The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-03-05
CROSSING THE POTOMAC.

On Monday, Fob. q, concentration Of
troops took place at Sandy Hook By :. tom
porary structure thrown across the Potomac,
Col Geary, crossed to the opposite shore and
occupied liarper's Ferry
The construction OF u rUntoon bridge was
commenced. bur owing to tho swiftness OF tine
current and avoidablc delays it was not until
Wednesday evening that it was sufficiently nd
yanced to permit the passage Of troops
The pontooa bridge, on "Wednesday and
Thursday, WAS il continual uso, and stood the
test of tho heaviest burdens 1t was thrown
across the river ABOUT three hundred yards abnve
the piers Of the railroad bridge destroyed by
the rebels. IL WAS about higty feet in width
one third Of Il mile in length, and consisted of
p!anks placed upon d number OF small boats
stationed with bows to the current. A few
temporary dislrrangements OF the planks oc-
Cured but beyond this and the drowning Of
several horses. the passage of the troops was
effected in entire safety.
CAMP FIRE ILLuMlNATIoN.
At night hundreds Of fires burst forth upon
all sides Of the emnence at the foot of which
Sandy Hook is situated They were lighted by
teamsters and volunteers, who passed and re.
passed before the blaze. the outlines Of tleir
forms family defined against the dim back
ground. 1t was not remarkably pleasant thus
to camp without tents, and to doze by the
embers which were enc moment famed into
life, and the next moment almoss extnguished
by the gust OF wind. On the opposite side OF
the river all was dark and gloomy the inter-
vening stream roaring over it's rocky bed-thin
sheets Of foam and spray covering and falling
over the rocks in the centre. The houses at
Sandy Hook were occupied, whenever possible,
by the soldiers. but they were few IN number
and not ample in Recommendations. The head
quarters OF Gen. Banks were established ia q
Stone tenement near the eastern end OF what
was oncc the railroad bridge.
At HARPER : FERRY AND on TIE ROUTE.
OF this bridge rne western span is complete.
On saturday iGurning the employees of the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, under the uro-
lection Of tho military, commenced the recon
s5ruction OF th: remaining three spans The
piers have not been injured, bus are az good as
On the day on which they were built. Several
weeks will be required before the work viii be
advanced Sufficiently 70 allow the passage of
trains
The reads on Thursday Were in excellent or
der, the few preceding days having dried the
mud, and rendered the mountain soil as hard as
tho most imperyious clay. No difficulty was
experienced on the advance from broken wagons
or horses hounderiug in seas Of mud. The
March winds, by their drying influence, were
OF the greatest service. "Reminiscences were
made by cavalry companies before the infantry
reached Charleston, bu; no enemy appeared and
no shot was fired.
GEN. MCCLELLAN AT cHARLrsTowN, VA.
Shortly after the occupation of Carlestown
Gen. Mcclellan and staff made their appearance,
being greeted by the soldiers with the most vo-
cilerous cheers and the greatest enthusiasm. The
party extended their trip beyond the town -
Very lew Of the residents remained, not more
than II halt dozen males being visible, although
women ami children were more abundant, show.
ing that the enemy had faith in our willingness
10 protect non combatants.
The houses were occupied by our soldiers i'm
inediately upon their arrival and although in
many cases the windows and doors had been
destroyed, they afforded better protection than
the thin canvass tents. Fires we're kindled in
the fiepaces, heaps Of wood gathered from fem
ces and frame structures were collected, and in
the evening the rations were distributed to men
who, however tired aud hungry, had at least a
roof over their heads and q cheerful blaze It
their feet.
THE BALTIMORE AND OHIO RAILROAD.
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company
have now all their road in use, except AZ
miles between Huncock and Harper Ferry
The condition OF the road between these points
is not known, but i, is believed that the rebels
have torn up the cross-tes, US we'll as the iron
rails and have destroyed bridges and aqueducts.
The advance OF the right wing Of the army will