The Union News, Broome Co., NY, September 12, 1861
Camp Ellsworth, Alexandria, Va. Sept. 1st, 1861
Friend B.: I have again sit (or rather laid down), to try and furnish something interesting, but there is at present such a dearth of news, I don't know but I shall fail in the undertaking. There has not been anything going on in or about camp worthy of note. Our daily routine of duties are about the same. I don't know much about army movement and am not at liberty to tell what I do know at present. It is a notorious fact, however, the rebels are slowly advancing all along the line of the Potomac, and that within two miles of our advance pickets there is a barricade or rather fortifications nearly a mile in length, and our pickets are every day having something to report that shows that they are getting more daring and collisions more frequent.
I see you have published a letter from Sergeant Milton Cafferty, describing an adventure of the Company to which he belongs, and I need not refer to it. 'Twas an incident in which he has won for himself unqualified praise as an officer. Union may feel proud that she has as good a soldier in the field to represent her. There was another brush, in which there were more engaged yesterday, at Ball's Corners, 'twas quite a spirited little fight in open field. There were ten of our side killed and as many wounded, while of the rebels, sixteen were compelled to bite the dust, twice that number wounded, and several taken prisoners. As near as I can learn, (and my source of information is in part derived from Southern papers, which I get hold of when out on scouting expeditions) the rebels are concentrating all their available force now in Virginia, and some of their organs place the number of their troops at 800,000 men already in the State (although I don't believe there are more than half that) and their object is to take Washington, if possible immediately, a little job I don't think they are able to do, even with the force they claim to have. There is some fight in us yet, and we are anxious to show it out. If they don't think it practicable to attack Washington, they say they are going to try a tour in Pennsylvania, and appropriate Philadelphia, with all its loose change to their own use. The saying and doing of all this are two very distinct items, and 'tis much easier to do the first than the last.
A party of pickets yesterday, in examining a building where 'twas said that arms and military stores were secreted, found instead a dozen barrels of whiskey (perhaps that will go under the head of fire-arms) and one of the Captains procured a wagon and brought half a dozen barrels in camp ('twas one of the 18th Reg. Captains) and the rest was thrown out to prevent the men from filling their canteens, and as a necessary result, getting drunk, a precaution not at all in harmony with the ideas of most the men.
I see from various sources, that the North are complaining that we are too slow. Now, the truth is, that every day we lay still we are gaining slowly a victory. 'Tis in this wise: The rebel army are now in a very unhealthy state. Measles and small pox are raging, and the almost unbearable stench from the battlefield (where hundreds of horses were killed as well as some men) that were suffered to decompose on the surface, poisoning the air for miles around, which the East wind (and it blows that way most of the time) sends direct into Manassas, their stronghold. This in connection with other causes is decreasing their number every day by hundreds, while our army's health was never better. Most that were in the hospitals sick are now convalescent and have gone in the country, near Annapolis, to enjoy the fresh air, and most will soon be in health again. There a couple of cannon has been fired from the Fort and the camp is all excitement. If there is anything on hand, I'll drop you a line. In the meantime, I'll remain as ever a Blockhead.
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