Union News, Broome County, NY, August 22, 1861
Headquarters, 27th Regiment, Near Alexandria, Aug. 15, '61
Friend Benedict: In my note of the 13th, I wrote you we were to leave at one o'clock of that day, but on account of rain we did not get away until the next morning (yesterday) at nine o'clock, when we again took up the line of march for the Long Bridge, which we were to cross for the third time with thoughts and feelings slightly different from those which were uppermost in our minds when we last crossed it, on our beautiful retreat from Bull Run. After crossing the Bridge, the end on the Virginia side is protected by a fortification commanding the river, with eight or ten heavy guns. After passing through about one mile, our road led through Fort Runion. When we were inside the Fort, we stacked arms and devoted a half hour in extending the fortification. It is surrounded by an almost perpendicular embankment, twenty feet in height and a deep ditch fourteen feet wide, part full of water. The parapet is surmounted with heavy guns of various calibre, (about fifty in all) some carrying shells of 160 lbs weight. At every corner guns are placed so as to rake the ditches their whole length with grape shot. The works are built in the best manner, and 'tis considered impregnable. The Buffalo boys, that were barracked at Elmira, are now quartered in this fort. There are 20,000 men encamped round about within 2-1/2 miles from here that would rush in, in case of an attack of the rebels in full force. This Fort is the key to Washington from the south west.
At the sound of the bugle, we again took our position in rank and departing by the southern entrance soon left the Fort and its occupants behind us. Nothing of interest occurred during our march to Alexandria, more than is usual in every employment of troops. Some of the men had got their canteens filled with the "ardent" and as a necessary result, they were pretty "chunked," and were more vehement in their words and gestures than usual. But I saw no blood spilt in the many brushes they had, in several of which I assisted to separate the combatants.
We arrived in Alexandria about 1 o'clock and maneuvered a little in the streets. To show our proficiency, I suppose, was the object of our officers, and then marched to the field where we are now encamped. It is just in the suburb of the South end of the city, a point of land--a sort of cape--made by the waters of the Potomac setting back for two miles at the mouth of a small stream known as Hunting Creek, forming a bay two miles in length and one mile in width. There is a good harbor for small vessels and [...] is a capital place to plant a battery to command the bay, river and heights opposite. There is a regiment encamped on the opposite side of the bay from us, Col. Jackson's the 18th N.Y. from Albany Barracks. [..portion unreadable...] Jackson has orders to go to Fort Ellsworth about one mile West of this in plain sight, and where it was said we were going yesterday, and they leave today. They have been serving as a picket guard, traveling about nine miles and coming into collision frequently with the rebel pickets. There is a rumor of an attack upon this point, but I don't fear it much, as Ellsworth guns command all this section. The sheet is full. But more anon. Blockhead.
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