley Of the upper Potomac, with great
force. In tn face of this, the unloading of
the cars was conducted, and the transfer of
heavy boxes OF cartridges, barrels OF -four,
army stores, officers baggage, and the count
| less ARTICLES essential Tor military use, en-
gagged thousands OF binc-coatcd volunteers,
who had found no opportunity for rrpoSc for
twcnty-four, and in many cases iorty-cight
| hours. There was not ii mnrmnr, however I;
and the army wagons, stationed ut every
nclghboring spot where mules could obtain Il
/ footing on the bank above anil below the rail-
l. road track, were loaded as fast as possible,
| and the drivers, with Il yell and a crack of
| the whip, urged the animals down the steep
| roadway which led to the pontoon bridge
Crossing this, they diappearcd up the street
of the town Of Ilarpcr's Ferry, now and then
| coming into view between the houses, and
finally showing their white tops on winding
road ascending the mountIin beyond the
buildings.
A reference to the map will show the rcl.,-
tive positions of TIarpcrs Ferry, Bolivar
| Charlesown and Winchester. The distance
from the Ferry. via Bolivar. to Cllarlcstown
is ten miles, and to Winchester, thirty -tw o
| miles.
| The roads on Thursday, were in excellent
order, the few preceding days bayus drict
the mud. and rendered the mountain soil rs
hard as the most mpcrvionS clay. No diff
fculty was experienced on the advance. from
broken wagons, or horses iioundrriny in seas
of mud. The March winds, by their d,yiny
| influence, were OF the greatest servicc.-
Reconnaissance were made by cavalry com.
| panrs before the infantry reached Charles
town, but no enemy appeared, and not shot
was fired.
Shortly after the occupation Of Charlestown,
Gen. Mcclellan and stall made their appear
ancc, being greeted by the soldiers with the
most vociterons cheers and the greatest
enthusiasm The party extended their trip
beyond the town.