The Latest from Washington
Dublin Core
Title
The Latest from Washington
Subject
News report from Bailey's Crossroads and Munson Hill
Description
A report of military activity near Falls Church. A very interesting description of the route people had to take from Washington via Long Bridge and Columbia Turnpike. Fascinating description of the ruined Arlington Mill.
Publisher
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Date
October 7, 1861
Contributor
Newspapers.com
Rights
Public Domain
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
THE REBELLION.
Interesting from Washington.
Washington, October 6, 1861.
The Route to Hunter's Chapel.
Since the retreat of the Rebel troops from Munson's Hill, a new route of travel has been opened towards that section of Virginia. Previous to this occurrence the newspaper correspondents connected with the Northern press hardly dared to venture below Arlington Mills, there contenting themselves with picking np tbe stray items of the day from the pickets stationed along the route, rather than venturing within rifle shot of the Rebels, picketing within a half mile to the right of Bailev's Cross Roads. But now, without fear of being dropped from their horses by a shot fired from the gun of a Rebel, soldiers and all ride up to Munson's Hill, and even further, to the village of Falls Church, surrounded by the armed friends of the Union.
To Arlington Mills.
The shortest route of reaching Munson's Hill is by 'way of Fourteenth street, across the Long Bridge, and thence, pursuing the Alexandria road for about a mile, you turn to the right by Fort Runyon, and ride on to Hunter's Chapel. Reaching this point, leaving Fort Richardson with its powerful guns on the left, you pursue your route in the direction of Arlington Mills. .The road to this point and west of it, lies through dense woods, which has been rendered accessible for the transportation of military stores, by felling the trees a considerable distance back from the road. Arlington Mills Is situated on the right of the road, and, like all other country mills, particularly these of the " sacred soil," is a common wooden structure, of uncouth appearance, the wheel of which is turned by a fall of water, which is conducted through a trough on an eminence approaching from the west.
The mill is now in a dilapidated condition, the sides of it having been relieved of its planking, and use by the soldiers for making their camp fires. One of the heavy stones used in grinding, Iies on the ground outside the mill, while the flanges of the water-wheel, over which a stream still falls, have been broken and torn away. A heavy wood stretches away to the right of the mill, penetrated by a little stream of water that winds its way, under the bridge, across the road, until it is lost through the intricate wildings of the woods on the left.
From Arlington Mills to Bailey's Cross Roads.
From Arlington Mills to Bailey's Cross Roads the route is a direct one. The woods through which the real lies becomes denser and denser as you approach the west, and the oak and other trees that line the traveler's way send forth a sweet and fragrant odor. The leaves of the woods are already margined with the golien tints of autumn, and as night approaches, the cool wind of this period of the year, as it whistles through the woods, brings to your ear a low and mournful cadence. To the right and left there is abundant evidence of the ravages that war has made, and the once peaceful cottages and ancient farm houses, with their ivy-clad roofs, are now reduced to a mass of ruins.
The feathery tribe have twittered away from their old nests, and the forests now reverberate with the report of musket shots, and the harsh ciank of armor. The road is picketed bv our troops clear out to the Hill, who have taken up with their new places of abode as though they had been used to them all their lives. This portion of the country is well watered, being generally obtained from natural springs in and around the camps.
Bailey's Cross Roads.
Bailey's Cross Roads is situated at the intersection of the road we have just described and the Leesburg pike. It derives its name from a man named Bailey, a wealthy farmer residing in that vicinity, who professes to be a Union man. Some six or eight farmhouses are locked within a circle of a mile around, while at the spot designed, there is erected on either side of the road, wheelwright shop. The shop on the left has its sides and roof completely demolished by shells thrown at the building by the artillery, some time since, and the shop is now reduced to mere skeleton, barely affording protection from the inclemency of the weather, for our troops now stationed there.
he Cross Roads is situated a mile to the left of Munson's Hill, and is eight miles distant from the Virginia side of the Long Bridge. For miles around the country is devastated to a most fearful extent. The woods have been felled in many places, ard the stumps of the trees burnt on a level with the ground. The division lines of farms have been torn away, and the fence rails have done good service in cooking the rations of the soldiers.
Munson's Hill and Fall's Church.
Turning to the right of Bailey's Cross Road, ard striking the Leesburg pike, a mile's ride brings ton to Munson's Hill, which has frequently been described in the columns of The Inquirer. A half mile beyond is situated the village of Fall's Church, which is the extent of our pickets into thiis portion of Virginia.
Interesting from Washington.
Washington, October 6, 1861.
The Route to Hunter's Chapel.
Since the retreat of the Rebel troops from Munson's Hill, a new route of travel has been opened towards that section of Virginia. Previous to this occurrence the newspaper correspondents connected with the Northern press hardly dared to venture below Arlington Mills, there contenting themselves with picking np tbe stray items of the day from the pickets stationed along the route, rather than venturing within rifle shot of the Rebels, picketing within a half mile to the right of Bailev's Cross Roads. But now, without fear of being dropped from their horses by a shot fired from the gun of a Rebel, soldiers and all ride up to Munson's Hill, and even further, to the village of Falls Church, surrounded by the armed friends of the Union.
To Arlington Mills.
The shortest route of reaching Munson's Hill is by 'way of Fourteenth street, across the Long Bridge, and thence, pursuing the Alexandria road for about a mile, you turn to the right by Fort Runyon, and ride on to Hunter's Chapel. Reaching this point, leaving Fort Richardson with its powerful guns on the left, you pursue your route in the direction of Arlington Mills. .The road to this point and west of it, lies through dense woods, which has been rendered accessible for the transportation of military stores, by felling the trees a considerable distance back from the road. Arlington Mills Is situated on the right of the road, and, like all other country mills, particularly these of the " sacred soil," is a common wooden structure, of uncouth appearance, the wheel of which is turned by a fall of water, which is conducted through a trough on an eminence approaching from the west.
The mill is now in a dilapidated condition, the sides of it having been relieved of its planking, and use by the soldiers for making their camp fires. One of the heavy stones used in grinding, Iies on the ground outside the mill, while the flanges of the water-wheel, over which a stream still falls, have been broken and torn away. A heavy wood stretches away to the right of the mill, penetrated by a little stream of water that winds its way, under the bridge, across the road, until it is lost through the intricate wildings of the woods on the left.
From Arlington Mills to Bailey's Cross Roads.
From Arlington Mills to Bailey's Cross Roads the route is a direct one. The woods through which the real lies becomes denser and denser as you approach the west, and the oak and other trees that line the traveler's way send forth a sweet and fragrant odor. The leaves of the woods are already margined with the golien tints of autumn, and as night approaches, the cool wind of this period of the year, as it whistles through the woods, brings to your ear a low and mournful cadence. To the right and left there is abundant evidence of the ravages that war has made, and the once peaceful cottages and ancient farm houses, with their ivy-clad roofs, are now reduced to a mass of ruins.
The feathery tribe have twittered away from their old nests, and the forests now reverberate with the report of musket shots, and the harsh ciank of armor. The road is picketed bv our troops clear out to the Hill, who have taken up with their new places of abode as though they had been used to them all their lives. This portion of the country is well watered, being generally obtained from natural springs in and around the camps.
Bailey's Cross Roads.
Bailey's Cross Roads is situated at the intersection of the road we have just described and the Leesburg pike. It derives its name from a man named Bailey, a wealthy farmer residing in that vicinity, who professes to be a Union man. Some six or eight farmhouses are locked within a circle of a mile around, while at the spot designed, there is erected on either side of the road, wheelwright shop. The shop on the left has its sides and roof completely demolished by shells thrown at the building by the artillery, some time since, and the shop is now reduced to mere skeleton, barely affording protection from the inclemency of the weather, for our troops now stationed there.
he Cross Roads is situated a mile to the left of Munson's Hill, and is eight miles distant from the Virginia side of the Long Bridge. For miles around the country is devastated to a most fearful extent. The woods have been felled in many places, ard the stumps of the trees burnt on a level with the ground. The division lines of farms have been torn away, and the fence rails have done good service in cooking the rations of the soldiers.
Munson's Hill and Fall's Church.
Turning to the right of Bailey's Cross Road, ard striking the Leesburg pike, a mile's ride brings ton to Munson's Hill, which has frequently been described in the columns of The Inquirer. A half mile beyond is situated the village of Fall's Church, which is the extent of our pickets into thiis portion of Virginia.
Collection
Citation
“The Latest from Washington,” Mapping the Civil War in Arlington, accessed April 27, 2024, https://mtcwia.com/items/show/58.