Advocate and
Press
December 4,
1861
Company B, 7th
Reg’t P.R.V.C
Camp Pierpont, VA, Nov 24, 1861
Dear Brother----- I must write
to tell you about our tramp and Grand review which took place on the 20th inst.
At Munson’s Hill, ten miles from our camp. We started from camp at 5 o’clock in the
morning. After marching about three miles, as
we supposed, we came to Lewinsville. This place contains about a dozen homes, all told a
store, church and tavern. The village has
suffered the strom of war, and felt the strength of the
Federal arms.-- The
houses are deserted, and used to shelter our pickets from the weather---. The next place
we arrived at was Fall’s Church, which of late has been
brought so prominently before the public. In size, it is about as large as Luwinsville. The church, once an elegant one, is now the abode of
our soldiers. Fall’s Church unlike the
place is not deserted, but contains its number of inhabitants, who when asked if it had
not been deserted replied, at one time, but that they had returned under the protection of
the Union soldiers. Near the curch are ten fresh graves, showing that men had met in mortal
combat. After we had passed through the town,
we halted in close proximity to it until General Smith’s division had marched by. We gain took up our march and came upon and passed
several lately built fortifications. A mile we
came to Munson’s Hill where the traitors had planted their black emblem of secession
in the very sight of the Federal Capitol; but on the advance of the grand army were
compelled to leave their rifle pits and corn stalk cabins. As we ascended the brow of the
hill a grand sight met our gaze. A large field
of 400 acres was filled with soldiers and citizens from Washington and its vicinity.The hill and every place whence a view could be had was filled with
people. We took our positions and patiently
waited the coming of McClellan. We did not
wait long until booming of cannon told us the general had thence entered the field. As McClellan and stag and President Lincoln and
cabinet passed along the line they were welcomed with loud huzza’s
from the soldiers, and bands playing, “Hail to the Chief”. It was a sight that made the pulse beat quick.
The whole army on the Virginia side of the Potomac, consisting of 70,000 men, was reviewed. Our division passed under review first on account , I suppose, of the great distance of the encampment---2nd
perhaps, because it is the best.
We arrived at camp about 5 o’cloc, amply repaid
for out march, of twenty miles.
Taking it all in all it was a most brilliant affair.
No more. Write soon.
J.P. Sheibley
