Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-10-16

AN ARMY SKETCH.

An ARMY SKETCH.
In the spring Of 1862, just before Gen.
Mcclellan made his advance upon Gen.
treville, the 4th Me. Regiment, then un-
der the command of Col. H. G. Berry,
was ordered on picket near Pohick Church.
This church was built by Gen. George
Washington, and at the time of which we
write retained many of its original feat
ures. 1t was built of brick, and had two
rows of windows, giving it from the out
side the appearance of large two story
dwelling, it having no steeple. There
were three entrances, two from the main
road and one in the side of the church,
from each of which ran aisles extending
to the opposite side and end of the build
ing; these aisles were of marble, and in
tersected each other at right angles. OPP
poste the side entrance was the pulpit,
small circular box, the entrance to which
was by winding fight of steps beneath
it; the pulpit was in what might be called
the second story of the church, SO high
was it; above it was the oft-mentioned
but seldom seen sounding board, similar
in construction to an umbrella without the
handle.
platform, a little raised from the floor level
for the choir; back of this were three
wooden tablets fastened in the wall of the
house, the centre one being the largest
Upon the right hand one was the Lords
Prayer engraved in gilt letters about an
inch in length, as also was the Ten Com
mandments upon the centre. and the
Episcopal creed upon the left; the whole
being tastefully and neatly done, and sur
rounded with an appropriate border.
The pews were square with seat on
three sides of them. As sat in the one
said to have been Washingtcn's my
thoughts went backward to the time when
he and his beloved family occupied it, and
contrasting that time with the present. /
asked myself: "Did he and his CO. patriots
live in vain? Were their lives given to es-
tablish country SO weak as to be so soon
and so shamelessly broken and divided up
by factions. could not think it possible.
While thus mused, my comrades despair
ing of getting their fires to burn in the
open air. owing to the rain, came in and
built them in the aisles on the marble once
trod by Washington. After having cooked
their coffee and eaten their simple meal
We wandered through the graveyard,
reading the inscriptions, some of which
we're one hundred and fifty years old.
Passing the day as well as usual when
on picket, we were, towards night, some
what surprised when told by one or two
deserters that the rebels were evacuating
Ocoquan Creek and village.
| This information was considered of
such importance that Colonel Berry i'm
mediately ordered reconnaissance in force
to ascertain its truth. Excitement ran
high in prospect of something to do be-
side the usual routine of camp life, for
| anything to break its monotony was hailed
with delight by the boys in blue, for they
were heartily tired of the mastely inactivi-
ty that had kept them encamped on Law
sons Hill for so long a time. Volunteers
for the reconnaissance were plenty. In
short time one hundred men were detailed
and placed under charge of Capt.
and ordered to start during the night, and
advance until they met the enemy, or oc-
cupied Ocoquan, village of about twen-
ty-five houses on the farther side of the
creek.
We started about midnight, and, having
gone about five miles, came in sight Of
Ocoquan Creek. Our advance was neces-
sarily slow, as the vidette line, which gov-
erned our movements, could only move
very cautiously for fear the enemy might
suddenly be found in some unlooked-for
place. However, meeting with no serious
resistance, we steadily advanced until
about daylight, when we came in sight of
the village. The enemy were nowhere to
be seen. We found the Ocoquan to be
quite river. and the village larger than
we expected. Having formed our line
opposite the village, the next question was
should we cross the creek and ascertain
if the rebels had really abandoned that
stronghold, or only retired, to draw us in
to danger. All the boats were on the reb-
el side. The only way for rs then was to
move up the stream and find if possible
iording place. /, with eleven others,
endeavor to get across the riyer or creek.
and if successful, to march down on the
opposite side, and if there were no oppo-
sition, to enter the village, take what
boats we needed to cross the creek, and
destroy the rest
Having gone up the stream about two
miles, over lodges and through thick un-
dergrowth, to where the water appeared
shoal enough to ford, |, having little
more ambition than was necessary, vol
unteered to see if the crossing was practi-
cable so making, as ] thought, nice cal
culations as to depth of water, strength Of
current and distance to the first stepping
stone, leaped from the shore t. tie rock,
but instead of safe lodgment where ex-
pected, found myself head and ears un-
der water, the current being stronger and
the water deeper than calculated upon
Coming to the surface. soldier like, firm
ly grasped my rifle; being carried by the
current rapidly down the stream, felt
my knees strike against rock, but being
unable to effect lodgment upon it, float
ed over it. Striking another, was fortu-
nate enough to secure foothold. My
comrades had been watching me, but were
on my overcoat and equipments.
All my clothing was soaked full of wa
ter, and my ammunition wet so was un-
able to proceed with them. Being much
nearer our shore than the other, l advised
my comrades not to attempt to cross where