Union News, October 3, 1861
We have been permitted to publish the following extracts from a private letter from Chas. Van Dusen, dated Alexandrea, Va. Sept. 26, 1861
Dear Brother: Today is Thursday, the day which the President has appointed for a National fast, and our regiment, with all others, are excused from duty, with exception of the Companies on picket. I was on guard last night, which excuses me from that duty. I have been waiting for something of importance to turn up before writing to you, so I could tell you some news, and also for our pay, which we have not had in almost three months.
We are stationed one mile and three-fourths from Alexandria, on a hill, where we are building a Fort, one of the strongest fortifications on the line of the Potomac. It is named after Daniel S. Dickinson. The Fort encloses fifteen acres of ground, and there is to be a rifle pit built around it. We are within plain sight of the rebels at Mason's and Munson's Hill. They are fortifying very strong, and have about 30,000 men there with some of their largest guns. Our pickets and the enemy's are only a short distance apart. Only a week ago, one of the 36th Regiment boys was shot on the same post where I stood the last time I was out last night. One of our company was shot through the leg a week or so ago. Three hundred of the rebels came to Chain Bridge and delivered themselves up to our men. They said they were out of provisions.
Gen. McClellan and aides were here yesterday. He came to see how we progressed with our Fort and make observations in regard to the rebels fortifications at Munson's Hill, which he did from the headquarters of General Slocum with a telescope. It is a house owned by a secessionist. It is a large house and stands within the enclosure of the Fort. It has an observatory on the top and you can get a good view of the country for miles around. Bony Mersereau is here. He belongs in Com. H. He enlisted for a drummer boy. He got his uniform, but has not drilled any yet. I guess he wishes he was back home again. -?- is well and out on picket. It is quite healthy here considering the low marshy country. Some few of the boys have got the fever and ague. Yours &c
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