Year: 1861

Adutant in the occupancy of a very conior'aoie
hon.a f,u of business. which, however, was sus-
pended long enough to give me courteous Weicoine'
I'd % satisfy any desire might have to obtain in
fornat;on as to that part of army under their
command Two men, claiming to be deserters, had
lsf, the Generals quarters for Washington in charge
of a souad. few moments before my arrival. They
had been three nights threading their way through
the forest, from the Rebel encampment at Centre
yille They said the Rebels were in great force near
Centreyille and at Manassas, where they designed
awaiting the attack of our army. They also con-
firmed the report Of the precipitate flight of the
Rebels from Fairfax fortnight ago, and OF the
burning of their tents and provisions preparatory
thereto. OF all kinds of provisions, except sugar,
they had plentiful supply, but many had suffered
for want of blankets and suitable clothing to protect
them from the inclement nights of the preceding
week. The Rebel army had suffered greatly from
sickness, but the troops were in good spirits gen.
orally, and anxious for conflict upon the same field
where their first great battle was fought.


Gen. Heintzleman's quarters are within the para
pets of Fort Lyon-one Of the largest and most inn
porant Notifications in the vicinity Of the capital
This fort embraces fourteen acres and commands the
Potomac in two directions and all the territory in
rear of it within range of the immense siege guns
aud columbads that frown from its battlements. 1t
is rapidly approaching compktion-there being at
least thousand men Iat work upon 1t. The work
Oh hs as well as on all the other forts built for the
defense of the capital is not of temporary character
but it is done in the best possible manner and will
remain as a model of castrametaion long after the
present contest is over.


Leaving Fort Lyon, descended the bill in the
direction of, Alexandria, my eyes taking in at
glance the magnificent panorama of the Potomac
from that city to Georgetown. 1t was delightful
morning-the sun shone brightly, and the dir was
fresh and balmy. only regret that am wanting
in powers neediul to a adequate description of
one of the finest Landscapes in our country.


Near Fairfax Seminary l again encountered the
dwellers in tents and though found them surround
cd with every necessary, felt that was difficult TO
imagine more monotonous life than that of soldier
in camp have visited most of the encampments of
the regiments composing the left wing OF the army
OF the Potomac and have witnessed camp life in
many of its agreeable and some Of it's disagreeable
phases, and do not wonder that the prevailing de-
sire among officers and pri,ates is for an onward
movement There is little to diversity the unvaryng
round of camp life. GAN work and no play makes
Jack dull boy" but neither work nor play, and un-
certainty as TO any change, makes the American Vol
unteer about as undemonstrative, uncomfortable a
biped, SIS any that wears the " human form divine.
1t is hardly credible that throughout range of
campments comprising sixty thousand men, and
spreading over an extent of at least fifteen miles,
there should not something of interest importance
occur every twenty-four hous; but, alas for you,
poor moDgers, assure You, that in this division
of the army, not an incident OF the slightest
consequence, has marked the hybernation OF our
troops since Monday. One meets the same tacitur-
nifty and immobilty of feature every day. The
soldiers wonder why they not ordered TO march.
Occasionally one enumerates the reasons which urge
aspeedy movement-such the fine condition of the
roads, the nakedness of the trees and the dryness Of
she timber and contrasts these advantages with the
embarrassments incident to deep mud roads in


crusted by FROST heavy rains and freezing nights Al
Winter approaches, and the prospect Of its being
spent in camp grows daily apparent, it is not
surprising that the soldier should feel little
cern respecting the movements of the army. Our
soldiers thought in the same channel 80 years ago,
at Valley Forge. 1t would puzzle the wisest among
us perhaps to determine, whether the army would
suffer more by an immediate and decisive battle at
Bull Run, than by exposure to the long and gloomy
months of Winter on the Potomac Hills. These
questions have not probably escaped Ice an.@rs. "a.
ton Of the commsnder.s "a ne army, and 20 we Say
no more about them.


The rumored retiracy of Gen. Scott has produced
profound impression upon the army. Accustomed
to lean upon him, and to regard him as the frat
military Captain Of the age, although they have
long felt that he was only nominal chief, our
soldiers now that he has really withdrawn, feel and
express a regret, which circumstances Of greater
practical importance would fail to excite. They ex-
press entire confidence in Gen. Mcclellan and will
ptand by bin for veal or woe to the last but some
of them think that Gen. Mcclellan delays march
through want Of confidence in them. This feeling
grows out Of the jealousy existing between regular
and volunteer troops, and doubtless has noistronger
foundation in fact than that. Gen. Mcclellan is un-
derstood on all occasions attery, to have expressed
the highest admiration for the proficiency and I'M
proyement Of his volunteer forces. "We shall never
run again, Sir, said soldier to me to-day, while
converting Of the retreat from Manassas. "Gen.
Mcclellan may trust every man in this division, for
It is the sentiment Of every camp in it-Death be-
fore surrender or retreat" The discipline to which
our troops have been subjected since the Bull Run
affair." has prepared them for success In the approach
ing conflict. Not man among them contemplatos
tho possibility of defest-not a man, who is not
eager for battle before the approach Of Winter.


There is really nothing in the movements of the
army to indicate an early march. The different reg-
nepis composing the left wing are constantly chang
ing their encampments, doubtless With view to in
crease their typographical information. Our scout