The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-12-13
or THE RICHMOND DISPATCH
NENrRzvILLE, December Q. ,fl

CFNTRzvILLE. Decenlber9 ., 81.
1t fell 70 our lot to 60 picket on the morn e.
ing CT the 81 inst. 1t wiz be rene bereCi
what q bitter cold day that Was-OYercoats
| were quite acceptable, and with them the
| body dld not keep in that degree Of comfort
| which is desira be. We did not know when
| we started where we were gCiDR-tO what
! r0st-but as soon as We got fully uuderwa
the pike We knew We were going 70 Ger
mln;OWn, = distance from our eu cam pment
of nearly seven miles. It fell 20 my let to
20 on the ljrst detail 70 the OUTPOST ! went
on about four IN The afternoon, and re-
IieYId about dark. W. had to walk our post
in order 10 keeD warm, or more ccirtcciy 10
prevent orr IiIuhc from EeCOpIug D3uU.u bed
| was lruiy glad when ! heard the 'rrlitf -
coming around, tramping upon the frozen
ground. l omitted 10 halt them, which is
Gus ,CmarY, such was ~ desire to get 10 thc
fire, which, though a.tOA'h On me reserve. Is
positively prOGlbI on To q OUtpOsts his is
cone 10 olivia te the pa~zi.: ~ OF any ''SueaA
mp by any Ci tht enemy THOSE who IesisN-
ed Ine remained on the whole OF that cold
night, without particle OF Hret The nrNt
morning, Iii they came, having been relieved,
with faces anu noses As red rs the sun, which
pretty soon arose 10 ;id ia thaWing them
Having Ell joyed n good lights rest, and il not
being my time 10 20 ''oN duty All Opportu-
nifty was afforded me TO go 10 Germantown,
to take Il WASH nile some OF my comrades
were 81 ioyIng this luxury, took occasion 10
look around tha once comparatively good
looking and fiourishmg town OF the Germans.
This little town is almost com plefeiy deSola-
ted. Several of the most prominent Of the
houses nave been buTnt-set on fire by the
enemy IN their triumphant march " on ward
to Richmond Eo6ody, save TWO poor old
"contrabands'-a old man an old woman
who, on bC ias asked 10 relate how the IaukeeS
passed by en- tGeir ''retrear," SAIL that they
rad nara ted il so often, that really they were
disguised Wi II They say they will never
go wild de 1ankumSi 1t is rs much as they
can do to get enough TO ei.t, probably they
could not, but that IL getting their cooking
a. fhs FL tn a.
They declare the Yankees four times Quicked
il, and not doub qutcked II, 10 Washington
II came my time 10 90 on post the succeed
ing night: bat nv Captain, convinced of the
night told the "Orderiy' TO post us hut for
half the night. This suited me exactly, for
| did not Iancy the idea OF whole nights
business of II.
On the following and last day, il Was or
dered that 20 for ging .xpedi tion-
this being the daily practice OF some OF the
mpaGieS Of the regiment While on picket.
This took us directly through faiitt& court
| house, which does not present such q desc
! lated appearance in passing SlOng down The
| street. Ii my eyes were sore, they Were Ger
| taiuiy cured At seeing several veIy fair speci-
| mems of female beauty. The ladies appeared
| never TO tire in looking at ami after Us. We
went 10 the corn field several miles below the
| Court House, where We halted and depiOyed
| around about eur wagons, between them and
! the enemy. . prevent any sudden attack
| upon them 10y the enemy'S scout. It was
| amusing to see with wat agility the corn
puilers stepped around and niied their wag
| on>, and, after doing this. hurried of the
way they came. We 'rallledi again, and
having formed III proper order, we march Ell
| back. This time the little crowd Of ladies
| became larger, and as We returned through
We threw them Richmond papers, which
| they, with indescribable eagerness, caught
and bowed a hearty return of thanks II
| was your correspondent pleasure to throw
| them paper. More anon.
| n ;" 18th Va. Heg't