The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1862-06-04
OUR ARMY CORRESPONDENCE.
CATLETT's STATION, Va.
AHn Ozih 1890

May 9Th, 1862.
Friend Vii .-Toodles is again safe in
camp, where arrived or the evening Of the
oath. When left Bloomsbnrg, on the goth,
| expected 10 Join my regiment at Winches-
ter but disappointment is the common lot
OF man, and soldiers life is no exception
10 This rule.
arrived at Williamsport. Md in the
evening of the same day that took my de
pariure from your place The journey thus
lar was pleasant one. The next day |
walked TO Winchester, distance OF thirty
tour miles. ! passed over the ground on
which The battle of Falling Waters was
fought, on The 2d o! July last. The trees
and buildings in the immediate vicinity
still bear the marks OF this splendid lille
affair. spent an hour in walking over The
ground, in company with a gentleman by
the name OF Mr.. Wilson, who resides, and
did al that time, within 20 yards of the spot
where the battle commenced He pointed
ont the spot where the first victom of that
DAY fell. He was a member of the Third
Wisconsin Regiment He also pointed out
the graves of those who were buried on The
field, and among them was that OF Amos
Zuppinger, son of your townsman Henry
Zuppinger- board bearing his name
marks his last resting place, beneath the
shade OF a large apple tree, and in the
boDghs OF which the feaihered warblers as
semhle and sing a doleiuI requium 10 the
departed Poor Amos; knew him we'll
He was warm hearted, but impetuous.-
Faults he had; who has not? But he tell
in glorious cause. Peace TO his ashes
arrived in Winchester al six O'Clock, P
NJ, but could learn nothing of the sAth.
more Than they had advanced up the valley.
Next morning | called upon the Provost
Marshall and nFnpurpd n ~ ah.r
distance of Is miles. When got as far
as Cedar Creek, miles from Sirasburg |
came upon a camp containing about 500 of
General Banks pets viz: Negroes, who were
contrabands OF war, and were many OF them
dressed III the military attire of the voIun-
teers, and upon inquiry found 10 my utter
astonishment, that they were drawing IA.
tions just The same as the soldiers al the
expense of the Government This very nat
urally sci my mind TO work upon the sub
ject and ] came 10 the conclusion that il
was burning shame, yea disgrace that
will hang like All incubus TO the present
administration, that they were feeding and
clothing thousands of Negroes aud Keeping
them 10 idleness, while ihe Families OF the
Union Soldiers were 10 many cares sufer-
ing. What think you OF that, ye -payefsl
Is it any wonder that the expenses OF the
Government exceeds two million dollars
per day Is is any wonder that there is a
mighty change in the minds Of the soldiers
that there is dissatisfaction ia tie army -
| But the evils that will arise from this cause
OF proceedings are manifold; and shall in
future letters try and handle this subleci
and its authors-the Abolilionists-as besI
| can, without caring for the snarlings Of
/ those petty bastard like Union siiders
Al Strasburg | learned that Shields Dvis.
4 /. a al.
they were stationed / knew not but was
told 10 wait until next morning. and then
could gel transportation 10 the Regiment
There were nearly twenty thousand soldiers
here, and Gen Banks was strongly fonify-
ing himself upon a hill overlooking The
town. There rs a great deal OF sickness al
that place, from eighl 10 ten die daily.
Aext morning al O'Clock ! took he cars
on The Sirasburg and Manassas Railroad
but did not know our destlnation--ss there
were over hundred OF going 10 join the
different Regiments, all under the charge
of commissioned officer Many incidents
occurred during the journey that would be
| Interesting 10 your readers, had he time
10 relate them We arrived al Manassas
which was so long the terror of the Lorth-
al o clock NJ The cars only stopped
fifteen minutes. had no lime to make
many DDScIfdttuus dftu al 4 eau say ic. itiAl
the place was strongly fortified at all points
for miles around. saw here one OF the
Quaker" guns which the rebels left behind
when they evacuated the place Ii was
round piece OF log, painted black, mounted
on wheels and al little distance looked,
as one OF the boys remarked, ''ior al the
world like a cannon
We here took the Orange and Alexandria
Railroad for Alexandria, where we arrived
al O'Clock We had with rs a full car load
OF ''contrabsnds," F" that had been stolen from
their olrers, and the Government was assist
ing them in their flight So we drift. Here
first learned where the Saith was stationed.
II was at Fredericksburg, IS miles from that
city. In company with Capt. Crissman, of
Company c. 64ih Regiment, ?. V, visit
ed the "MARsHALL HOUSE,, where the GAL
liant young ELLSWORTH was killed, in May
OF last year. II Is a splendid house, and Is
kept by gentleman from Philadelp phia.-
Curiosity prompted me 10 make many iu-
quiries in regard 10 this murder which shall
form the sublecI for another communication.
Next morning we took passage on the fine
Government steamboat, North America. tor
Aqua Creek dislaEce 60 miles, where we
arrived at l2 VI
We passed Fort Washington in the lrip.
This Forl is situated on the left bank OF the
| Potomac and is a very strong stone Fort -
Its sides facing the river are pierced tor "a
guns, and has at present is heavy Parrot
guns mounted on the parapeI. The garrison
Band appeared on The walls and played
'Hail Columbia" and several national airs
as we were passing
The rebels had thrown up strong inlrench-
ments at Aqua Creek, which place they
evacuated some months ago We here took
the cars again and arrived in camp just al
dark. found ihe boys all well, and the
whole camp in hustle, as they had orders
to march next morning Gen McDowelPs
Division was here 100. The ''lron Guardsn
are all well, bat | did not get 10 see any OF
! them. They all visited our camp the day
came in; and left The same time we did but
| do not know where they went TO. We
came TO this place, where we arrived this
morning. The weather is fine, and the
BOYS all anxious 10 meet the foe. This
place is ter. miles from Manassas, and is a
sDleDdid Mace Our address is Washing