Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-08-28


ment Down the Peninsula Safely
Effected-.Full Particulars of the
March.
Correspondence Of the ~ Y. Timcs.1
WILLIAMSBURG, Va, Aug. IL.
The Army Of the Potomac has to. day re-
turned to view a second time the battle fields
of Williamsburg. II is source of grati6.
cation that this change has been effected
without the loss Of a single life, so far as
known, or the occurrence of any serious ac- |
cident That it has been accomplished las |
reported) with the full knowledge of the |
enemy, proves that they have better use
to make Of their troops than to pursue u.s. |
All the sck-and they have been legion |
were carefully gathered from the various
regiments and sent away in comfortable
steamers, under the sanitary arrangements
OF the Medical Department of the Army,
before the final move. The entire material
of the army, it is believed, has also been
safely conveyed away, in river and land
transports, without loss or destruction; and,
with the exception of certain demoraliza-
tion-not by any means serous-tbe army
is in as good condition as it ever was to enter
upon its new offensive line of operations,
it is hoped under better auspices.
The destination of the troops, the route
they were to go, or whether they were to all
move or only part, were kept wholly a
secret. Up to the last moment when they
fell in for the march, the majority supposed
they would go down the river in transports,
while not few supposed we we're about to
march ION to Richmond" All, however,
were Of one mind. They were rojoiced be-
yont expression to get away from Harrison s
Landing, from its suffocating dust aud
stencil, its myriads of tormenting flies, its
suspense, death and inaction.
THE ORDER TO FALL IN.
The troops Of Porter's Corps had hardly
partaken of their evening meal when the
order to march was received. 1t was quite
dark, however, before the tents we're struck
By O. clock, p NJ. Morrill's Division was
in line, and in light marching order upon
the plain fronting that Generals headuuar-
ters. Col. Berdan, with his regiment of
) sharpshooters, led the advance, a position
which they maintained throughout the
march. Had there been an attack, these
troops would have been used as skirmishers
Happily, their services were not called for.
A few bonfres lighted up the encampment,
, but these were soon extinguished under
orders. Silence reigned throughout the
camp. The wagon trains had already taken
up their position along the road. The sol
diers stood mute, or talked in suppressed
tone of voice.
Nothing broke the ominous stiffness save
the occasional scream of some steanI1whis
tie on the river, where the greatest activity
prevailed all day in shipping army materials
Gen. Morrill,, with his staff, moved in the
advance and Ealted the column at less thar
two miles distance, near General Sykes
deserted headquarters, in order to straighter
out the line. Here pause of two hours
and more occurred, during which the troop
lay down upon the ground to enjoy brie
season OF repose preparatory to the fna
start; The officers mostly remained in thei
q saddles. A few falling drops from an over
i. cast sky indicated rain, but it Iassed off
!, and at "a O'Clock the column moved.
Gen. Sykes division had taken up tn
:, :, line of march and were already several hour
: on the road. Gen. Smiths camp, whicl
!. occupied the front, and held the long line o.
!. intrenchments, was all astir as we came III
\ to them beyond Herring Greek at o clocl
: in the morning.
n CHARLES CITY COURT. HOUSE.
q q AT 8 clock the head of the column halt
q q ed at CHARLES City Court House, the ol
!. county seat, where half an hour was spent i
;, preparing and eating the morning meal A
70 the city there is here consists of the tw
= buildings constituting the Court House an
:, Clerk office, which contained the count
!, records. There is an old hotel building O.
- - the opposite side of the road with wild
!. spreading porch, whose frameless window
Il and vacant dOOrways testify that it was lon
e since abandoned to the owls and bats.
- - Early daylight revealed the James Rive
!, ~ to the right and the Chickahominy With
y y half mile, with two gunboats lying noa
: y by to protect the crossing of the troop,
!, Steamers also lay not far away, for use i
% needed.
!. The pontoon bridges across Barrett's Fe,
y ry consisted Of some one hundred pontoo
!, boats, one half Of them entirely new; tn
~ platform and stringcrs were also about hal
" new, The brid ge was constructed by tn
Engineer Brigade, and was an excellent an
substantial structure, reflecting credit upo
q its architects. Tho largest part of tn
J. Army Of the Potomac passed over it withou
g accident, and so far as could Judge it woul
. stand tor half u century. The Jacob BE
y and two other armed vessels lay within
/" few hundred yards, to guard the passage o
J, the troops and train.
y The army halted during Friday night o
! tne noItu Dunk Ol the river, ana took up tn
q line Of march at 7 o'clock Saturday morr
,, ing for Williamsburg, which the advanc
y OF porters corps entered about IL o cloc
It A. NJ.
a THE FEELING OF THE CITIZENS OF TIE rows
IT BY some means rumors of our comm
J. had preceded u.s. and the citizens Of tb
Q place manifested tho greatest delight 4
u what they wero told was grand and prt
: cipitate retreat Of the army.
On entering the town, guards were care
:. fully stationed in tho principal streets, I
|, protect the citizens and their houses an
y property.
IS THE coNTRABANDs.
o The slaves, however, Immediately too
the alarm. The Union army, they said
n was going the wrong way for them, and be
% fore night scores Of the black population
l. who hitherto had remained in conscious *
cnrity,, packed up and prepared to leave. :
III This alarmed the neighbors, who began /
D. make efforts TO calm their fears and to pel
% suade them to remain. Promises Of prt
o lection and good usage were freely made
et b,,t q III = mn ~>