The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-02-12
ooRREspoNDENCE.
(Srom our Regular Correspondent +
YORKTOWN, Va, Feb. @, 1874.
LIFE or THE LOWER POTOMAC.

LIFE on TIE LOWER POTOMAC.
On Sunday morning VIC embarked on the
United States dispatch boat "Warner," with a
battalion OF cavalry destined to the Department
OF Gen. Butler, to join his forces in their con
templated march on the "Royal road to Rich
mond." We steamed down the river and were
soon at Alexandria, the largest commercial
point on the Potomac, and ut this time place
OF considerable Importance rs the base OF sup
plies for the entire Army Of the Potomac. Here
we sent boat to the guard ship. whose frown.
ing ports refuse the passage OF the river TO oil
vessels not provided with pass, in compliance
with the orders Of the War Department, pro-
cured our papers. and, passing Fort Washing.
ton, founded by him whose name 1t bears, and
said to be the finest piece Of architecture OF its
kind in the country, commanding the Potomac
from Washington to Mount Vcrnon-a distance
Of eighteen milcs.-were soon opposite the home
Of the "Father of his country" The mansion
and outbuildings are painted perfectly white;
and look as neatly rs they might have looked
when the estate was occupied by him who sleeps
in the tomb which Is between the house and the
river, and is placed in the side Of prccpitous
bluff midway from the summit to the waters
edge, and partially concealed from the river
view by the foliage by which it is surrounded.
In beauty OF location, made perfect by the
proximity OF the noble river which flows by 1t,
Mt. Vernon is all Sat the most extravagant
could desire even for the final resting place OF
him who was "trst in war. frstin peace, and
first in the hearts Of his countrymen."
From the channel opposite Mount Vernon,
looking far up the Potomac We have distant
view of the steeples Of Washington, and by
looking between two elevated points jutting in
to the river from either shore, producing n sin
gtilar effect on objects seen beyond, Is n splen-
did view OF the dome of the National Capitol,
the finest in the world. surprising in architec-
tural magni6cence and symmetry, IL not rival
ling in magnitude. the dome OF st. Peters Mt
Rome. Tho effect produced by looking through
this vista is to magnify the dome. so that seen
at the distance of nearly twenty miles II Is vast
ly larger than when seen from Capitol Hill.
There are many points on the Potomac which
have lately become historic. Among them Is
Aqua Creek, formerly connected by railroad
with Frcdericksburg,- and the base OF opera.
tons of the Federal army against Richmond.
The Government had immense storehouses here,
which have since been burned by the rebels.
The ruins may now be seen from the river nj
so the remains of fine wharf built by the Gov
ernmcnt at heavy expense.
At a. point on the river short distance be-
low Aduia Creek, across the neck OF q narrow
peninsula scarcely dozen miles away are the
blood-stained heights OF Fredericksburg where
the army of the Union met, in battle array, the
armed hosts of Rebellion, and where, in the
great battle of December. '62, twenty thousand
Northern boys, the pride of Northern homes,
standing in the front rank of battle were cut
down in that murderous charge, and their blood,
flowing IN crimson tide, mingled with the wild
current of the Rappahannock.
Farther down Is Matthias Point, where rebel
batteries were planted in 1861 which, in con
junction with others, on points nearly the en-
tire length Of the Potomac, blockadcd the river
to our boats for nearly year. The Point is
covered with thick wood and, like most OF
the shore from Washington to Chesapeake Bay,
presents little or no traces of animal life.
At night VIC came to anchor under the guns
Of the guard boat near the mouth Of the Poto-
mac, aud as the weather was foggy were obliged
to lay there all next day and night. So for di.
version VIC took n boat, in the afternoon, with
q few men, and rowed to the Maryland shore,
where we had seen number of boats engaged
in taking oysters. Arrived on the spot, VIC ar
ranged with chivarous son of the South and
his sable attendant to furnish us with few
bushels OF oysters. for which We offered Con-
Tolerate money in payment, when he informed
US that such money was not current The
didn't know what il was" These men are oil
excessively innocent when Union soldiers are
present (; and are often SO emphatic in their dc.
NAL Of all knowledge pertaining to the rebels,
and so strenuous in their assertion OF being Un-
ion men. rs to lay themselves open to suspicion.
They are honest oyster men during the day,
and ut night are engaged in the lucrative bust
ness of running the blockade with contriband
goods. There is an immense traffic done in this
petty blockade running, Hundreds Of boats
crossing to the Virginia shore nightly. a pair
of shoes worth 81 50 in Maryland, readily sell
for SIS in Virsinia,-thus making nice little
speculation for any good Union ~ farmer who
chances to own n skill.
At Point Lookout, at the confluence Of the
Potomac and Chesapeake Bay, we have $4,000
rebel prisoners awaiting the negotiations OF
Gen. Butler. l do not think there will be an
immediate exchange, rs lam inclined to the
opinion that our Government is not anxious to
make one, for the reason that tho rebels arc
short OF men and will scarcely be able to ill
their armies for the spring campaign, while our
army will be increased to'its maximum by VOL
unteering,- consequently should on exchange
be effected II will increase the force of the Con-
federates by the accession of $4,000 soldiers,
while We should not be materially strengthened
thereby. |
YORKTOWN.
This ancient town is situated Mt the head Of a
beautiful bay, at the mouth of the river whose
name il bears, and is ever memorable in histo
~ as the place where Washington captured the
British army, and received the sword OF Lord
CORVALLIS; the closing act of the Revolution.
1t is also memorable as the spot where another
great General, at n later date, besiegcd an mr.
my; but with this essential dilIerence,-Wash-
ingto captured the enemy, McClellan-did MT.
Some two or three miles below the town 0n n
low, fiat peninsular, densely covered with wood,
Mcclellan landed his army OF l30, 600, well
disciplined troops. occupied sir rseks in plant
ing thirty siege guns, the main object of which
labor seems to have been to Kill time, and
finally allowed the enemy, whose numbers in
the extreme, did not surpass 10000, to cvacu-
ate Mt leisure; and tro hours after the rebels
had got safely of, and the citizens had had
time to carry oil what few trinkets had been
le.t behind. dashed herocally into the deserted
camp and took possession at what remained, in
the name of the United States. People ut the
North, and unacquainted with the situation Of
our army at that time, may be led tn believe
that this was the result ut sagacious military
strategy. But those whU were here, aud famil
lar with all the facts, do not hesitate to say
that II was either an net Of unmitigatcd cow
ardice Or Of the hasest treachery.
l was somewhat disappointed on landing ut
Yorktown. expected to see settlement at
least worthy OF the name Of village Tho town
consists, all told. think Of six buildings, all
wearing an air Of dilapdation and decay which
bespcaks for them a Revolutionary origin
They stand in cluster, and are enclosed by
the fortihcations, which, by the way confer
considerable credit upon the rebel builders
The citizens being in the confederate army. the
buildings are occupied by our officers and sol
ders. The negro notice everywhere conspicu
Gus; in the street; driving teams; nj work on
the fortiiications; on guard, and in fict doing
duty in every capacity rs soldier. There are
very few rhite Virginians to be seen within the |
Federal lines. One party in particular attract
ell my attention. They appeared To be mother |
aud her tive daughters who had conc in from
the country for ride. They were in very