Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-01-05
AN Army OF VETERANS RE-ENLIsrING.
THE CONsCRIPTINa OFFICER AFTER THE
BuHSMiASS.

Editorial CORES pondence of The Star.
HEADGCARTERsA ARMY oF THE PoroMa
January /, 1861. (
The trip 10 Brandy Station. and thence - the
headquarters of Gen Meade, though Just now
devoid OF the stirring interest attendant upon
such Journeying when important military
movements are upon the tapis, vet affords suf-
ficient to keep the attention closely occupied
1t seems odd in view of the past, to be whsked
per rail across bloody Bull Run and through
the tros achs{ fit cover for Rhodertc Dhu- NJ oseby
and gang) bordering upon that suiien, ghost.
haunted stream, or to plunge unopposed up the
steep iie-pit-iined grade to the deso,ate plains
OF Manassas. And from thence to Brandy Sta.
tion The chocolate colored soil is studded with
mementoes Of the stirring events that have
transpirsd Observation-Disclosures trees guer-
rilla- wrecked cars by the waysids, graves at
Catietts, graves at Brstows, fields rutted par
alIel to the railroad track by the mile width
where the imm ense artillery and ansportation
trains OF the opposing armies have chasses d
back and forth and " forth and back't between
the Potomac and the Rapidan
But the road is being put in such methodicai
running order, making its regular trips so
closely to schedule time between the M,ryiand
avenue station and Brandy, that The Journey
over it promises soon to be quite as proSaic as
u,
perhaps more SO while the Susquehanna is
cutting up its winter antics at Hayre-de- Grace.
As matter OF reference and interest to MANY
readers, subjoIn the table OF dis ances on this
road, from Alexandria to Brandy Station, (55
miles, as follows: Edsalfs, miles; Spring
field, y; Bnrke's, Is Fairfax, is X; Deyeraux
2OA; Union Mills, %; Manassas, %; Junction,
27; BristoW. 30; Nokesviiie, IS; Catlet5's 37b.
WaTrenton Junction, 394: Beaeton, i6 X Rap
pahannock, so; Ingalls,, 52H; Braniy, 90
Those who gather an idea Of the amount of
work done by the road by ,henumber o: trans
represented in the running schedule, get a
very inadequate notion, as almost every regu-
lar train there set down is accom- panied by half
dozen long extra trains, and thus it is re-
malkasle with what precision the running is
effected, ecially with the up trains: the down
trains, of course, ha wing to lay by at the turn
outs and give them the track.
The army headquarters 1 find in cosy
sheltered position, in forest OF pines of con
siderable ext-nt. The forest is, however. being
leveled daily to that extent, from the needs for
army use, that apparently nothing will be left
soon but a fringe to keep the northern blasts
away.
The modest tent OF Genera, Meade-a plain
hospital tent, with rough brick chimney and
lighted 10y few panes Of glass set in the can
EHS. pdHeltu GOor-iS IN the center OF q semi
circle of tents occupied by members OF his staff
household; Postmaster Hazlitt; the CORPS OF
telegraphers, &c, &c; while detached from
this crescent canvas village, and to the right is
Provost Marshal General Patrick's headuuar-
tiers, comfortably sheltered from the wind by
high screen Of fragrant pine "browse"
Passing his tent door just now, 1 saw this
honest and energetic officer seated at his table
in plain knit Jacket, busy at work, doubtless In
upsett1ng the schemes OF the host of sscaIa-
wags" and army leecEes intent upon getting
over or under or around wholesome army reg.
ulations. Judging by the grim smile On his
face, he had just got big thing on soma of
these rascals.
The army seems to be in excellent condition
despite all Its bad luck, and if it has half
chance will be apt to find practicable road to
Richmond yet.
Opinions vary here amongst the army off,
GERS as to the number OF veterans who will
re enlist but none set the number lower than
twenty thousand, while many believe that
two-thirds OF the whole army will rs.enIis.
1t Will be remembered that large numbers of
new recruits are embraced in the old repi-
ments, and whose time will not expire when
that OF the veterans does; consequently they
will go to swell the aggregate with those who
re-enltst TO make up an effective army for the
coming decisive tfor the rebels) campaign.
There is no little stir amongst the civilians
about capp-sutlers. suffers clerks, news paper
correspondents and others, the late order to
enroll all civilians there, is held to include
them, as well as the camp hangers on who
have 40 legitimate business with the army,
and could We'll be spared. Doubtless some
measure Of relief will be found for the cor
respondents, who are usually competent to
get themselves out OF yet tighter scrapes than
this. CSN