Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-11-24

second depot for rebel deserters who are a. nearly as
possible like the haggard characters 10 the court OF
They have been often described however that II - I'M
necessary to add any particulars as to their looks dresses
hair boards &c They are coming In every day. and the
current both increasing and expected to increase Most
of them are shortly to be sent North some engage in
camp duties and few not only take the oath OF allegiance
but enlist in the Union armies 1t judged advisable NOT
to send them to the 'front.' but employ them IN provost ser
vices and the like The third compartment consists u
desersrs and bounty Jumpers who have been
yiler set never walked the planet or II wero Po
for civilian TO get in among them he would hara escape
with his le All kinds Of devry arc praosed py 'nese
wrstches upoa one another and on tne
30 that punshments are frequent and these not Oh the gen.
test kind frame stands in ront OF the entrance 10
which the rasca are often taken out ana ueu up ny Inc
hands for whole day night Alter long penance 10
tbi. bu ring" for more less time, the offenders are
tried and punished according to the nature Of their crimes
or returned to their respective regiments
TIE TROOPS AT CITY POINT.
In the camp here which is we'll fortified by breast
works are four five regiments, mostly engaged IN pro-
vos duty such guarding conveying prisoners North
Among these are the Twentieth New York State Militia
and the Tenth Colored United States Regiments. The
last is full, and makes fine appearance when on dr
Every evening they hold open'ar meeting lot deVo
lungs, at least judged as much last evening About
seven clock singing was heard in that quarter; and
repairing .hithe found nearly fifty persons present Of
whom six or eight appeared to be leaders These formed
circle and sang TO tune had before heard and
in sharp key piece reminding me oil sailors song
when all the jolly unite in giving long pull strong
pull and pull all together While the singing Went on
whca for twenty minutes the same words 0eng TO
peaed sgain and again. the mems bodies Kept swinging
back aud forth they capped their hands and stamped on
the ground all 10 excellent time but making such en- up
Of stamping, capping, singing calculating that Inc
noise could be easily heard for miles Then one Dy one
they dropped their knees and prayed some aadDy'
others not So but at least of them as loud as they
could shout interminghng petitions with ejaculation sing
| ing clsppng hands, &c ] reason to doubt the
sincerity of those engaged in these exercises but presume
the particular form Of this worship bss been imported
from Congo somewhere else 10 that land which u all
| the suns"
| THE CAMPS AT CITY POINT.
Tie campo established in and around have all the appear.
of being permanent fixtures the soldiers having IN
begun laying the grounds on into streets ana
avenues which well drained by main drains and little
channels around their tents OF these the roof only apt
to be made of CLOTH the sde consisting Of logs or boards
which well put together and then pastsred the inside
usually containing table, benches, bed, closet small
stove with cooking utensils sometimes the inevitable look
ing glass and the spttoon Not very uncomfortable
after ALL to spend winter in such habation. vi course,
speak Of the encampment in this village Cor city, under
command of Gen Patrick not OF those nearer the front,
where comfort is the exception rather than the rule
| Excepting the Appomattox river City Point is York
town over again. The has preentous, the other
famous One is perched en- an emnence overlook.
ing the York river the other bluff overlooking the
James Both the heights scanned with deep raw mes,
ungassed soil getting washed away every year by the
heavy rsin. In both the principal only street made
distance back ofthe precpce it never having
the peoples mind to take any precautionary ea
sures against the agency Of wind and water upon them
1 RETURNING SOLDIERS.
4 The men furloughed North have mostly returned tO
camp with many thousands OF fresh recruits who have
been pouring in aimee October Several batteries OF
guns have aso recently gone up TO the front These
only TO replace old pieces which out or to
supply the troops or again, they may be the neip
ent preparations for that great collision which expected
, to come off before the closes.
WET TO THE FRoNT-TuE CEMETERY.
Yesterday forenoon (l7tb) set out for the front The
day was supremacy beautiful and warm enough to enable
one to dispense with overcoat and gloves Along the rail-
road and common road toward Petersburg extended Gen
Motifs division Of the Second Corps, which is engaged in
protecting our communications up to the front To the
rRlL we phsscu bscoihoi AL.
chored in the Appomsttor, about two miles above City
Point short distance thererom is the cemetery, to
which those who die in hospital removed Already it
covers an acre of ground and newly opened graves
seen all sides, But Of any twenty thousand people some
will be found to scken die elsewhere well here.
The spot selected for place Of interment pleasantly
situated near ravne where part Of the old woods have
been left standing II 10 surrounded by plain fence aud
each grave has its own hesdboard.
TOPOGRAPHY OF THE COUNTRY.
Lei us take view Of the situation at this point The
country is plateau between the two rivers, with rsvines
long aud crooked running down to right and left The soil
oayey dsposed to be dusty but after rain is sticky
as wax Layers Of white sand yellow and other coored
cays present themselves ct all the cuttings and rsyines
showing that hs part Of the country is OF marine fcrma
ton No marty deposits visible Notwithstanding
but clay sand and bouden at great depth The railroad
and common road follow the divide" Fences and woods
are nearly alters Of history the former altogether
did not see single panel my fifteen mes rsmbe yes
terday All ia one vast common with slumps standing up
and roads cut hther aud hither every mule train eng
noeriog for ITSELF Getting OF the gentle SUBMITS aud
backward and forward for miles the spectator be-
holds nothing save eIemporzed wagon roads and foot
paths cutting all sorts of fgurecircular, oval triangular
ausdraters poygona Itwoud seem as II some eccentric
fsIov had exercised his wits to see how many aud how
ouandi,h lines could be and figures DESERT Cd And
90 It extends all the way to Petersburg and thetee round
n r. randa my