Year: 1864

CANF JEssiE, B. & o. RAILRoAD,


NEW CREEK, Va, May 49,


We are cozily settled here in our little
"dog tents" on the fat between the rail-
road and the Potomac river, on the old battle
field known as "Camp Jessie" named in
honor Of Jessie Fremont. StoneWall jackson
commenced the camp here, but Fremont in
terfered with his operations by placing his
battery upon high rocky point on the
Maryland side of the river, known here as
oeen's Point, and shelled him out


This is a pleasant place, though it viii not
compare with Camp Dennison. Il is sur
rounded by high hills the Potomac river
runs on the north, and New Greek on the
east and empties into the Potomac iHst be-
low the camp. Between the railroad and
the river is very good place for camp
rnd parade gronnd. The soil is sandy, or
rather sand, SO that notwithstanding, q
week of heavy rain, we have no mud. It
has rained very hard, however. Last
Sunday evening we were nearly drowned
out but most Of the men were able to find
shelter in the huts and sheds near, and some
Of them in the railroad cars that were left
standing on the track.


South of the railroad, on an elevation,
stands Fort Fuller. It lis designed to accom-
modate q thousand men, and is well mounted
with hOwitzers and siege guns. West of the
fort, on the same elevation, is a battery and
riAe-piIs; east from this fort, across New
Greek, on very high hill, is Fort Piano,
named by Col Mnlligans wife. Some of the
boys think they can play upon it to the tune
of "hundred days" The whole grounds
occupied by the military, contain about two
hundred acres, whose owner is in the rebel
service, and his slaves still here doing the
best they can for themselves. His residence,
q fine brick house near the fort was oecu-
pied by some forty Union men, under the
command Of Col Mulligan, who repulsed
large force Of rebels.


A week before we arrived here, a gang
of rebels came down on Piedmont a small
village some FIVE niles above this place,
and set fire to large machine shop build
ing of the railroad company, totally des-
troying the building and several thousand
dollars worth of work and material. Not
being satisfied with the damage done to
property their leader suggested to them to
try their hands on the lives of the innocent
under the guiss Of an accident 1t being
nearly time for the passenger train to come
up, they compelled an engineer to fire up his
engine, which was standing at the depot,
ordering him to get mp good head Of steam,
and start it down the track te meet the
train. When he was sure it would run at
good speed, he was to open the throttle,
jump of, and leave it to it's fate. According
ly he fred up, and as soon as the rebels
thought the steam high enough to answer
their fendish purposes, they ordered him
to start it. He obeyed; but when he opened
the throttle he also opened the pump, and
jumped off. The cold water thrown in re-
duced the steam, which was not ns high as
the rebels thought so that the engine stop
ped before the up train met it, and nc dam
age was done Such is the hospitality Of
the slaveocraoy. Our boys have brought in
some bushwhsckeTs already.


We have very good rations for the body,
but fear for the mind. We have not seen
but one newspaper since we came here. The
GAZETTE would be like water to thirsty
souls.