The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1863-01-07

the inevitable ShaDDy mansion ana white
washed slave cabins met our eyes at ev-
cry turn Slaves are getting this in my
Maryland" A MARYLAND contraband,
just from home, now with US. says many
of the places have not hand left, and
I! Massar made more te,backer dis year
dan ebsr fore, kase be say he know he
shan make no more mex yer
Arriving in Washington just at dark,
Saturday. the 29th, we were marehedin-
tc an extensive barrack were the whole
regiment found very good accommcda,
tions; but the living was detestable. We
were fed by contract, and marched regu-
larly to the building to receive and eat
our ra;ions. This consisted of about one
half as much good bread as the most of
US craved a piece of generally rotten
meat, pork or ham, and pals Of swill,
called coffee, dregs and all, unsettled and
frequently as bitter as gall. But | sup,
pose we must not complain; for the old
psalm says we "must take the bitter with
tue sweet" 10 the morning We had the
privilege of looking around the Capital
and It's grounds. This was new to the
most Of US, and was source Of pleasure
we had lately been unused to. Here too
we met many Potter county soldiers, do
lug duty 10 the city. The Bucktails, un-
der Capt johnson are stationad here and
hereabouts | met your old townsman
Lewis Mann, and was right glad to see
him. Monday morning we marched to
the wharf and took passage on the trans
port steamer John Warner for Fortress
Monroe. The emotions of many of US as
we sailed down the noble Potomac, once
the pride of our Washington, and the
scene, in this strife, of so many conflicts;
and the thought that we might be called
upon TO participate in others, were such
as to cause most Of US to think of the
hearthstone at home, and the household
gods that might be shivered before our
return. We sailed about 60 miles Mon.
day and anchored in midrlver for the
night The station of our company was
on deck, the wind blew hard aud cold,
and We passed the night any way but
pleasantly. Bnt this was nothing to what
we endured afterwards. The ratons we
took from Camp Curtin were now all con,
suned to piece out our scant rations at
Washington The amount we drew on
board the steamer were barely sufficient
TO excite hunger, and the "a. te Of warm
drink we knew no more, Confined to our
quarters on deck or in the cabins packed
like so many hogs on train with scarce
room enough to turn around, this was
our pleasure and holiday going to Fort
Monroe
The river is very wide, from three to
six miles, and occasionally widening out
for long distance to double or treble
that distance; the atmosphere smoky,
and the shores low, so that but little was
to be seen except the forts, batteries and
camps OF the elevations all the rest from
the lowness and eveaness of the banks ap
peared wooded. Occasionally we would
rua in nearer the shore, when we would
catch glimpse of noble mansion aud "A
row OF whitewashed negro cabins would
suddenl y burst upon our view, revealing
it scene of enchanting beauty.
Our attention was called to the ruins
of Hampton and the blackeued remains
of the rebel camp on the shore. Soon
here, for the first time, most of US were
out of sight OF land, and as the immensi-
ty of the unfahomable deep burst upon
rs, a sense of awe and our lttleness took
bold of US Night approached and 50
did we to Fort Monrre. Here we ex-
pected to end our pilgrimage forthe pres
ent, but we were doomed to be disap.
pointed. Our visions Of comfortable
quarters and hot coffee were but idle fan,
cies of the brain We stopped at the
wharf fer few minutes, the Colonel re-
ported to his superior, and we were or,
dered out into the harbor for the night
|, with scores OF others, with only a scant
ration of hard crackers-Unclo Sans
tomb-stones we call them-wrapped our.
selves in our blankets aud laid down on
the deck, the pittiless, cold wind search
ing every thread OF our clothes. About
midnight 1t commenced raining, and
many of US were wet to the skin. To
men in good health it was hard, but to
the sick it was terrible. The light of
day was hailed with joy. Shiveriug
wretches, crouching under the caves of
the Pilot House, or shudde:ing around
the boiler curb, excited the envy of less
fortunate ones, who could gain no corner
for shelter or comfort. After a good
while it was announced that we were to
sail up the Elizabeth river under sealed
orders. We got up steam and away for
Dixie. The gambols of the Purpous and
The Oyster rakers attracted good deal
Of attention. We had passed the scene
IF the fight of the Merrimac with the
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