Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1862-06-14
Army Correspondence
FRoST ROYAL, VA, .
June Sd 1862. {
Col. John G.. FREEZE

spectators, you can imagine what it is to
participants. In former letters / have
mentioned of our being detached from
Banks Corps and transferred to McDowell's.
Shields Division was also sent TO Fred.
ericksburg, thus making McDowell's Corps
about 80 900, and the best appointed and
most effective in the service. Every prep.
aration was made for an immediate ad-
vance towards Richmond, which is only 60
miles from there. The President and
Cabinet reviewed the Corps preparatory to
our start, tents and baggage were turned
in, and the number of wagons reduced one
half. But the willy Jackson spoiled all
these wcll.laid and costly plans, by driving
Gen. Banks weakened force into Maryland,
and threatening Washington and our Dor V.
der. Upon receiving intelligence of his
aid Kings Division was marched across
the river, Shields was sent to reinforce
Geary near Strausburg, the Penna. Re.
serve kept an reserve and Ord's Division,
in which we are, marched towards Wash
ington. The Infantry went up the Poto-
mac by water, and the Artillery and Cav
airy ordered overland by forced marches.
The roads were in an awful condition !;
aud we were frequently obliged to double
teams. The rebel huts used were of a
comfortable description, and those in the
vicinity of Acquia and Occoguan creeks
showed that the rebels had strong force
posted along the Potomac last winter
The country is poorly cultivated, and the
villages dilapidated and ruined. Stafford
Court House stands almost alone in the
woods. 1t is quaint old building, and
contains many curious records. Some
date back over 200 years. Our men i'm.
mediatcly seized them. regretted it, as
it smacks ofvandalism to deface or destroy
the records of court; yet as saw ev-
erything going l seized few old docu-
ments. They are in the style of eye an.
cient TYNE" when all accounts in this col
ony were kept in tobacco. For instance
"wun quartz of wyne, IL lbs tobacco; wun
yardc of hanel 7s lbs etc." Among other
things were the bonds entered into by
Geo. Washington to marry Mrs. Custis.-
They were very heavy. I have been told
by inhabitants that George had the frail-
ties of his sex. The gibbct and Jail were
the only surroundings.
On the third days march We were or
dered to Manassas junction ia place Of AL
exandris. On reaching the Junction, we
learned of Jackson's raid, and the excite
ment it had created North. Geary was
| driven from White Plains and Duryea
from Warrinton Junction. The former
was sent towards Winchester, and the ! at
! ter was put in our Division. There was
considerable excitement at the Junction, as
they were momcntarily expecting an at
tack. Before Duryea's arrival the only
troops there were the 18th Pa. Cavalry
and they had no horses.
The place looks vastly different from
what it did in March. The rubbish has
been gathered up, dead horses and
soldiers buried, and the fields are covered
with verdure. A Hotel has been crested
for the accommodation of travellers.
No time was given us for rest. We left
our camp about daylight of the Goth and
travelled rapidly towards the mountains
over beautiful and level country. The
whole division eneamped for the night at
Thoroughfare Gap. Our next days march
was through a beautiful and well cutiva-
ted country, but very mountainous. Du'
ring the day we passed the residence of
Tom. Marshall. On Saturd ay we learned
the whereabouts of Jackson, and in order
to cut off his retreat it was necessary to
make forced m arch. Steady marching
over bad roads for q week had nearly used
up beth men and horses, yet VIC reached
this place that night, having travelled 30
miles over the worst roads in Virg inia.-
To add to our trials it rained steadily du-
ring the afternoon and night, many men
and horses gave out | never want to 60
through Manassas Gap again.
The day before our arrival Shields en-
tered this place, and captured 900 prison.
ers, one field piece aud two caissons, 60
wagons, and recaptured some of Maryland
LIST, which was SO cut up here. feel il
my duty TO contradict the statements about
the cruelty of the rebels to our sick and
wounded. The Adjutant of Maryland Isl
who was taken prisoner says that all were
treated with respect and kindness, and
that the citizens of Strousburg took the
sick from the hospitals to their own houses