The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1862-03-19
PROBABILITIES OF ADVANCE.

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die of it. and leave him foundering in
the mud. - It is possible that
the Military Committee may have been
satisfied by the promises of action to
come. or it may be that the General does
really intend to throw the Confederates
of their guard, and make dash at them
one of these 6ne frosty days.
The thing could be done--just done,
by moving the whole force of suddenly,
making forced march so as to arrive in
front of the enemy's lines by daybreak,
and by concerted plan, breaking his line
in2the center or overwhelming it on either
flank. Such marches as that from the
camps on the line from the front of Alex
andria round by the Chain Bridge to the
position at Centerville, have often been
made. and have ended in successful battles
To make such an effort now it would be
necessary to have hard frost and q Ger
tainty of its duration for day OF two,
aud there should be also some reasonable
certainty of success 10 the attack
Z HEoPoToMAc AND cRIMEA coNTRAsrED
The ride from Washington to Mouson's g
Hill has places which bid fair to rival the
fsmous dip in the hill ON the Balaklava
road between the Col and Kadikoi. But
how different the scene beyond--ths long
line of trenches, the smoke wrssths of the
cannon. the expanse of tents on the dark
plateau, the white houses of the city. the
lines of the feet, aud symmetrical masses
of the guardian forts. How great the
contrast between that ill-fed, i'll clad army
Of our soldiers, meeting death and dis.
ease without mnrmur in the face Of the
enemy. aud the comforts of these troops
which have not even to Eght! s@iaf4
ooMFoRT OF THE AMERICAN TROOPS q
The American soldier is lightly equip
ped. his knapsack is by no means burden.
some, he wears no crossbelts, instead Of
hide and canvas sandals, be has well made
boots and shoes of leather. When sick
be has medicine and medical attendance
and unless he is at some forlorn. sickly
post like that at Beaufort, where injudi.
cious correspondents have revealed the
existence of great sickness, and some ne
glect, and have thereby nearly subjected
themselves to the kindness of an expul-
sion by General Sherman, he is we'll treat.
ed in illress. aud has as. fair chances al
any invalid il the world of recovery. IL
addition to his rations. it is suggested il
Congress that he shall have "crackers
butter and cheesel" Certainly it will no
be from any want of all care and comfor
that the Northern soldier proves uusuc
cessful. At nign. enormous 6res blaze ii
the cnmps, aud the guards warm them
selves by pyramids Of blszing billet
lenongh for hundred yule 6res.
+ In the other tents and thus provided
the soldiers have shown ingenuity in max
lug themselves comfortable. Thus. the,
construct Ere place by cutting a hole il
the earth inside the tent, aud ~thenc,
pushing small covered gallery outsid
Ito the distance Of two or three yards
The shaft is then pierced, and eoupl
fof empty barrels placed one above tn
othsr, and coated with clay, establish
Edraught, and serve as chimney for th
FIRE inside the tent The abundance q
wood gives the soldiers means of foorin
1.-THE tents. fitting them with shelves, max
ling bedsteads and chairs, and. above al
of raising stockades round the sides (
the tents to keep out the wind. The
! arc also clever in constructing stables {
1.-THE branches of 6rs. pines. aud evergreen
and in making screens of the same mate
trials round their canps and tents, whic
! sometimes effect artistic forms, aud &,
pand into decorations. 'triniuphal archie
wreaths with fia crip,iont over the eI
frances TO the streets of the camp, an
the like. At Christmas they were pa
ticularly effective and prsitily arranged
Sutlers' carts, very well got up. wi,
the names of the regiments to which the
belong. painted on the panels and oisk
/. covers, are grouped around the woodt
sheds and stores, and various unrecol
nized vehicles are lettering in the vicinit
! surrouded by soldiers, who are inte
i on struggling with Brobdiguag oyster
0 purchasing "gum drops" or investing
the doubtful solace afforded by volumes
g "Coumon Prayer" Sacred Poems. .,
similar tin volumes full, of spiritual huiG
which quite unit the recipient for any Q
ercise Whatever, and which are intend
is to evade the strict watch which is ke
over the sale of intoxicating drinks.
i. Yankee ingenuity has been taxed, n
: unsucccssfully, to defect the Prove
. Marshal. "Liniments." "Embrocationt
' Cough Mixtures," aud patent mediciu
: OF the most stimulating charae'er ha
been devised for the .'cs ,sion, and
man may become as "hlp,y as /. kin
and ss s'sck as dog" h@ a>ing CO
rsi ple of fbst,les OF "a Pvrp,red b "A
Grease" or la Patriots Ursius