The New York herald., 1862-01-28
The Irish Brigade I'm Virginia.
OUR CAMP CORRESPONDENCE.

OOh CAAf COhhEsfONDEhCE.
CAMP CALIFORNIA, Va, Jan. Q, 1852
Txe Iish Brigade in Viryinia-Hs officers and Mer-Camp
Lye-T p. Meagher--Picka Duty, dc.
As tho multitudnous readers Of tho HERALD may like
how the Irish Brigade fares since s arrival on
the south side or the Potomac have constituted myself
Its correspondent for the time bong ordor
the laudabls curiosity OF tho public may some msa
sure, bo gratnod
Whoever familiar with tho HERALD maps will not fail
o discover thereon the Of Alexandra located on
the Potomac, Q few miles below the federal capital.
Well about three miles from that town. and short dis
tance from tho Alexandria and Orange Railroad are Gu.
campod the Sixty NINTH Sixty third and Eighty eighth
regiments New York state Volunteers which constitute
respectively, the Fst Third and Fourth regiments Of
our brigade The Second has yet arrived from Phia-
depha, and the Fifth ct least the larger portion OF it,
is still in Washington, awaiting its horses guns and
equipme ts.
The Sixty ninth and Sixty third arrived at their pre-
sent locat;on-the from Meridian Hi d. c.. and the
other direct from New York-on Sunday, the 1st ut
the Fourth mado their appearance Thursday the 18th
We located on series Of small hills, and In imme
diate connection with each other that a could
scarcely tell the difference between and the othcr
The locatonchosen for by General Sumner whose
division areis exceedingly healthy nrowood, thanks
abors Of the New Jersey regiments who precs
u.s. abundant. and il the water good In quality
il is quantity could have nothing to complain
Of The latter Inconvenience does not however, produco
any serious results boys In the habit put.
ting ga little something" in their water to purify t..
The sanitary condition Of the camps Is excellent. Not
only has do nth occurred, but believe there Is not
OF sickness to be found Ia any Of the hospi
tails The ont has done all that could D.
bly, be done to feed and cothe mon and II is cx-
aggeration to say that happier or moro loyal SGT OF
cannot be found in the entire army than the Irish
brigade.
their efficiency also as soldiers becomes every day
and more marked. Morning and afternoon drills,
each of hours duration, regularly performed and
before many weeks pass shall BIO ablo to present
front to the enemy that will rather astonsh him Tho
Sixty ninth regiment tho favore in this neghborhood
Is decidedly the best drilled Of the throe though far
lighting material is concerned do not think It presents
any superiority the cthors 1t has had, however the
advantage Of excellent field officers two Of whom. Colonel
Nugent and Lieutenant Colonel James Koy, hold COM
missions captains In the regular army and tho third
Ma or Cavanagh captain in tho old sixty-nn,h Is por
haIs OF ths hest posted military science
the volunteer force Those gentlemen unromittng
their attention TO the regiment Every requirement. OF
military discipline is rigdy but kindly enforceI and
the consequent regularity and order which govern their
camp remind Of the regular service than Of
the conduct Of heterogeneous Of of all condi.
tons Of life suddenly called from civic pursuits am glad
to say that this has been fully appreciated by Gene
the arrival Of the sixty ninth he appointed Colonel Nugont
only Acting Brigader, but placed him, understand.
examine and report the condition OF the arms &C. Of
the entire division The Colonel is an Irshman by BIRTH
and military man by nature and habit ana II this war
continues win doubtless mako distinguished figure In
the military history OF the country.
The Sixty third numbering nearly seven hundred men,
has some excellent limo officers, such Capt O'Ncl
formerly Of the regular army, and Capt. Walsh, who
served in the Italian war In the Popes Irish brigade.
The field officers Colonel Enrsht, Lieutenant Colonel
Fowler and Major Lynch all men OF than ordinary
intelligence and iniormaton but scarcely possessing that
amount Of military training requisite to the command Of
sms and as hoy aro earnest workers the sprn@ cam
ragn will find them fully prepared TO lead their into
the nsht The Eighty eighth In respect TO its field
officers has somewhat the advantage Of the Sixty third
though not strong a regiment a. TO numbers. It's
Colonel Horny N. Baker, was formerly In command Of
the Second New Jersey militia, and served three months
In that capacity during the summon campaign Tho Icu
Colonel Patrick Kelly and Major Qunlan both good
tactcians wcrc formerly captains In tho Sixtynint
and distinguished themselves at Bull Sofar the reg
msnt has had little opportunity Of drilling In battalion
but fhave doubt the character OF the ofncers
nsd and line, that will fully justify the sansuns anti
The appointment Of General Meaghcr to take command
Of the brigade has given us all real qualification His
courage has been fully tested and proved when
with the old Sixty ninth, and his abilities scholar
warrant us hoping that he will yet be
military loader as ho already Ii as an orator and
author.
Until Friday last brigade had nothing TO do but TO
drill On the evening Of that day. howovor, an order
received by General Nugen to despatch OF the
regiments 10 Edsell's Hill for picket duty. Tho Sixty
ninth accordingly ordered out and in one hour
actual Gsh.ms Eases Hill is soms four miles from, from
| our camp, "as the crow aics," and Is tho
headquarters Of the picket force which has charge Of
the Springfield road and the railroad TO Fairfax. On
Sunday night the boys fred upon simultaneously
from different points, and Of COURSE returned the nre
with interest," but the night ptchy dark damage
was done on sthcr side il is believed. The Sixty ninth
was by the Sixty third Tuesday, which in Ia
turn will be relieved by the Eighty eighth Saturday
next and every four days till the whole division
| exhausted
| We are looking with intense anxiety to the columns o
the IsaAip receivcd here regularly each mornng) fo
| some intitnaon Of a forward movement. We are nj
ready and impatient for H. and lot friend
in New YORK that when II does the brigade will
found equal 10 the emergency.