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Army Correspondence* I J’e\ecICorrespondence of the Gazette. VWinchester, Ya., March 19,1862. ccEditors of Gazette:—The 27th Indi- *c ana is now camped at the above named place, g* after some five op six days hard marching. Sf We received marching orders on the 25th. Some of the boys seemed sorry to leave their ^ old camp, endeared to them by many rec- ^ ollections, but still they were all anxious to slt; meet the enemy. We Started on the rail* u road, about three miles from our old camp, e: for Point of Rocks, which place we passed a: through about 1 o’clock, and arrived at San- a dy Hook about 4 o’clock in the evening.— ai Our passage through Maryland was enliyen- w ed by words of cheer from the Union citi- ^ zens. Next morning the boys were tip bright ^ and early, expecting to march immediately, but they were disappointed, as they had to await the building of a bridge across the Potomac. The bridge, of course, is a novelty to the civilian, and is the longest one,I believe, ever erected in this country. It 8 is 1000 feet long and 12 feet wido. After the lumber bad been delivered to the Mary- * land side of the river, in six or seven hours k the bridge was completed and ready for the passage of the army. Not the slightest ac- f cident, I learn, transpired in transporting * our men, trains and horses across the Potomac. The bridge is composed of boats about 30 feet long by 5 to 6 feet wide, and * 15 to 2*0 feet apart, with anchors at each ‘end ; upon these boats* are laid scantling in the form of the rafters of a bouse, upon which the floor of the bridge is laid, and the boats are firmly fastened by strong ropes to the platform above. It is a simple, but from the test given it, a most firm struc-1 { ture, and thus far has withstood all the heavy tides which have been experienced since its erection. The immense weight which it has borne, 6hows its capacity for any demand which may be made upon it, and had such a contrivance been prepared prior to 'the terrible and disastrous affair at Ball’s Bluff, how many valuable lives might have been saved.Well, after the bridge was finally completed, our regiment was the second that passed over. The boys seemed a little fearful at the start, but soon overcame that, and ’after setting foot on the “sacred soil” of the Old Dominion, they gave three hearty cheers for Dixie, and then the band struck up that favorite air. Harper’s Ferry presents quite a gloomy picture. The best buildings havebeen shelled to the ground, and nothing now V£mins but their foundations to mark the spot where they once stood. The old Arsenal has been burnt to the ground; tftt part of the building where old John Brown made such a fatal stand, still 6tands as a monument to his memory. Before the destruction of the tOwti, it contained near 3000inhabitants, but at the present time there are not more than 800 or 400 families there. From the Ferry we were marched up to Bolivar Heights, where Col. Geary achieved such a glorious victory with but few men, kere we spent the night in the bouses, a6 Uk* place is entirely deserted. Co. G. was quartered in a splendid three story house, owned by a rank seccsh. The next evening, about 3 o’clock, we received marchingorders, and it was not long until we were on our way to Charleston, where we arrived late in the evening. We expected .to have a fight at this point, but the bird had flown.We stayed there some three or four days. I visited the jail where John Brown and his associates were confined ; also, the Court tlonse whore he was tried and condemned. These buildings are very old, and looked as though they might have been built a hundred years ago. This is one of the strongest secesh towns I have been in since we left Indiana, and the inhabitants do not pre* teiid to keep it a secret. They come out “boldly and above board,” and told us that if we ever went to Winchester, but few of its would escape: They seemed to have the \itmost confidence in Jackson’s forces. From Charleston we marched to Smithfield,where pitched tent6 and expected to make a short stay ; but, after resting for a few days, we marched to within four miles of Winchester, where we expected a fight.•AftSr We had pitched our tents the news 'cahie into camp that Manassas Gap wag‘evacuated, and such cheering I never heard, but soon all was quiet, and the boys rested bntil morning, some thinking of next day’s Vork and fearing the consequences, while bttefg were looking forward with pleasing Anticipations and wishing for the dawn of day, which came at last, and was to decide the fate of Winchester. Breakfast was soon over with, and then the cooking utensils were loaded, and wo were once more on theroad. We marched very slow and with a cautious step ; we had iiot iriarclied ifcore than a mile when one of the cavalry came riding up and told the Col. that the town was evacuated. Then we marched in with flying colors and bands playing, Dixie and Yankee Doodle. When we heard of the evacuation of the town, some were disappointed, whilst others felt relieved When we arrived in the town, the 6tars and stripes were floating over the rebel forts. Their fortifications were very weak, and if they had made a stand it would not have lastedlong under such disadvantages as they wo’d4ave had to labor.We are now encamped near tbe town. It has been a place of about 5000 inhabitants, but most of them were Jackson’s men, and of course followed .him off. Some good Union-loving citizens still remain. The great traitor, Mason, resided here, and his wife was here some four before we arrived. He has a splendid residence here ; it is now occupied by the Col. of the 2d Massachusetts regiment. As I have written a lon'g letter, ami given but little infor-iftatroU, f will close. Peter Fesler,Lieut. Co. G., 27th Iud. Reg’fc.
Newspaper Details
Martinsville Morgan County Gazette
Martinsville, Indiana, US
Wed, Apr 02, 1862
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Daniel E.
FL, USA 12 Oct 2020
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