Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-06-05
CAMP FIRE
If a5nASnORIE
lAkRMIA
STIRRING SIGHT ON POTOMAC
Pen Picture by Private of Dull Days
Before Early Woke Up Washing
ton in July, 1864.

Some time in June, 1864, we cama
up from New Orleans, and went into
fort on a hill back of Alexandria,
Va. There is low range of hills
there that extends up and down, over
booking the Potomac river. On this
elevation a chain of forts had been
built some time before, about two
miles or so apart, but at this time
there were only a few soldiers In
them. For some miles toward Manas-
sas the country is rolling, with here
and there deep ravine and fine wood
lands and nice streams OF water
Alexandria was an old, sleepy town,
the wheels of progress were stopped,
and one would think the war was
over to see the farmers coming in
with their butter and eggs to exchange
for goods. There is a valley and quite
large brook running through it that
empties into the river on one side of
the town. A little way up was an
old gristmill with large overshot
wheel, writes Oscar Pelton, of
Portland, Ore, in the National Trib-
une. Some blockhouses were be-
ing built along the roads going up
the valley. Over in Washington every
thing was quiet. The sidewalks would
be crowded some days with one-legged
and one-armed soldiers hobbling along
with a sprinkling of officers and men
with tanned faces and shabby uni
forms that would tell you at glance
that they had seen hard service at
the front. Everyone felt safe, no
danger, and many were going to the
theater and having a good time. 1t
was the calm before the storm.
On July l we had been drilling on
the big guns and having target prac-
tice for some days. At night a great
squad would be sent out over different
roads leading out of Alexandria, and
men were sent with dispatches at
midnight from one fort to the other
all along Arlington Heights.
1t was thought that Mosby might
make US a visit. / think it was about
July 10 or IL. A lot of us had been
out on the road leading back toward
Manassas all night and were coming
in in the morning. 1t was very hot
weather. We got in the fort at or
10 a. m. We had coffee and a lunch.
1t was so hot that few of US went
out under some trees. We had a fine
view Of the river for ten miles.
What's up?" we asked There
isn't boat to be seen on the river
nIl
never has been that way since we
have been Eere."
Below Alexandria the river bends
around so boats coming up would
seem to come out from behind the
timber to us. AS we were sitting I'M
der the trees later we happened to
look down, and saw a great fleet of
transports coming out from behind
the timber.
1t was no time before they were
nearly up to Alexandria, and still they
kept coming out from behind the
timber We all jumped to our feet
and one said: What's up?"
All the garrison came out to watch.
1t seemed that every boat was trying
to see which would reach Washington
first. They were now passing Alex
andria. We would see by the foam
dashing out from behind the great
sidewheel transports that every pound
of steam was crowded on. The last
boats were passing US, and they filed
up the river for nearly ten miles, and
their decks were crowded with sol
diers. The music struck up on some
Of the transports, and there never
will be such a grand sight on the old
Potomac again. A dispatch bearer
came to the fort, and reported that
there was large Confederate army
before Washington, and 10000 were
being brought from the Army of the
Potomac to reinforce the forts north
of the city.
We had heard cannonading. but
thought it target practice, but the old
private was not supposed to know
anything, anyway.