The New York herald., 1862-01-12
GENERAL PoRrER's DIVISION.
OUR MINORS HILL CORRESPONDENCE.

SUNDAY in Camp-Nssusboys PreacAing, Letter Writing
and Ebemino Pavade-Soldiers and Their Wisser Quar-
trs-Interesng kesnetoes Of Colonel Minor and Minors
HiH-Anxiey for an Advance Nevement-Healh Of the
Troops, dc.
II is sunday-just such another day as we had New
Years. the sky cloudess the sun shining brightly and
the roads almost dusty as in midsummer Yesterday
morning the ground covered with foecy mantle Of
snow, "a gtterng with silver sheen" but II was Of
short duration. II hardly seems possible that this n
January; but summer like day is now ucis At
night however whatever the warmth Of the day the tner
extends zeroward and the air cuttngly cold
is then bravo soldiers suffer from still being kept
in quarters and most Of all those picket duty,
whose period OF wachfuness extends twenty four hours
No word Of nurmurmg is, however, uttered. Our SOL
ders enlisted to do soldiers work. and expecting to suffer
the hardshps and prvations Of soldiers life, and they
do the work cheerfully and with gallant herosm submit
the dscoforts and dangers In defence Of
thor country's honor How fair and still and beautiful
and unwarlkc is the that this morning presents
itself to view. The myriad tents, cnvrensd and
mented with evergreens, that cover tho hisdes and
plains far the eye see seem Nesting in pastoral
ropose and the curling smoke rising above thsm only
suggestive of camest quiet There the usual buse
OF camp lie the week day sound of stirring music tho
marching and countermarchng serred columns in regi
mental brigade and division drills The early coming OF
the newsboys those omnpresent personatcs OF progress
with their shril cries of ''NEw YORK ERAID" having in
their lively and abbreviated utterance metropolitan
smack OF smarness is the only disturbing event OF tho
forenoon saving, of course the revee, that fails
at dawning day its savage from slumber For
half hour each encampment presents animated spec
tacle in quick exchanges Of HERALDs and half dimes
Then succeeds eager dcvourng every column of news
followed by writing letters to parents wives and sweet
;,ta. ,br
attend tho Sunday religious exercises 6y their
respective chaplans have listened to i'm
prcsive than those have heard these tented
fields looked upon eager listeners. At four p NJ
tho evening dress parade which is ntcrmit
ted Sundays Were it not for this evening parade
martial Of the regmental bands cleaning OF bayo
netted muskets and the American flags, whose pari
-estlines proudly to view in every sunbeam, 1
should almost believe these tents about tho
habtations of mammoth phaansterie, whose vota
res those or peace, and that this their Sab
time OF war; and that these marching men soldiers,
panopied in the dire accoutremens of war; to do battle
against government enemies and traitors
have intimated above that soldiers still
fined to summer quarters Although, well known the
army have not been ordered into winter quarters still
this side OF the Potomac have arranged tents for
themselves in keeping with the weather. The summer
tents supplied by the to the different
army divisions have not been wholly aside
completion CT the quarters have been made import
auxiliary. Some regiments have erected buildings
cabins, consisting of log walls split hewn or round
according to the size quality of the timber TO which
the men had The chnks stopped with clay
and then the main structure thatched with spruce
boughs laid on fat, anordng protection against
rain SNOW. In this the canvass tents alto
gether dispensed with being only for bedding pur
covering for tho tents the wall being Of logs
laid either in horizonta perpendicular position The
soldiers have ne opportunity to bring into active use
great credit on their powers OF adaptation Where the
small roof shaped tents have been occupied improve
mcnt has been made in making wooden walls logs placed
horizontally the ten being placed the roof Of these
and forming good roof Of the round, concai
tents the winter addition consists wooden walls made Of
upright logs generally divided into halves To put these
In their position circle is marked the ground abou.
the size OF the base of the canvass tent Digging trench
eighteen or twenty inches deep, the ends Of the split logs
placed upright in this after which the til thrown
into it and pressed firmly down, thereby fastening
the logs the ground securely Saving OF the tops
four feet from the surface Of the ground the
tent is then fastened the top thus aordng for
occupants high, commodious and warm quarters. Tho
chnks between the st logs closed up with clay or
moss, and giving the tent neat and handsome outside
covering are evergreen boughs. tastefully thached,
adding both beauty and comfort to the tents When
uniformly finished in this style, the cncampment has
most attractive appearance For these exterior deco
rations the woods about each encampment have been
well cued Of their most beautiful cedars and evergreens
OF csery kind Great skill and most excellent taste have
been shown bya good many regiments in the formation
boundaries arches canopies and shaded walks
Where these external decorations have been carried TO
the most artistic cxenas In the Of the Fourteenth
chusetts, Sixty second Pennsylvania Grirs battery
Eighteenth Massachusetts, Twenty second
Seventeenth New York Volunteers and Eighty third Penn
sylvana-<he encanpments are 80 completely
mented with cedars planted along the company divisions,
across the 'front.' and sdes and around each tent
that at little distance the tops Of the tents only be
artificial grove While this adds beauty to
the egmcnal quarters or the army the chief result
obtained is the extra warmth and comfort
attention to making comfortable their encamp-
msnts that the order to pull up stakes will come
regiments comprising the grand army OF the Potomac
have made any arrangements for winterng here Large
numbers are still sleeping on the ground and suffering all
the rgors Of winter campaign. These expecting
daily order Of advance, and prepared for IL.
Speaking Of advance must say however that all arc
growing impatient at the delay and are anxious to meet
the enemy The enthusiasm Of the troops never at
higher pitch, and confidence in final victory more uni
versa and decisive, than now. II il believed that an
advance will be made in less than morh but am not
at liberty present TO state the grounds OF this belief
am writing this letter at Minors Hill, Gen. Morels
degree of historical interest," with the pre-
sent war. Until the time when Gen. koreps brigade
advanced here from Halls HILL this was tho rebel picket
headquarters The place derives lis name from Colonel
Minor whose residence for nearly half century II
the headquarters Of General Mosel and staff Col Minor
Ommandcd in former years the militia OF Fairfax county
IN the OF 1912 he did gallant service the head Of
his regiment against the British, and besides taking
tive part in other battles was conspicuous at the battle
Of Badensburg As an interesting historical memento Of
last with Great Britain send you copy Of the
following letter found here among Col Minors papers
NIttcI lieslueIt AlOnfOc, Wnlc secretary
War -
War DzPARxxSr, Oct. 4, 1914.
COLONEL MnoR:-
sIR--You will, with the corps under your immediate
command, keep possible to the eremys ship
ping watch their movements and enseavor keep their
small mauraudng parties from plundcrng tho country
al accent 10 the river.
You will cooperate with Colonel Fenwck and the CON-
mandng ulcer Of the cavalry have the direction Of
the vdettes, ard through them keep this Department
well advised Of your own as well rs Of the movements OF
the enemy. You're, respectfully, JAS MONROE.
WASHINGTON, August 80 1914.
sIR-Tne President Of tho United States desires that
you will Immediately after the receipt Of this with
the whole Of your command to Biadersburg and give
notice Of your arrival, that orders may be sent YOU
either TO move TO this CITY to take position east
OF the Eastern Branch am, with great respect, your
obedient servant JAS MONROE.
The house itself is old one story structure
full of great chmneys where great logs and
sill burned on great dogs; mahogany tables massive
mahogany sideboards, clock Of undoubcd antiquity
and dimensions, writing desk Of quaint and curious for
nation and an old extension dining table still left
relics of the olden time. Over head great white,
washed beams Of rough hewn legs, while the manel-
pieces altitude the top Of which only Russian