, 1862-02-05
| Matters on the Upper Potomac-From
+ the TakeE Rhh3anXA
Especial Correspondence to the Chicago Tribune.
HEADQUARTERS 39TH Ill. VoL.,
CAHf LANDER, New Creek, Va,
Januarr 3Tsf 1850

January, 31st, 1862
at the time We were ordered to this station it
was Threatened By Jackson, whose army occn-
pied Romney, and who was directing his at
tentlon to the further destruction Of the
Baltimore s. Ohio Railroad. the advanced
guard Of his division, consisting Of three regi-
ments Of infantry aud some cavalry, resting at
Shects's Mills. only eight miles distant The
same night that We reached here, scouting
party Of our caFalry, from Patterson's Creek,
captured two Of their pickets and brought
them in, and they reported that the enemy
were advancing upon us, which rumor created
considerable excitement, the men being called
out and made ready for action; but its falsity
was soon apparent, and NC 'sturned in'' again
to our own cherries accommodation, being
obliged to sleep upon the car flooring, with
no straw, land nothing but our own blankets
for covering. It WAS undoubtedly Jackson's
intention to attack this point, but his plans
we're thWarted By sudden Gcshct, the
mountain streams rising so high that
they could not be fordcd. Our force
here at that time consisted Of the 1st
Va Cavalry, 5th Va. Infantry, and seven COM
panies Of tho 59th Ill, with one 12-pounder
PARROT gun We were reinforced, however, by
the 5th, Goth and 9th Ohio Volunteers. The
| 5th Ohio, together with ourselves, occupy
! freight cars for quarters, for the reason that
| nc have not q sufficient number Of tents. The
| other egiments arc encamped- Three loco
| motives arc stationed here which are kept in
J readiness to convey the whole command ut q
| moment notice to any,point wherever needed.
II Is difficult to even sutmise what move
| mcnts are IN contemplation on either side; we
hare been kept in the erptctaut state long
T Pnnurn In nfHff words tired nf "A
mastcrly inactivity that characterizes the army
| Of the Potomac. Orders are received every
| little while that fill us with hope-three days
rationR are ordered cookcd-fortf rounds Of
cartridges ordered to be given each man, etc.,
| etc.; but no sooner are NC ready than the order
| is couDtermunded~
| Tie cry Of Oar n1cn is for action, and were
the wishes and will Of our soldiers heed
ed, ne should hare an active war.
| They are becoming restless and dis
Of nastulgia to coutcnd with, aud We stall
hare, just so long rs we are Obliged to remain
| iGaciive in the miserable quarters that are as
signed to us. We have not seen the face Of
| old Sol but once in two weeks, and each day
| since our arrival here has brought lis 4 success
sion OF heavy rains, and the condition Of
| mother earth, as y0u may imagine, is not very
inTitlng-mud and water ankle deep, aud gut
ting deeper.
Tic fauitarr condition Of the regiment is
/ dcplorahlc, consequent upon the manner in
| Which The men ere Obliged to live-tweuty and
twcntE-dre occupying q single car, huddled
together Ike so MANY cattle, with no conye1l-
lences ;or. sleeping, eating or aaght else, and
the majority constantly iGlc-the condition of
tie ground being such as to prevent the ncccs-
sa5y daily drill.
1t tie present time, scTen commissioned
officers, fifteen non commissioned officers, and
over one hundred privates are reported unit
for duty. We have fifty now undcr treatment
in hospital ut this station, all Of which are now
conyalesciug. The principal complaints are
severe colds, pneumonia, intermittent and re-
ulittcpt feycrs. Our regiment, however, is
suffering less from sickness than the adjoining
ones, and especially those stationed at Pattef-
sons Greek, notwithstanding the exposures
| We have been and still are subjected to,