The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1865-01-26
JottIngs From ssThe Front,
CAMP NEAR PETERSBURG, VA, 1
Jan. Is, 1865.

line. Not that we wish to tresspass on the
ground already occupied by your excellent
correspondent, "Gamma," but merely to com
municate some 'odds and ends" and s'pencil-
lings by the way"
The quietude of s'Winter quarters" has in
sensibly settled down on the army. Although
there has been no express order to that effect
yet it seems to be military necessity
Whenever the soldier is not engaged in
marches or battles, he sets himself abou, to
provide a shelter from the storm. The forests
of Virginia have been laid under contribution,
and everywhere neat little villages of rustic
architecture rise up to bear witness to the
mechanical skill of the Northern soldier Each
one vies with the other to make his quarters
the most tasty and comfortable Thus with
his stockade walls, hy-tent covering, mud
chimney overtopped by barrel, rude table,
camp stool, bunk bed, and earthen floor, he
tries to make himself as agreeable as his sur
roundings will allow. Here he eats, sleeps
and goes in and out, trying to be as homelike
as he can be without the delicacies of life, or
the gentle hand of woman to add domestic
grace, or her sweet smile to drive dull care
away. Although the soldier must hold him.
self in readiness at any moment for marching
orders, yet he resolves to olive while he lives"
and when he is compelled to leave, he straps
his knapsack on his back, and turns away
from his humble domicil, leaving it for others
to occupy, while he seeks q new camp.
The 209th occupies a most beautiful site
for camp, and if it was rot for the scarcity
of wood it would be one of the most desirable
of situations. The ground is composed of a
white sand which never gets Extensively mud
dy, and very quickly dries when once wet A
bubbling spring near by supplies US with an
abundance ofpure, fresh water. Our location
being near Grants Military Railroad" it is
very easy of access. Company C has model
quarters. 1t being mainly composed of sturdy
sons of Cambria, they well know how to
WELD the axe and accommodate themselves to
circumstances. The health of the regime at is
comparatively good, and while other regiments
are suffering much from sickness, and many
of them are in hospitals and some dying, very
few of this regiment are sick, and but very
few dangerously i'll.
Speaking of the Military RR leads US to
say it is certainly curiosity in the way of
construction. 1t consists of a single track
extending from City Point on the James river
to Patrick station on the left, and follows in
general the line of our intrenchments This
line Of communication seems to be an absolute
necessity, in order to transfer men and means
TO the front. But the most striking feature
of this railroad is the fact that the track fol-
lows tbp of ha
there are so many ups and downs in its grade
that it is most surprising that heavy trains
can be drawn over such an irregular road at
such an astonishing speed.
The morale of this regiment is good in COM
parison with that of many others. Quite a
number of the men are members of some one
of the Evangelical churches, and majority
of the soldiers readily give respectful hear
ing to the subject of religion. The U. s.
Christian Commission, here, as we'll as else
where, is doing praiseworthy work. There
is an agent of the Commission connected with
the 9th Army Corps, who has established his
headquarters here at Meades station, and
supplies the soldiers with many articles of
comfort. Religious periodicals of different
denominations are received here regularly
and distributed among the men. If the people
of the Northern States knew how anxious the
soldiers are to get good reading matter, and
with what avidity they devour it, they would
certainly be more liberal in their contribu-
tions.
Lieut. Charters, of New York, the agent of
Christian Commission at this place, through
the assistance of the soldiers, principally of
the 209th, has erected Chapel at Meade's
station, for the accommodation of this regi-
ment and the different commands of this
vicinity. This is beautiful structure, to be
tools as the axe, euger and saw. 1t is a
specimen of artistic skill, worthy the head and
heart of the designers. 1t makes one feel
quite homelike to sit in the comfortable
Chapel, filed to overfowing with an attentive
auditory of blue coats, and to hear them sing
and how these soldiers can sing
The soldier must have something to read,
and if he cannot procure that which is good,
why then he will seek that which is not so
good. Their friends at home ought to think
of this and make provision for sending them
rs much moral and instructive reading matter
as possible, to enable them to while away the
time when not on duty as pleasantly as they
can IF the friends of the soldiers at home
could see how eagerly they crowd around
when the mail arrives, and how rejoiced they
are at the reception of letter from home,
fell Of words of cheer, or how disappointed