1 Bucks County Intelligencer, From the Ringgold (104th) Regiment. March 4, 1862 Page 1 Column 4 1
LETTERS FROM OUR VOLUNTEERS.
From the Ringgold (104th) Regiment.
Correspondence of the Bucks County
Intelligencer
CARVER’S
BARRACKS, MERIDIAN HILL,
February
18, 1862.
Messrs. Prizer & Darlington :—I presume a descrip-
tion of a trip in Virginia and reflections upon scenes
there, will be interesting to the numerous readers of the
Intelligencer. It is impossible for a person to get over
the Potomac within the lines of the army, without a pass.
The passes are granted by the Provost-Marshall, who has
his office in the fine building at the corner of Nineteenth
and I streets, Washington. In order for a citizen to get
a pass, he must have recommendation form some re-
sponsible person and urgent business. The ride from
Washington to Alexandria on the fast little steamer,
Thomas Collyer, is pleasant ; the scenery grand in the
extreme. The timber on the hill side, bordering on the
Potomac opposite Washington, has nearly all disappeared
since last May. These hills bear testimony of having
been occupied by a vast army, and forever will be famous
in history. On leaving the boat at Alexandria, a passen-
ger can have the pleasure (if any,) of walking on a wharf
that looks as if a spade, and lumber for repairing, had
never been used upon it. Alexandria bears marks of
decay ; it is far from a handsome city though like all
other Southern cities I have visited. The citizens never
have possessed any enterprise ; they have neglected to
develop the natural resources of the place. There are
no factories worth visiting. Alexandria is an old city,
and had in Revolutionary days, more foreign trade than
Philadelphia. At present, Alexandria will not compare
with Philadelphia (the metropolis of the Keystone,) in
any particular. The march of Philadelphia has been
onward, and she is the boast of her brave sons as
they view the works of the boastful chivalry. Alexandria
has had the same chance as Philadelphia in the march
for fame—her natural resources are about the same. In
contemplating upon there facts, I almost became lost in
wonderment as I passed from one street to another, until
I noticed a sign with the following words, viz : Birch
& Lynch, dealers in slaves.” On making inquiry, I was
told that, “ this is the Alexandria slave pen.” When I
fully realized that I was standing upon soil blighted by
the curse of slavery, I was satisfied why Alexandria did
not look like Philadelphia. Scenes convinced me that
where slavery rules there prosperity will not reign. Her
citizens paid more attention to dealing in “ their own
flesh” than developing the resources of nature. As a con-
sequence, their city is at present almost deserted, and
possessed by brave and loyal soldiers. They were among
the first to tear down the stars and stripes. For all this
they are having their reward—the wicked must be
punished. Great changes await Alexandria ; many who
are now within her borders performing the arduous duties
of a soldier will locate there, and by their industry and
enterprise, which have at all times characterized this
people, will soon develop nature’s resources.
“Large forts command all the approaches to Alexandria,
and the city is safe from an attack in the rear.—
Alexandria, I presume, has been visited by more northern
people this winter than during any other period in her
history. After having seen all we desired in Alexandria,
we started for Fairfax Seminary, which is admirably
located on high-ground, a few miles west of the city.
The Seminary is a new, brick building, of fine construc-
tion, with a high spire, which can be seen from Washing-
ton. It is occupied by the Government at present ; the
fine lawns and grove surrounding it are greatly defaced.
We now started for Bailey’s Cross Roads and Munson’s
Hill. By inquiry, we found that the most direct road
was west of the line of encampments, which deprived us
seeing “ how the soldiers are fixed.” The country is level
and highly favored by nature—the soil, judging from ap-
pearance is good, and well adapted for agriculture; being
free from stone. The country has been devastated to
some extent, yet the general aspect is the same as it was
before the war. This section of country was very thinly
settled, with but few improvements. Since the war, the
old settlers have made their exit to a more favored clime ;
this being a strong slave-holding section, as a natural
consequence, all were “secesh.”—Some of the houses
have disappeared, and nothing is left but some brick and
stone to mark the place. Others are rapidly disappear-
ing—the boards are used by the soldiers to make them-
selves comfortable, which they are disposed to do while
in dixie, though they must use boards from “ secession
houses,” which they appropriate to their use with the
greatest of pleasure. A person might pass by Bailey’s
Cross Roads without making a great mistake, if the looks
of the place were to suggest its name. If the place was
in Bucks county it would be considered unworthy a name.
Famous as Bailey’s Cross Roads may be in the future
history of our country, at present it is not even a village.
A tavern, small barn, wheelwright shop, small frame house
and nigger hut, are the only buildings of the place. These
are deserted by their owners and partly torn down.
Munson’s Hill is about one mile from the Cross Roads,
on the turnpike. Upon the summit of this hill, the
rebels constructed a fort after the battle of Bull Run ;
had a piece of stove-pipe and a log painted black at one
end, mounted for cannon. The fort is a simple earth-
work of the poorest kind. The rebels made this a point
for observation ; the selection was a good one. As I stood
in the centre of the fort (which was constructed by rebel
hands,) and viewed the surrounding country, I was struck
with the scene on all sides—the majestic dome of the
Capitol was seen eastward—the hills bordering on Bull
Run were in view, and before us as far as the eye could
reach, was to be seen a country blighted by slavery.
There is where the modus operandi of the institution is
to be seen. These scenes are what will make Abolition-
ists in spite of Pro-Slavery Democracy. Here is a coun-
try richly provided for by nature, a few miles from the
Capital of a great Nation, that bears no marks of im-
provement and enlightenment, though it is true somebody
happened to stop here and there years ago. We ask, why
has not this country been improved.’ There is a cause
for all this, that cause is being better understood as time
rolls on. The people are beginning to see that slavery is
the cause of all this—yet we are told that to dispense
with slavery will be bringing destruction upon us. Ye
fools ! Do you suppose we have eyes and cannot see ;
minds and cannot understand ? Virginia will soon be
freed of her curse, her great resources will be improved.
Her people are only learning a lesson that every child
should know ; that he “ who disobeys the commands of
God will bring destruction upon himself.” SOLDIER.