Connecticut western news., 1911-12-14
SECOND" AT PETERSBURGH
Comrade Roberts Relates Incidents
 of Soldier Travel.
BYE. E. ROBERTS

Der that the regiment (The "Heavies'D left Stephenson Depot on the Potomac R. R. and rode all night. As the enemy was lurking around continually it was not as safe on the cars as it is today. However you landed in Washington early Dec. 9. 1884, just 47 years ago to- day, as am writing. You unloaded from the cars and marched from the B. & O. depot to the Potomac river and went aboard transports, some struggled by the way and got some of the things that you had been denied for months. It took longer to load several thousand soldiers onto transports, and horses as well. It was we'll towards night when your boat started down the river to n point opposite Alexandria, a city that had tantalizing reoollections to you. I mean by "you, all the Second Heavies. You had made Alexandria and it's suburbs your home for twenty months, and knowing every haunt as you did, is it 8 wonder that you would like to have gone ashore and up through old King and Princes street and spend a night in- stead of on the transport? And there were several of these lying at anchor in the river in front of the city.
 Any one that has had the opportunity win remember the view of the beautiful ridge in the rear of Alexandria, and the Fairfax Seminary" on the heights, Arlington and other edihces of note. But this feast to you was only about 2A hours duration. when anchor was raised and on the third of December you steam- ed down the river on a mission that you at this time knew not of. Down the Potomac the hotilla wended its way past Fort Washington, a massive stone for tress built on the left bank of the Poto- mac, about nine miles below Alexandria. The next object of interest to you was Mount Vernon, /" the home of Washing ton. You had taken a trip down this river early in the previous May, past these historic places, and landed at "Aquie Greek landing," when you were starting out. little knowing of the horrors and hardships before you. But soldier can find no comfort in borrowing trou- ble You learned to know that you be- longed to the U. s. Government, that your life belonged 70 1t, to take if need be-not to put your life in danger need lessly, or rashly, but to obey orders, to go where you were told to go, even though it meant to give your life,
 Your trip down the Potomac and the Chesapeake Bay was very pleasant part of your service and such a contrast to your trip through Virginia 70 Peters- burgh. You did not know your destina- tion. You were anxious to see whether the fleet would turn at Fortress Monroe. around into the James River. or go out through the capes and down the toast. But the matter was settled when you saw the boats head up the James river. You knew it meant Petersburgh again. Your trip up the James was pleasant. You passed the old historic Jamestown and visions of Pocahontas and Oaptain John Smith fit into your mind. You landed on the 4th of December at Oity Point, which at this time had become one of the largest military depots in the whole country. You marched out a mile and half and went into camp. As you landed at City Point you could not help but let your thoughts carry you back to the first time when you sailed past this place in June, preceding this time, when you came down through from Fredricksburgh having made calls at the Wilderness, Potsylvanna, North Anna, Mechanicsville, Gold Harbor, Han over Court House. Charles City Court House, Harrisson's Landing, nearly op- posite this point.
 When you got on the transport at Harrison's Landing your ranks were fearfully shattered from the effects or the battles above mentioned. You were now getting back to center where within radius of 30 miles there had been more deaths from the clash of op- posing armies than in the same radius, same length of time, in the known world. No wonder that Gen. sherman
 said, "War is Hell l"
 The morning of December 9th you
 took the cars on Grants" K. K. for
 Perersburgh, or the suburbs of Peters
 burgh, where the environments were very interesting. You landed at Park
 Station, very neat and tidy place, a place that had changed immensely sinco the first time you saw 1t, which was June %, 1864, of which have written in 6 previous letter. It was then .a wilderness and of which many Sf our boys have 6 vivid recollection. And If those who lost their lives there can
 look back to earth they can see what the
 intervening months have wrought; for
 certainly your second visit shows many changes. And oh, boys, think of the
 changes that came to your regiment be tween that 22d of June (your first visitl