Year: 1865

Our City Point Correspondence.


CRY PorNr, Va, May TO- 1905.


rrR ARMY LINE RAILROAD,


extending from Ptkin six miles out on tho Petersburg
Railroad to Humphreys station, near Hatchers fun is
now being torn up and Its available material brought
here for shipment. This road so long the line Of sup
ply for tho Army Of tho Poomac following 1t in It's
cleft flank" journey around Petersburg will be reco
lected was built early last fall by the military railroad
construction corps It extends from point on the rail-
road three and a half miles east TO Hatcher's run,
about the distance west Of Petersburg thus max
ing half circle around the SOUTH nearly fourteen
miles in extont and with varied distance from the city
Of three to Ave miles Throughout its whole length 1t
lies about half mile to the Of main line OF
works for tho investment Of Petersburg and directly
through tho winter camps OF that army.


VISIT TO THE OLD WINTER cAMPS


ride this road, afforded by tram going up for
iron with half days stroll through the vacant lonely
camps much of interest," at least 10 those who
became familiar with their location by residence Of
nearly year in a camp home ''pitchcd" from timo TO
time. at different points along its route


With the exceptions Of here and there little patches Of
ground giving evidence Of weak attempt at cultivation
blue smoke occasionally be curling up from the
empty barrel used to top out the chimney OF soldiers
home-now occupied by tineran negro In pursuit Of



four solitary dwellings left, among whose lonely walls
and enceless gardens the ragged paeaced occupants
lead most disconsoate life little signs Of vitality
main over this drcary waste. Widespread desolaton
reigns unbroken for space Of nearly twenty miles In
length and six in breadth Long lines OF breast
works. with Intermediate FORTS and great stretches OF
corduroy roads, lasting monuments Of long, weary months
of hard work. accomplished by our faithful and hardy
soldiers form the outlines of the picture and intermn-
able groups of vacant unroofed log tenements furnish
the filling up.


The country here Is noarly level slight elevation
Warren station, along which runs the old line OF the
Weldon Railroad, affords the most extensive view to be
had at any point except from the tall frame lookout
constructed for that purpose In the entire absence Of tim
ber for soldiers res tho eye takes in from that To-
cay the whole stretch Of sandy plain from the lower
end Of the cavalry camp, mile or more east Of the
Jerusalem plank road, west to Hatcher's run, ten
miles and from away beyond works down
towards Petersburg, half way to Reams station south
nearly as great distance Probably nowhere In the
track Of the armies, can spot OF like extent more
completely ''subjugated" than this bc found


AT BiRNEY's STATION,


where at one time the amentod general whose name II
bears had the preest headquarter camp In either army
and down over tho sopng fields where all winter long
stood the artillery and wagon trains OF the Ninth Gorps
giving promise Of yield at least worth harvesting is
probably the product OF crop then neary ready for
gathering troddcn in our first occupancy OF the place.
nearly year ago.


AT xEApE's STATION,


so named from its proximity OF that time 70 army head
mission that beautiful gem Of rustic art 80 much ad-
mred here and often carried TO Northern homes In
faithful sentinel still stands call alone In its glory
shorn only q Its muslin roof and It's tasteful
rustic pulpit which N, has Dss1 Of ,aS sa
for doing good by It's exhibition or SALE


milo further we pass through the deep cut, and
away the right In full view 10 the rebel fort whence
issued those dreaded Shells from which this cut with ts
embankment was nterposed AZ protection TO passing
trains; but the GRIM open moained suns S have aisap
spot above this cmbankment whore stood the noted
Avery house, at time the headquarters OF Major
General Warren, later . signal station, and always
point OF interest from It's exposure to rebel shells After
the army passed on the ncendar torch Of the sragger
destroyed what was left conbustiole OF tns house and
to the east stands the deserted house, where Major
General Hancock and staff lived so long amidst pro-
fusion of evergrcens beautifully wrcathed and festooned
along overhangins archways."


Along this plain from Birney's station 70 the Suffolk
Railroad some four miles little beauty Is ADDED 20 sne y,
luxrrian clover out in its full red but beyond that
point this mostly disappears and with tho exception or
courses dry sandy plains, bare and parchcd, prevail.


THR aURIxY FARM,


near which General Meade's headquarters locned
subseouent TO the advance beyond the Weldon Railroad
IN September rejoices In active farming operations
Half dozen negroes removed by the proprietor with
his more important self TO distant plantation In South
ampton for safety, have been sent back to work IT,
They were engaged in characteristic Southern STYLE in
preparing piece OF ground for the reception OF seed by
the old grubbng process at rate of progress that would
excite laughter anywhere among Northern farmers or gar
dener II somewhat questionable to which OF those
pursuits the operation properly belonged. The
of this plantation has also returned and, with diapi
datei mulo team Is engaged hauling the logs and wood
of the camp the Petersburg wood market for two dol
lars and half q load in greenbacks.


AN EXCURSION


An excursion party Of ladies' and gentlemen, from Pc
tersburp were Just partakng of picnic collation. In the
large and well built church at the Fiftieth New York
ENGINEERS camp near Poplar Springs They expressed
great surprise at the amount of labor bestowed upon
buildings generally and discussing the prospect Of
n camp meeting in that and the adjoining headquarter
camp of General Seymour during the summer The tall
signal tower Of the Sixth corps mile further on would
viox of m