Year: 1861

CAMP OF MASSA ACHUsETTS SECOND. !


GEN, BANKS DIV, NEAR FREDERIC, MD,


December g. 1861.


have often read that sublime passage of
Milton, describing the admiration OF Satan
when he first beheld the vast and beautiful
creation, the latest work OF the Lold against
whom he had yainly rebelled. But one must
have been for three months guarding the Po
tomac, away from every vestge Of civilization,
seeing, instead OF the neat white houses and
trim enclosures Of Massachusetts, the scattered
log buildings and the stubble fields OF this
heaven-lorsaken region. in order to appreciate
more deeply than ever that mastery descrip-
ton. The city of Frederic, from distance
Of three mies,-tor we have not yet entered
the city,-looks the most like one Of the beau
titu inland cities of New England of any that
l have seen since leaving Worcester. Long
before we could see the city the steam of Il 10
connective attracted our attention, ia sight we
have not seen since the last OF Jaly,) and oc-
casioned emotions like those excited on hear
ing our native songs in a strange land.


Our division left the Potomac near the
mouth Of the Seneca, on Tuesday morning
last. The sightseeing people at home would
find themselves well paid by journey to Ma
ryland, to see thing so simple in sound as
the movement OF a division OF the army. The
long line of men with bayonets cleaning in
the morning sun, each regiment followed by
its wagons-the whole at one time moving in
a solid body, again broken up and scattered az
it winds its way through the long supply
trains, which every few miles block up the
roads near the seat OF war. 1t is altogether a
grand spectacle, lar surprising, in my mind,
the iormality of a review.


The first days march brought US to Boones
vile. This little village at the foot of Sugar
Loaf-a mountain which has seen much signal
service during the war. 1t was a march OF
seventeen miles, over rough, frozen road
rough enough, for a weeks rain OIL Maryland
soil had made such mud as only Mary land
roads can boast In this the wagons had sunk
hub-deep. A sudden cold had frozen it, and
rendered the travelling painful as well as diff
cult, The next morning we marched to Fred
erick, AS our regiment had the right of the
llDej we LOOK our own time nat lllS llne
was may be inferred, when l state that we
made the first ten miles without halt, and
accomplished the whole distance - sixteen
miles--in four hours and three quarters, with
but one rest Aud this almost incredible
marching was done over this frozen road, with
heavy knapsacks, and yet less than half doz-
en- men remained behind from exhaustion.


Frederic is the city where last spring the
spurious legislature labored with such liend.
ish cunning to smuggle this state out OF the
Union. What our object is here, l know not
Those who have had most picket duty think
that we are TO quarter here for the winter
Some think that we have retired for a short
time only to watch the movements of the enc
my ON the river, and be ready 10 move by rail
road to any point where a blow may be struck
with the surest effect. Those who dislike
cold weather, fondly hope that it is but the
first step on southern expedition Meantime
Gen. Stones Division, in which is the l5lh
are to guard the Potomac in lieu of us ; an ar
duous but an extremely responsible duty.


When l have had opportunities to see Fred
elic, l shall communicate my impressions of
this central city OF Maryland LENo.