, 1862-05-02

Hts1c tcet they tired, and h0lg 1cett tiley Je1-
Valsse Of Nfg7u Labor.
Especial Correspondence Of the Chicago TnBUSE-l
Aqua CREKK, april Is, 1869.
With pass from Brig. Gen. Wadsworth,
obtained after chase through the War De-
partmcnt which would have discouraged 4
person of larger physical proportions and
weaker nervous organization than your corre-
spondcnt, and successful lodging Of the nu-
me1ous interogatories from minor officials,
have at last arrived at this most interesting
point on the Potomac, so long the terror Of
ssiling craft, from that mystery Of naval archi-
lecture, the Pensacola, TO the humble oyster
boat, hiding In the creeks BY day and stealing
along silently By night to fete tho epicurc at
Washington. Aqua Greek has already made
her mark in the history Of this rebellion. A
muddy little stream with dirty mouth, she
yet, with her sister creek, the Accotiuk,
| has succeeded in forming point Of land
which the rebels considered Of great
strategic importance, and which ne,
Since our occupation, deem equally so.
| The first object Of interest which arrests
! your attention upon landing Is the famous
Water Battery which compelled the Freeborn
and tho Anacosta to so frequently visit the
| hospital for ounded vessels at the Navy
Yard at Washington. This earthwork looks
you square1y in the face, and turn which way
you will you cannot avoid the gaze Of her big
eyes, now minus the eye balls. It Is con-
structed with much skill and decorated with
! considerable taste, proving that if the rebels
sense Of the beautiful. Peach trees in full
bloom are standing within the fort and for the
central object in every geometrical figure.
Aqua Greek, as your readers are aware, Is
the key By the way Of the Potomac to Fred
cricksburg, It could have been made very
strong point had there been no Manassas by
which il could be lanked. Much labor las
Leen spent In fortifging the surrounding bills,
and nothing but the heaviest shells from Com
modore Foote's flotilla could have driven
them away. Rife pits encircle every knoll,
and eartbWorks thrown up with more or less
Iastc protect every point.
During the winter there could not have been
less than Il, eco men here. Accompanied by
several officers Of the 95th New YORK., rode
several miles over the hills in this Immediate
discover how industrious the rebels had been
since they held this position. While the
"Grand Army Of the Potomac was up to its
XII. cs in mud and sheltered by ragged tents,
which III times of peace, would have been
considered little protection for a poor mans
I
barracks built on the south side Of every hill
and entirely protected from the cold winds o1
the north. These barracks are still standing,
ard if any one doubts yonr correspondent,
visit to this point will present an abundance
OF proof. They are all constructed of heavy
pine logs, plastcred on The outside viii
mortar and covered with shingles. Thc wall:
: within are lined with planed boards, the 1oon
arc If inch plank, ,jointed, and tho chimnic:
, are Of brick, laid By. good workmen. Th'
Colonel Of the 95th New York informed n,
that they would accommodate at least 10, ,0o'
mtn. They are all arranged on streets, nance
after the prominent ones i'll Southern cities .
: after their (the rebeTs) successful generals.
: The negroes even, who performed all th
L drudeery, were quartcred in huts better thai
I, any occupied By our Own troops.
e It has been said that the rebel troops,
G well housed, were poorly fed. This could no
e lave been SO. After riding through thest
t deserted rebel villages, Ee galloped over t
the slaughter houses, and if one could judg
;, from the bones there lying in hills, thc5
q "half starved devils" were better fed than til
q dWellers at Wizards in Washington. TIL
c impression nude upon your correspondent