1 Bucks County Intelligencer, From the Ringgold
Regiment. December 3, 1861 Page 2
Col. 3
LETTERS FROM OUR VOLUNTEERS.
From the Ringgold Regiment.
Correspondence of the Bucks
County Intelligencer.
CAMP
DAVIS, KALORAMA HEIGHTS,
November
27th, 1861.
Messrs. Prizer & Darlington :—I spoke in my last
letter of a review expected to take place soon on this side
of the river, also, of our review being preparatory to the
great affair; when, to our great surprise, we were taken.
It comprised our whole Brigade of four regiments, and
we were joined by the 69th New York, of Bull run
Washington. One of the officers informed me there were
three other regiments in New York, which with this one
will be formed into a Brigade, commanded by Francis
Meagher. After the review, the whole column started
for Washington, passed down Pennsylvania Avenue
nearly to the Capitol, and returned by way of Sixteenth
street. The review and march occupied the whole after-
noon and dress parade was dispensed with for the evening,
Gen. Casey was highly pleased with the Brigade, and it
was said by competent judges, that the 104th P. V.’s, did
the best marching ever done in Pennsylvania Avenue.
Yesterday, (the 26th,) all the regulars this side of the
Potomac were reviewed by McClellan, at which time,
several of our regiments had an opportunity of seeing the
great Commander-in-Chief. He is a very unassuming man,
and the only mark of greatness you could distinguish was
his sandy moustache. Near 7,000 troops were passed
in review, including infantry, cavalry and artillery. The
two latter, looked well, but the infantry can’t beat us
marching much, although they hold volunteers in bitter
contempt.
I visited the Capitol again, last week; it is looking
much better then formerly, particularly the Senate
chamber, which has just received a new carpet and
cushions, and has been varnished up beautifully—looking
extremely comfortable, and would tempt a soldier to re-
sign his commission for a seat there. The Navy Yard
has not changed materially since my last vist. More
business is transacted in the way of manufacturing can-
non, shell, &c. To the former they are giving most of
their attention. Some of them are very heavy—all were
being rifled which were in course of construction. It is
well worth a visit to Washington if nothing else could be
seen but our Navy Yard. You can there see the manufac-
turing of cannon, from casting in the rough, until
mounted—all the different processes which they are sub-
jected to. Shells are turned out more rapidly than any
other means of warfare, and seem to be of more account
than solid shot—the programme is materially changed
in that respect. Percussion caps and balls for muskets
are made by the bushel and not by number. Any one is
allowed to visit the Navy Yard and no questions are asked,
but very few can gain entrance into the Arsenal. I asked
a watchman, why this was ? He said the Government was
too careless about who they admitted into the yard, and
remarked that Jeff Davis knew more about what was going
on here than Uncle Abraham—that there was not a gun
mounted, but the Rebels were made acquainted with it ;
also, that a great number of the workmen employed there
were open Secessionists. When will our Arsenals and
Navy Yards be cleared of the villains ? On our return
home, for a soldier’s home is where he eats and sleeps—
we visited the great Pontoon Bridge, which had been
thrown across the Potomac, (nearly one mile wide,) in one
hour and thirty-five minutes. The pontoons or supports
are made of Indian-rubber, and about 16 feet long, 2 ½ feet
in diameter, shaped like an Indian canoe—sharp at each
end—which has a brass tube for filling them with air.
When not inflated, they occupy very small space, being
packed into chests for transportation. These vessels are
air-tight, and would require great weight to sink them.
Three of these are fastened side by side and when anchored
in the river, from piers for timbers, supporting the plank
for flooring, which is made of superior white pine plank
about 12 inches wide, clear of checks and knots—such
lumber as would make a poor carpenter grin to work on,
or bring him to tears to see it appropriated to such pur-
poses as the flooring of bridges, at least it had that effect
upon me, and I hardly claim fellowship with that honor-
able fraternity at this time. The regiment that has this
bridge in charge, (the 50th New York,) have all the
necessary means of transportation at their command.
Their wagons are furnished with the fifth wheel to replace
any which might get disabled—the bodies of these are
made of heavy sheet-iron, and four of them can be bolted
together and make a large, safe, and water-tight boat,
which would carry nearly a company of men across a
river at at one trip. (Lieut. Robinson has just arrived from
town with a pair of find turkeys for Thanksgiving dinner,
to-morrow ; what an agreeable interruption.) But the
Pontoon Bridge—(I can’t keep my eyes off the turkeys
and must close till evening.) Half-past five o’clock :—if
the War Department had asked my opinion of this bridge,
(which unfortunately they did not,) I should have advised
them to try it immediately. The most objectionable
feature I can see, is, where currents run rapidly and the
anchors might possibly drag; but the wagon bodies are a
splendid affair. If our poor fellows had only had them
at Harrison’s Island, what a help they would have been
in crossing the river on that memorable night. Another
regiment near this, is provided with material for breast-
works,—not cotton—but a large basket without bottom,
three feet high and two feet in diameter, made of hickory.
The splints are from three fourths to one inch in diameter ;
the upright splints are probably one and a half inches in
diameter, and run ; several inches below the bottom,
sharpened and run into the ground, where the palisade
or breastwork is needed, then filled with sand or dirt,
and are then ready for action. The only precaution
necessary is to keep heads below deck, which they
probably would soon learn.
Our regiment will go into Winter quarters soon. We
made an estimate for lumber and other materials for the
erection of barracks for the Brigade. These buildings,
(forty-four in number,) will be 16 by 72 feet—eight feet
high to the square—each building to accommodate one
company and officers, and divided into five apartments—
one as company kitchen ; one as officers’ quarters, and
three for company ; which will be divided into three
messes, thirty or thirty-three in each one. Bunks are to
be constructed three tiers high ; width suitably for two
men. These buildings will be built on the sides of a
square or plaza, the ends facing it ; the eleventh building,
the same size as the others, divides into six, apartments
for Regimental Staff. To give you some idea of the ex-
pense of wintering one Brigade, I append the estimate ;
308,000 feet of boards at $15,000 ; 88,000 feet of hemlock
scanting ; 94 kegs of nails ; 288 window frames ; sash and
glass ; 230 pairs of hinges and screws ; 9,000 yards of
roofing—not counting carpenter work, (which we will do
among ourselves.) These buildings cost $10,000 and would
last four or five years, while tents to winter the Brigade
would cost nearly that money and only last one Winter
at most. The estimate with the plans, was submitted to
General Casey, and met with his approval, and the town
really exists on paper at this time, but will soon be trans-
formed to something more comfortable than tents. The
health of our regiment continues good. There are but
seven persons in the hospital now. The weather has been
fine, but it is rainy to-day. We were summoned to-day
to attend Division drill on Meridian Hill, but on account
of bad weather, it was postponed. Eight thousand troops
would have participated, and no doubt it would have been
interesting to the 104th. It was to be commanded by
General Casey. I must close, as I started for a short
letter and it has overrun the limits of your paper. We
received eight copies of the Intelligencer this evening,
which are being well read, I assure you.
Yours, for the war, J. M. .C.