Camp Butterfield, Hall’s Hill, VA, Feb. 24, 1862
Dear Register:—One month ago today in closing a communication for your paper I expressed the hope that I should soon have something of importance to about. Since that time glorious victories have been gained by our troops in Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee and Missouri. Imperishable laurels have been won, and many brave hearts that then beat high with patriotic emotion, now sleep the sleep of the brave; and still the grand army of the Potomac maintains the “masterly inactivity” that has characterized it since the fatal rout at Bull Run.—Occasional reconnoisances, frequent rejoicings over victories, and a visit of the General in-Chief among the troops, are theonly incidents that have occurred to break the monotony of camp life. It has rained the greater part of the time, and almost all drill has been suspended excepting a little target practice, and occasionally a dress parade, when the mud is not too deep. On Saturday, the 22d inst., in compliance with an order from headquarters, all the regiments in this portion of the army were called out to listen to extracts from Washington’s Farewell Address. It was a scene calculated to awaken the liveliest emotions of patriotism.—While the chaplain read with a clear, sonorous voice the parting admonitions of the Father of his country the National airs came floating on the breeze from the bands of a dozen different regiments in the vicinity.
Gen. McClellan’s visit last week was his first appearance on this side of the river since his late illness. He looked somewhat thinner and paler than when I have seen him on former occasions, but there still remained the same determined look, and patriotic fire in his eagle eye. He was everywhere received by the troops with the strongest tokens of enthusiasm. He was present at a dress parade and bayonet drill of our regiment on Friday last.—After complimenting the officers on the good appearance of the regiment and their proficiency in the bayonet exercise he referred in a feeling manner to the glorious achievements of our fellow soldiers in North Carolina and the west, and assured us that we too would soon have work to do. Hoping that this promise may be speedily fulfilled, and that your correspondent may be there to see, and live to give an account of the work that is done, I will close. Yours, &c., E. L. H.
CENTREVILLE, VA., March 11, ’62.
Well, we have at last made an advance. Our regiment (the 44th N. Y.) started from our camp at Hall’s Hill yesterday morning at one o’clock, and reached Fairfax Court House about nine A. M., and found the place already occupied by the Fourth New Jersey regiment who had come out the afternoon before. In front of the town there is quite an extensive range of rifle pits, and off to the left of the road on a little eminence is a small earthwork with two embrazures for a cannon. We halted, and our Company took up quarters in a church, and the rest of the regiment quartered themselves in other vacant houses about town. While we were drying ourselves, for it had been raining all the morning, cavalry, artillery and infantry came pouring into the town in large numbers. After partaking of a hasty meal we fell in again, and by twelve o’clock were on the march for Centreville—the 44th having the right of the line and the leading in the advance. The distance is six miles from Fairfax to Centreville, and the Ellsworths marched in and obtained complete possession of the place and all the fortifications by half past 2 o’clock. The rebels had left the night before and taken everything away with them that they could carry. There are eight or ten large forts in the vicinity, mounted with big logs painted black to represent cannon. A contraband who escaped from them last night stated that they never had more than five or six guns mounted on the embrazure.
There are log huts enough to accommodate five or six thousand men. A detatchment of cavalry immediately in our rear came up and went on to Manassas and found this boasted stronghold of the rebels evacuated. They had set fire to every thing that would burn, blowed up locomotives and railroad bridges, and left nothing but a mass of ruins. E. L. H.
FAIRFAX COURT HOUSE, March 12.
I could not find my letter yesterday, as we had to start back to Fairfax at noon. Just as we started Gen. McClellan and staff arrived, and after riding round and examining the works, they went on to Manassas. He was followed by three or four thousand cavalry. It was with reluctance we took the back track, but it is not for a soldier “to question why.” Probably the evacuation of Centreville and Manassas has materially changed the programme of operations.
We arrived in Fairfax in the middle of the afternoon, and found the place and the road all along the wav swarming with soldiers. McDowell’s, Porter’s and Smith’s divisions, and I do not know but others, are encamped around in this vicinity.
The weather is very fine, and list been so for two days, and the roads are quite good. We do not yet know which way we are too move, but it is likely we will march somewhere very soon, and the sooner the better say I. I hope to pen you a letter from Richmond within a weak. In haste, yours, E. L. H.
Sioux City Register, Sioux City, IA