Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1865-02-03
LETTER FROM REV. p HUsHNELI,,

MEADEs STATION, Va, Jan. 23rd. 1865.
EDITOR JOURNAL: l wrote you last week from
City Point. The same day that wrote came
up to this point, seven miles from City Point,
and about one mile and a half from the 'front.'
Our quarters lie within a few rods of the Mill
tary Railroad, where trains are passing every
hour No fares are paid on this road At Ci-
ty Point was furnished with a military pass.
This and the badge of the United States Chris
tian Commission allow one to gowhere he pleas
es, within the lines. With haversack filed
with newspapers, note paper, needles, thread,
pins envelopes, combs, &C., the delegate goes
into Battery, or Fort, or along the lines where
the boys are watching the rebels and cannot
leave. In minute he is surrounded by eager
and receiving what he gives with delight and
thankfulness. The first time | went out Wis
tied a battery on the bank of the Apommatox,
from which | could look into the streets of Pc.
tersburg not over three-fourths of mile dis
tant. of course this battery could easily shell
the city. But then just ON the opposite bank is
a rebel battery that can shell it. So each party
holds the other in check Some time since the
rebels took to shooting our men whenever they
could see them about the battery. To stop them
the battery opened on them with mortar. A
rebel boat appeared in the river The battery
dropped shell into it and killed seven men,
This put stop to the rebel shooting.
There is little firing nowadays at the front,
except that of the pickets. 1t is little excit-
ing, not much, to walk along behind the breast
works where they are a little low, with bullets
whistling over your head But as the guns
must fire upward there is no danger of being hit.
The ground all labout ushas been fought over.
1t is covered with bitches, redoubts and rifle
pits, some fronting one way and some the other
The rebels have been here and have been driv-
en- off.
The ''Johnnies' come in every night. The
day that news of the capture of Fort Fisher was
received sixty-three came over. They were
sent down in car by our station. They were
the hardest" looking set of men ever saw.
You should see the little Chapel which has
been built here. l think spoke Of it in my
last. But had not then seen it. 1t is 43 by
% feet, covered with cloth roof, and decora-
ted with evergreens. 1t is crowded every night
at prayer-meeting, and yesterday afternoon
about two hundred christians, members of vari-
Gus churches celebrated the Lord S supper it it.
Gen. Grants Military Railroad is a curiosity.
1t goes over hills and down through Valleys
A long train looks very odd, as it drags its
length over a hill just to the northeast of us,
and then through hollow To the southwest
of US, however, is hill that proved dangerous.
1t is just opposite the spot where the mine ex-
ploded last year. The rebelsh have built up that
place, and were able to see the cars on the hill.
They fired upon the trains, and SO the hill was
excavated and the dirt piled up all upon one
side SO as to hide the cars.
There is opportunity for one here to display
almost any species of ingenuity that he may
have. Last week we delegates set to work to
make our quarters more comfortable. made
me bunk out of two pine poles and an old bar
rel. Then ] made very good table out of
goods box, with dull army AK and a saw and
q hammer. Saturday it rained so that we could
not go out. So l made me an arm chair out of
poles. l used the ak for a jointer, and my jack
knife smoothing plane. Now l have an
aristocratic seat.
Speaking of rain, when it rains here, it rains
indeed. do not wonder that armies cannot
move in the rainy season.
The armies of Uncle Sam have cleaned up
fright smart" of land arodnd here for the dem
izens of Virginia. No signs of fences are to be
seen, but all is one great waste. Such is the
work of war. E. B.