RHODE ISLAND IN THE REBELLION. LETTER I. Sibley Tents Thanksgiving - Providence Journal - Rhode Island Troops in Virginia - Grand Review at Bailey's Cross Roads Falls Church - Rumors. VA? CAMP OWEN, MINER'S HILL, VA., Camp life, ordinarily, affords but few incidents for a letter, though the facts of its daily routine may serve as contributions to one's philosophy of human relations. The "tented field," the morning call, the parade, the drill, and other reminders of war, aid in keeping up a healthful activity and open to the mind a broad field for speculation. The most important break in our local affairs is the reception of ten new Sibley tents, which were cordially welcomed. They take the place of the old wedge or A tent, give great satisfaction, and add much to the comfort of the men. A tent of still better construction, I am informed, has been for some time on exhibition at the War Department, and finds favor with experienced officers. It combines roominess with a more approved method of ventilation, two points of importance to the convenience and health of their occupants. The wedge or A tent, so generally in use, is deficient in both these particulars; and when it is considered that the accommodations of an army necessarily affect its physique and morale, the motto of the dictionary publishers furnishes an excellent and economical rule for the government to act upon "get the best." Our own mess arrangement works to a charm. With some of us, Yankee ingenuity has worked out additional conveniences. In our own tent we boast a very respectable fire-place, and though less elegant in appearance than is found in first class dwellings, it has the prime merit of "carrying smoke” well. A fire, and bunks of primitive construction, add much to our comfort. A fire at this season is no slight inducement for one to anticipate reveille and hold communication with distant friends. To this, and the thoughtful service of the corporal of the guard, I am indebted for an early opportunity to fill a sheet that might otherwise, for the present, have remained blank. Last Thursday, the Puritan institution of New England was duly inaugurated on the "sacred soil" of Virginia. Here, for a short season, turkey was the ruling power, and Thanksgiving the expression of many hearts. To-day, in our mess, plum-pudding is in the ascendant, and in trencher service the honor of Rhode Island will be becomingly sustained. For the last two weeks, the Providence Journal has failed to reach me. This is a real privation. I can do without a day's rations, if need be, and preserve my equanimity, but I cannot so philosophically endure a break in the communication of current events at home. I suspect light fingers have something to do with the matter. "Who steals my purse, steals trash," but he who plunders the mail of my newspaper, robs more than one of both patience and enjoyment. We are not Berkleyites out here. To us, the Journal is a luxury, of which we do not like to be deprived. A woe rests upon the offender, if caught, who shall again intercept it in its legitimate destination. Our battery, as already mentioned, is attached to Gen. Fitz John Porter's division, and there is reason for the belief that he regards it with a partial eye. The other batteries of the division, Griffin's and Follet's, are distinguished for qualities that give efficiency to artillery, and whenever called into action, will doubtless make a satisfactory report of their doings. Gen. Porter is a graduate of West Point, an accomplished and experienced officer, and in every respect calculated to inspire with enthusiasm the men under his command. At the close of a late division review, Gen. McClellan pronounced it a model for the army. Rhode Island is now represented on the Virginia side of the Potomac by a regiment of infantry and four batteries of artillery. The latter are stationed as follows: Capt. Randolph's at Artillery Camp, near Fort Lyon, below Alexandria; Capt. Belger's at Camp California, about four miles west of that place, under the guns of Fort Worth; Capt. Munroe's at Camp Dupont, near Munson's Hill'; and Capt. Weeden's, at this place. It is but little more than three months since the oldest of these batteries completed its organization and left Providence for the field of action, and scarcely two since the last of the number referred to temporarily occupied Camp Sprague; yet, today, as the result of industry and laborious training, they occupy no second rank in the volunteer arm of the service; and with the spirit that pervades them all, each month will witness a closer approximation in details to the proficiency of regulars. Comparisons are neither necessary nor always in good taste. To boast of superiority would be folly, as to depreciate the truth would be a violation of self-respect. We hear of many pleasant things said of us by partial friends, which are received as incentives to merit their favorable opinions. The series of division reviews, by Gen. McClellan, closed on the 20th ult., with a grand display at Bailey's Cross Roads, when more than seventy (some estimate eighty) thousand infantry, cavalry and artillery covered, in battle array, the plain spreading south from the foot of Munson's Hill. It was an imposing spectacle, and worth a long journey to witness. From an account by another hand, the following details are supplied: 66 Bailey's Cross Roads are situated eight miles from Washington, in the direction of Fairfax Court House, at the junction of the Columbia turnpike and the Alexandria and Leesburg turnpike. Between the Cross Roads and Munson's Hill, a mile and a half distant towards Fall's Church, is a plain two miles in length, which was prepared, by clearing off the fences, filling up the ditches, &c., for this grand display. 66 During the last two or three days, a rumor circulated among the troops that the publication of the purpose to hold a grand review was intended to cover the preparations for an advance, and when, last evening, the order promulgated for all the infantry regiments to provide themselves with forty rounds of ball cartridges, and, later, for at least one ambulance, with all the surgical appliances, to accompany each regiment, the excitement rose to fever heat. It turned out, however, that these were but prudent precautionary measures against the possible movement of the enemy during the day. "At half-past nine o'clock, General McClellan, attended by all his staff officers, left his head-quarters in Washington, escorted by a column of eighteen hundred regular cavalry. The array was most imposing as this splendid cortege moved through the streets, the cavalry marching by platoons until it reached Long Bridge, where it was compelled to march by column of fours, and afterwards defiled along the road leading by Arlington Heights to the review ground. Gen. McClellan was plainly attired. As he rode in advance of his numerous staff, he was loudly cheered. "All of the seven divisions on the Virginia side of the Potomac were represented in the review, but enough were left in each to supply double the usual picket force to guard the camps, and a reserve in addition strong enough to repel any attack in force the enemy could make. "As early as nine o'clock, the head of the column of Gen. Blenker's division, the head-quarters of which are nearest to Bailey's, began to arrive at the grounds from the Washington road. Soon after, Gen. McDowell's advance guard appeared. Next came Gen. Franklin's column, and soon after, the division of Gen. Smith. Gen. Fitz John Porter was next on the ground. The troops now poured in from all directions, those under Gen. Heintzelman following Gen. Franklin's division, and the column of Gen. McCall succeeding that of Gen. Smith, and continued without cessation until half-past eleven o'clock. "The scene was most exhilarating; more than twenty Generals, with their staffs, numbering above 150 horsemen, were dashing hither and thither, arranging their divisions, which presented a total of above 70,000 men, including seven regiments of cavalry, numbering nearly 8,000 men. 66 "At a quarter past eleven o'clock, the President of the United States entered the grounds, in his carriage, followed by the Secretary of State, also in his carriage, and by the Secretary of War and Postmaster-General, accompanied by Mrs. General McDowell, and by two daughters of General Taylor, on horseback. The party were escorted to a slight elevation near the centre of the area, marked by a white flag, where they were soon joined by Gen. McClellan and his staff. Everything being now in readiness, a salvo to the President and General-in-Chief was fired by four batteries of artillery designated for that purpose. In the meantime, the President and Secretary of State, Secretary of War and Assistant Secretary of War, alighted from their carriages, mounted horses and prepared to accompany Gen. McClellan in his review of the lines. The divisions then passed in the following order: "First-Gen. McCall's division, composed of the brigades of Generals Meade, Reynolds and Ord. "Second-Gen. Heintzelman's division, composed of the brigades of Generals Sedgwick, Jamison and Richardson. "Third-Gen. Smith's division, composed of the brigades of Generals Hancock, Brooks and Benham. |