Newbern weekly progress., 1862-12-06
The Condi,ion s Of our solaters.

| The recent snow no doubt extended through.
ont the valley of Virginia, where at least one
hundred thousand of our veteran troops are
already feeling the sure approach of a hard
winter. Many of these veterans are without
shoes, or blankets, or suitable clothing. The
last Richmond Dispatcl, gives the following
extract from letter written by a. soldier in
Armistead's brigade -
ave had quite fall of snow here yesterday.
and it remained on the ground very well, not
beginning to thaw. My feet are erftctly ma
ked, and have to tramp over the frozen snow
with bits of old blankets lied over them, which
keep constantly coming off We are about
marching tents are sti uck, baggage packed,
and we are standing out here, waiting for the
order to fall in. .
Many of our soldiers in this State are with.
out shoes and airnest in rags. An officer who
took part in the late conflicts in the eastern
part of this State, told US day or two since,
that when the order to advance on the enemy
was given, scores Of ragged and shoeless vete~
rams responded to the order with shouts of en-
thusiasm, and in their bare feet marched for
miles through the snow, six inches deep, to
meet the invader. He had been in battle be-
fore, bat be was never so reused SIS he was on
this occasion by the sublime courage of these
barefoot boys. Though humble privates, they
are really deserving of the chies homo IN this
war. Every nerve should be strained TO pro-
(
The last Richmond Whig noticing the snf.
fering in our army, breaks forth indignantly
as follows
few days ago scene wRs witnessed IN our
streets which at last aroused tle people 20 live
ly sense Of the real condition Of our soldiers. a
number Of regiments marched down 9fE street.
passing the very door Of the War Department.
Citizens standing near-there we're no officials
present they never are on such ocsasfons-saw
with their own eyes what the papers have long
and vainly tried 30 EDake them believe. They
saw numbers Of soldiers marching barefoot thros
the melting snow. Nor was this all. They saws
them fhinly clad. IN ragged and worE out cIothes;
some Of them without blankets and without hats
This was spectacle to stir the pulses even Of a@
Spectator IS
but there were some who took good care not
10 witness SO disagreeabie sight 1t the very
rnomeut thin barefoot procession was psssing the
War Department fhe President Of the Confeder-
ate States. his Secretary Of War. all The Cabinet
officers the Quaftermaster General and some
thousands Of able bodied young clerks. were sic
ting by ronsing fires, toasting theis we'll shod
feet, and thinking Of anything but the soldier
Il IS not 10 be expected that stout young fellows
who sink into government drudRcs IN order 10 |
get ont Of the army, should care much for any
body but themselves II Is not 10 be expected |
that an administration, no snember Of which was I
sver knows 10 put bis f0st inside Of hospital. /
1r 60 hestow so much Is plate of soup on siek 1
private, orto send one Of their gorReou0 vehicles
% bring Ia The wounded -it Is not g be expect
"a that such an ad1usnist aion should care very 1
zueh Ger anyshing bus she snnbbipg 0f ns1 Ike I