The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-12-26
TIE ARMY In A ST0RN.
FEiRruL sIGuE ON YHE reYeHiG.
cur Special Ar,ny Correspondence.

Fearful NseHE 0H 1HE FSEGMACs
cur Special Arnsy Correspondence.
CIerps Mls, Va Dec 90, 1851
This is the severcst night the Army haa
experienced since tho oahrea Of the Souihern Tebccp
Tho prove baly peaceful bosom Of tho classic
not only nightly pierced by shot and shell AIMED from
rebel guns at passing cs but, write, s usually
placid waters greatly troubled by ths fury Of sho
storm. have had long rde this afternoon and
Ing through many o! the encampmens of our army en-
the Virginia side OF the Potomac never now write TIA,
word Virginia. universally esteemed of tho
checst ng the sstcrhood OF states, but my spirit
ericvca instInctiyey contrast her present humiat
ing position with the high estate from which she feik
Divided and desote her soil occupied by Union sode
whom she falsely calls her fees aud by rebel hordos
whom she as falsely calls her friends the Old Dcninion
Is already reapinr the bitter fruit o. her folly.
llo weather is universal iopc-frequeu,y the sub
cct VI the leading paragraph among tho local icms ~
newspaper, You often hcar, nne day ths,''r Wat
rema kably pleasant weather havo had FOR this sea
son" What nasty weather this is.n repeated many
times u day. ocntrea those who have nothing else to
say talk the weather. Perhaps that is the position
am placed In at present AZ all events many hogsan sol
dicrs encanped FOR miles and miles around me feel keen
y night how appropriate and important the subject
It ained during al this morning part o. The atfnccn.
The roads aud the camp grounds muddy How tna
sJlditfs iitS the mfG. ~ destroys tutW tEttS aiu
clothing They more than tiIoy thcenciny.
CO the two they would any day prefer cugagemers
with tho rebels 70 rain storm. An engagement ict ma
aay Is just what troops desire the most. III sug.
| gcs,ive phrase, they spelling Cor Gcht.n On
rainy day drilling is iaprac.lraDe, tho sofEess Of tho
ground prevents active military movements; SO the sol
ders enjoy themselves in sr tents for tho best reena
ted camp grounds are unpleasant 10 walk en- In such
weather
Ii the Afternoon lilo rain ceased falling, -aAu
sti breeze blew up which steadily inosoased TIL
now, and still lcrcas ng. rode ott hours
through the and wind There absolafc neces.
sity doing perhaps but have become accustomed
II, ana there fascinatcn in riding through
storm somewhat akin to taat Of the iatte bod. At
pike present tie headquarters Of Professor II so
tain, celebrated onat, whose time and experience
are now enlisted IN the service q tho goverHrcnt
have asked the fro'c whether the hut my
in bis selection .. this place asLs headq
Ciouds Mills. II would Certainly seem applcpate
spot for the headqGnrien q al aeronaat From feTe ha
has made several asensoas ,sailing over the eremy
contry, obtaining much valuable information, and
b turning by carrcnt. Eut such fearful nahs
this must not think of bsoonine Yet find the
4 Pro examining samples Of silks He s about
l. hiing material manufactured for two balloons.
They viii require two thousand yarts Of silk which will
s be Of psarerior qaa'ity.
!, The scene presented by the cncamrnens when
a viewed ut night Is Almost indescribabe The hills aud
valleys FOR many miles covered with the camps a
unioa Army of The Potomac. Tho tights spread
these Hills and valleys along The line twenty niles,
right To lett. wei innumcrukc. Irc
OF regiment cyon Illuminated by nscs os
from short distahec, ook likc city igitei ith
Then regiment aite. regiment lighted in ihc sama
manner stretch away farther than the eye reach.
, The effect produced by these Illuminated camps really
1 bsnld The Army Q. TIE Potomac BY candle light IS
l highly nte estng II Is suggestive Of cachantrg fairy
p sgendors which Ill the mind Of Childhood with
4 mont.
s This 10 hard night for thosc who are N camp Tt
recalls OF the sIfornps Napoleon army lu its
march 10 Moscow. the ardslips endured by our an
cestors during the Revolutionary war The wind which
Q Whistles 81 loudly past the broken window pqHca
taad through ihem) of 'hs dilapidatcd oi strikea
y with in fury the tents Of soldiers. Most
oF om are located The slopes Of the hiis which afford
The geates shelter from the wints BIT this part c
the ciunry Is sadly desc ate nearly al The trees Lane
e bcen .cci for lrewcod and give unobsructd ranco
10 guns there Is c 10 break The Of the gale
, The tents. These who slcep log houses IL nisL arc
e fo.tIaate Though mcst of the tents Ia good CON
dton net all oi tacrn can stand such gale as his
little disl.rangcment of tent c0nsiderape m
convenience The volunteer who left his ,ortabo
home several months $50 wraps binsef his army
n bak.t and, II thon2hs cf cherished friends bane hil
hs mind, he reflects the usticc Of cause ana sys
n cit IL WE'LL" white hc hears nothing but Christ
carols il these ch December blasts. saw seye al
tcnts u tho mercy q tire wnd. Some brave lows
l. am afraid, must sleep without shelter to-nsAt il
they secp at ALL Many who thought lightly or The war
al is, that The velty has passed begin aiize
that soldering in time war is easy business. Not
tey have 70 do, aud the hnrdshipa mage them
reflect upon tho Importance of their mission ana moro
nienL.
imagine 'l,a the gale tonight is but The beginning Of
ask the Professor, who has among the conds n
studied the currents. His answer Isl You NAV 10
pend upon that shah have days Of real old
weather.
The guards aud pcsets, the seninels walking on N,
walls Of the forts aud THE videttes of ARMIES sta
ticne1 on the commanding hills VIII suffer 1rget 81 ar
perhaps. Bot, far from beng lcss faithful on n se ere
night Ike ibis, 4 Is just the tnlo for greater ain,o
ntterHat vgilarce Is the price OF iibertv, YeSiliuI
general might make stormy night condace much to his
] advantage. w
Bothe cold viii be felt more kAenly by those IN ,bo
rebel army Thousands 81 thom IrcstTatel by d sease
this weanor viii increase the sperif o. in The roref
ranks materially. However, should not rcc,ce NJ
their calamity. we should have pity and hopo ior tt,m
rather for they brethren though thew e or
enemies Pity because the large majority or them ara
victims OF rlonscr delason; hope that even with
out sanguuarY battle the Potomac they might lav
down the " their rebellion speedily rofnro ~
| their Allegiance. Bat under the present condition er
aiais including he threatening attitude of Epgland L.
The Uuiied statg which they rejoice so much
thar would be alpost hoping against hopo Hknce snu
pose they must be whipped INTO submssionsvbys
law and order. Hence u s that his vast army 4 con-
ee8ratcd here. Bat tie ieorlo should not rc lrrter
fora battle. The commanding general Of The aYnv knoy
best when the blow ehonld be struck The time co,nna.
those yLo have friends whose .oss mourn win know
il enough
In ths Dleantime lot those vDo haye an abuasapcosee
that the families Of volunteers 10 got shyer or sarye TO
death AZ home.