The Portland daily press., 1864-12-17
Letter from the Front.

Letter from the Front.
Pleasant Weather Changes of position
Fort Hell-Fsring --Subterranea abodes-
Blind Wdy-Vie~ Of Petersbarg-Roger
a. Pryor - Indications of Actipity =
Thanksgiving Dinner Health Of the ar
my. .sssa..55'
Fort, sedgwck alias Fort He'll 2 Dec. s, 1854.
To the Editor Of the Press:
Summer seems to linger in the lap OF late
autumn and early winter. We have had
succession of warm, sunny days, very CRATE
full to soldiers in the bivouac and in the trench
es. This dry and pleasant weather enables
the patriot army to continue active operations
in the field to much later period than any
previous season during the war.
To change position seems now to be the or
der of the day in the army of the Potomac.
Our battery occupied its position in Fort
Welch, near the extreme left of the army, for
over six weeks, longer period of rest-if
there be such thing as rest at the 'front.'
than has been vouchsafed to us since the COM
mencement of this years campaign. We had
prepared winter quarters for men and horses,
dig wells and had everything in order for the
Indictment season, when, presto, came the or
der to change position with the batteries of
the I'd Corps. We were ordered into Fort
Davis, at the left Of the same corps line, and
were congratulating ourselves on having the
safest position on that line, as neither picket
or sharpshooter could bring their guns to bear
upon us with any great effect, when we were
taken aback BY the order to change again.
This time we were ordered into Fort Sedg-
wick, but known throughout the army as Fort
aHeu;;" and i've days and nights here have
convinced us that the name is not inapprc-
pirate. Fort He'll is situated on the Jerusalem
plank road was not before aware that the
Jerusalem road passed so near this place
and is directly in front Of and about two
miles distant from Petersburg. The rebel
main line is about Eve hundred yards distant,
aad the two picket lines which are also well
intrenched, are situated about midway be-
tween the enemy's main line and ours, and
in some places are not more than ten rods
asunder. Unless there is some movement of
troops Ia our rear, or men expose themselves
conspicuously on the crest Of the works, there
is but little musketry firing in the day time.
But as twilight approaches the ball is opened
by a single musket shot, and then fisii-
ade commences which continues through
out the entire night. Sometimes the firing is
by volleys and again sin ely in succession from
right to left and pice uersa. The mines
p'unging through the air over our heads pro-
duce variety of sounds. Sometimes it is
like the Kissing of goose, again it is like the
melancholy signing of the wind through the
the pines, or moaning through the chinks of
dilapidated building, or, as fancy might say,
like the wailing of doomed spirits, which gives
greater significance to the name of the place.
Sometimes they strike against the trees, pro-
ducing sharp report like the firing of pis-
toll, tearing of the bark and throwing the
splinters in every direction. ~
Like the ancient Briton, the men live in
caves and holes in the ground. AS one pass
es along 10 rear of the line, he will find the
surface all covered with mounds of earth,
through the apex of which the blue smoke
curls and circles skyward, while the occupants
OF these subterranean abodes will be seen
standing at the mouths of their holes or
popping their heads in and out, reminding
one of a colony of prairie dogs, or, with the
difference in color, the snow huts of the Es-
qaimaux. Here the men, in comparative safe
ty, can cook and eat their food, and get few
hours Of rest and sleep after their long and
weary vigis on the picket line. These habi-
titions, however, are not always proof against
the heavy mortar shells with which the enemy
sometimes greet us for only day or two
ago | saw a sixty-four pound shell plunge into
o1e of these mounds, and the next instant
blankets and camp furniture were thrown
twenty feet into the air, and the ground for
some distance around was covered with the
Deseensus in aoerno faciI;s est, says Virgil,
but our Ayernus is not SO easily accessible, for
approaching it from the rear, about half mile
distant, a covered way commences which pur-
sues zig-zag course, the front always, pro-
tected by ridge of earth, and from this main
branch numerous other branches lead to other
points on the line, producing complete laby-
4rinth of ways, SO that one uninitiated might
travel Tor half day and then find himself at
the starting point and not recognize this point
after he had reached it. VERY unlike the COM
mon idea, that a ia5oa
t's. ''Broad is the road &c.,n % al4oi
The rebel works in our front are as strong
or stronger than ours, and much more regular
aad uniform in their appearance. This is ow-
ing to the fact that a great portion of their
inc was built before our troops occupied this
position, when they could operate more DELHI
erately, while ours were thrown up under
constant shower of minies, shot and shell. In
these beautiful days we can look across the re-
bel line and see the church spires of Peters
burg, gilded by the bright sunlight, and hear
the music of the church-going bells, which is
almost the only reminder we have of the civil
ization we have left behind us. tis IA
The rebel Roger A. Pryor, was captured in
front of our old position at Fort WEIGH, by a
captain of 9th Corps and was brought in
to the Fort. he wore slouched hat, a neat
lifting suit of confederate grey and top boots
He seemed little crest fallen at his capture
though seemingly confident Of speedy re-
lease. a s5s
To day portion of the veteran sixth Corps,
late from the valley, is relieving the fifth on
our left This seems to indicate speedy re-
sumption OF active operations, If the weather
continues favorable. ld4lsas
The Thanksgiving dinner provided by our
northern friends did not reach US in season
for that festive day, but a bountiful supply Of
the American bird was received on the day
following. @.54g s5sm 8.
We received Ho s.6slIh.g
s'Turkies hot and turkies cold, p4t-a
Ditto young and ditto old.
Ditto tender and ditto tough,