Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-11-21
Mortester Daily SPY
From the Potomac Army.
LETTER FROM WORCESTER COUNTY CLER
GYNAN

write my first letter from the field. / spent
the night in Washington at the commission
Office, and started at ten o'clock yesterday
morning for Alexandria. l did not go about
Washington at all, only riding through the
streets to the boat l saw however the post
office, Smithsonian Institute, patent office,
and the captol-all fine buildings
Taking government boat, crossed over
to Alexandria. | could see the Notifications
around the city, and many other interesting
objects. l walked across the city to the
cars, which with my load, caused me to
perspire freely. The train we took was
freight train, and getting into baggage car
we started south The road was an int T.
eshns one, for it lay along the route which
both armies had again and again trodden.
AT Manassas junction we were favored with
awide and pleasant view. Here were the old
rebel earthworks; within few miles were
the two battle groundssof Bull Run. The
Bull Run range was in full view There
were those in the car who were in the last bat
tie here under Gen. Pope. The brick man
sion which was first the headquarters of Beau
regard, and then of Gen. Mcdowell, was in
sight. The ground from this point was held
by the rebelsa few weeks since, and along the
route Lee retreated, pursued by Meade. Such
Il work Of destruction us was accomplished
by the rebel army on its retreat is hardly
credible. che railroad WAS torn up from Ma
nassas junction to the Rapidan, not far from
thirty miles, and not a sleeper was left. The
p1 lie -, a
twisted and bent in every imaginable shape,
and there they lay. Occasionally one was
treated to an extra twist, AS though some
fresh inspiration had been suddenly impaired.
One was bent around post, and so left. The
bridges were all torn up, and where there were
arches they were demolished. 1t is wonder
tui illustration OF the powers of the govern
ment that the road has been repaired in a little
less time than it took to destroy it. At least
so | learn. Two thousand men have been at
work ON it, and probably the whole will be
done Tomorrow except the Rapidau bridge
This will be completed in few days, and
then ''on to Richmond' will be the order, |
hope.
You can have no conception of the appear
ance OF tins war-cursed country. 1t has been
trampleI by hostile armies-dead horses lie
III various stages OF decomposition, and for
stood splendid mansion is now heap of
ashes. For scores of miles where the armies
have marched and encamped, not a green
thing remains. l saw houses and barns from
which every board had been removed, leaving
only the frame and roof, which presented a
singular appearance. If Virginia has not ex-
perlenced the determination of deSolation,"
spoken Of by Daniel, she has at least SUIT
feFed retrlbution hardly less terrible.
On arriving at Warrenton junction, L iu-
CURED for the headquarters OF the Christian
commission, and found it pitched near an oak
grove, most of the trees of which, however,
have fallen victims OF the war. 1t is large
tent, 30 feet by 10, and is almost the only
clean thing on the premises. Here took up
my temporary abode, and found several other
delegates. There are only few regiments
and batteries here, the main army having
moved on to Brandy station, and we shall
have to change our quarters to Culpcpper,
when the railroad is finished. We had a
meeting at six and Il halt o'clock last evening,
and tonight held another III 0urStabernacle,
which it is proposed to do every evening.
The meeting this evening very interest
ing. Quite a large number of the soldiers
spoke and prayed, and there much fervor
manifested. 1t was good to be here. | was
requested to conduct the meeting, and others
lEOIl llIG COMMISSION lOOh part Ill Tie GAcr'
cises. 70 my special care has been assigned,
for the present, the LIST New York aud the LIST
Virginia batteries, and also some work by way
OF instruction in the contraband camp. There
are several hundreds Of colored people, most
ly men, though there are also women and
children, and these propose to initiate into
the art of reading.
A mile or two distant is another camp, with
the 10Th and 18th Massachusetts regiments,
where think have some acquaintances. l
visited my contrabands to-day, and heard
some hard stories respecting the cruSlty to
which they were formerly subjected. l also
visited the batteries, and became little ac-
Quainted with some of the men. They told
me that they had not heard preaching for
months, having no chaplain. One man told
me he had not heard preaching for more than
a year, and, SAID he, Il was professor of re-
liglon when at home, and you may judge how
pleasant this life is to me-" propose to hold
religious service with the two batteries to-
morrow evening.
1t is warm and very Pleasant here, and we
can be comfortable out of doors.
Such is the field, and such the work, and it
is hopeful one.
1t begins to be thought that there will be no
fighting here at present. Lee has crossed the
Rapidan and is in his stronghold. Meade fol-
lowed him closely, and took many prisoners,
but now he is in his den, which is said to be
impregnable. Our army cannot advance for
some days, as the railroad is not completed.
All the supplies are left here, and from this
point are transported in wagons.
Immense wagon trains, OF course, go out
and come in here. The earth shakes with the
tramp. And Oh the hideousness of the night,
with the screech and rumbling of the cars,
and the yell OF the mules Camp fires are
blazing all around, and all is noise and stir.
How unlike are these scenes to those of our
peaceful home! There is little to remind us
OF New Enghnd-happy, loyal New England.
Only the sky above us is the same, and the
same stars look Screney down upon u.s.
There Is one attractiOn-it is a field of use
fulness. The soldiers, with all that is done
for them, are still neglected class, and they
all meet us pleasantly. Some of them have
sad stories to tell. | learn that one died tn
day, though the health OF the army is good.
A. IL. c.
u S. LEGAL TENDER NorEs.-By act of
March 3D. 1868, Mr.. Chase, the secretary
of the treasury is authorized to issue four
hundred million dollars in treasury notes.
running not longer than three years, and
bearing interest at Il rate not higher than six
per cent, which he can make Il legal tender
for the face value. Under this authority, iif-
ty millions of the two years notes at five per
cent interest, payable every six months, were
negotiated with the associated banks of the
three cities, on the Sth of September last.
These notes are to be legal tender for their