Affairs Along the Line.

Dublin Core

Title

Affairs Along the Line.

Subject

Union Army occupying Munson and Upton's Hill

Description

A report from Washington describing the aftermath of the Confederate forces withdrawal from Munson and Upton's Hill and the Union Army advances in the area. Many interesting observations about the remaining Confederate earthworks and fortifications.

Publisher

The Philadelphia Inquirer

Text Item Type Metadata

Text

Atlairs Along the Line.

A correspondent a the Evening Star, writing from Falls Church, s-ys: Visiting this little village for the first time since the retreat of our troops from Bull Run, I was struck by the great change wrought in the neighborhood. Dwelling-houses are deserted, with their doors and windows opened wide by tbe evacuating Reb gardens and crops trampled and ruined, while stench pervades the atmosphere in many places perfectly intolerable. No buildings in the village have yet been destroyed, though there are evidences of attempts to burn one or two. Just east of the village is to be seen what was once the fine brick mansion of Dr. Bowen, (a Rebel surgeon, of which nothing now remains save a heap of bricks and rubbish- A short distance above are the ruins of a house the property of Mr. Fletcher, and down the railroad track, in the wild, romantic valley, here and there tall tottering chimneys stand sentry over the ashes of Rebel and Union property.

Taylor's hill affords the best view of the country westward from this place, and from this point the Rebels are occasionally seen stealing along the heights and watching our movements from Barrett's Hill though their pickets are much nearer the village. All the timber (which is quite heavy here,) is being cleared away, in order to perfect the sweep of our batteries now being constructed with great skill upon commanding elevations, and many of the soldiers are still busily engaged fitting up in their new quarters thoee little conveniences so conducive to the comfort of soldier life.

The first signs of the encampments recently occupied by the rebels on the road from the Georgetown Aqueduct are found this side of Ball's Cross Roads consisting of rail's set up and covered with straw, and of brush huts sheltered by thick overhanging cedar and pine- A few rods east of Upton's Hill there are quite a number of these rail huts, covered with corn fodder and rye straw, capable of accommodating about one regiment. A ridiculous specimen of Confederate earthworks, consisting of a little ridge of dirt, thrown up about two feet high, runs along the side of Upton's Hill the only signa ot Rebel fortifi canons in that vicinity, though it is believed that in the dense pines on Barrett's Hill and beyond the Dulaney place there are masked batteries of a more formidable character. From Taylor's Hill, through a gap in the heights, the Blue Ridge is seen, in direct lite ot which is visible at times the smoke of a large encampment, apparently not more than six miles distant. How long our troops will remain here, it is impossible to learn ; but I think we shall stretch on soon, though how far or in what force is known only to the powers that be.

Collection

Citation

“Affairs Along the Line.,” Mapping the Civil War in Arlington, accessed March 28, 2024, https://mtcwia.com/items/show/59.

Output Formats

Geolocation