Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-01-03
A Wintsr view Of Camp Lie.

NJ. o day, and have taken my hrst look az
an irmy in the field in winter. The day has
beel bitter cold, and sixteen mile ride in
an army wagon on such day, has never
Jet 70 my knowledge, been set down as a
"pl,asuse, excursion" A cold rain last
night had CONCEALED wherever it fell, aud the
mountains were frosted glaciers, and the val
le!s glowed in the sunlight whenever the
Cloud-curtain rolled away TO let the rays OF
that orb fall into them. The scenes by the
wIy-side were indeed beautiful, but they
lGked essentially the elements of comfort,
aai with the feet cold, the imagination fails
70 warm up in view of the most poetic pic
turf.
eread much Of grand and pompous war,
of Is glory and splendOr, but 1t is sekOm
seeI in the 6eld-especially in winter. It
assumes another character altegetheB when it
is Eoughtshivering around the camp fires
Tlen it is that il puts on the grim visage and
is glory and pOmp subsidies. It will do
Pe'haps fer our children In the future to
boAst of the winter service we endured in
Western Virginia--to tell their children OF
th' blessings gained, and the glory their
grIndfathers won in the service for the Union
in '6l, but It won't do to say much about it
today. There is no poetry, or romance, or
glory, or pomp 70 be exhibited just now-it
IL -. L, - sa1~N ~n.r L.
rough, uncomfortable, undigniAed, miserable
service human being can be put to-aye
more; it is q service horses can't endure, and
hence mules are being substituted to a large
extent A mild looking donkey standing
beside an army wagon, presented counte-
dance 50 strikingly cheerful BY contrast that
was called to take note Of it.
:, ,Romney is q great place. Once the shire
town of Hampshire county, it is now little
more than grand military camp, with the
grandeur left out. It has boasted Of Court
Eouse, a Seminary, two or three churches,
and about the same number of taverns, with
the swinging signs of ancient times, bus now
It's Court House is known as headquarters,
where the military law is substituted for the
Itatute, and the peOpl5 heresbouts are pat on
rial for offences they didn't dream OF before
General Kelley marched his forces into their
midst The principal business men are sut-
lers, and the str bets present lively appear
snee from the psssing to and fro of men with
blue coats.
We came in town on q load of oats, and
we're landed in the middle of the street with
1ur 'plunder," to go whichever way fancy, or
4 guess Of chances might dictate, In quest of
odgings and supper. The Virgins House
Iigu, and promises of entertainment tor man
md beast, proving to be "humbug," mas
much as we could not get in with 9 Cihance
)f either, We therefore set out immediately
IN q tour Of inspection, to ascertain the
Iuslity and general sanitary condition of
quarters, with special reference to q warn
ire, hot supper, and bed for two, as aDe
constituted myself and professional friend.
Alter making q general survey of the
own, we finally, through the agency of Sur
yeon Bayuley, of the lst Virginia Regiment,
obtained a room aud fire, with a bed parti-
ally furnished, in thelhouse Of a family who
iad packed up their "best things,r with a
view OF moving further down SecessisWard,
but for some reason, probably influential"
had concluded 70 tarry yet little longer
Being thus made comfortable for the night,
and provided with a supper by Surgeon B.,
we have determined to defer the search for
further provisions until tomorrow.
Dec. 24-We had hardly turned in
last evening when our host raped at the
door to inform Us that he had found board
next door, where we could obtain meals
three times day regularly. Thanking him
for his service in eur behalf, 1 returned to my
worn blankets and slept soundly till morn
ing, when the cavalry bugle and the reveille
awoke US as well as the camp to duty. To-
day have visited several camps, and find
the first effects of the cold storm measurably
worn of, and the "boys" resuming their
cheerful tones, and stoutly persisting-in
most cases-thst tents are great institution,
the Sib,ey tents with little sheet
iron stoves; and that the camp is just the
place to live, especially for young men, Wbep
an enemy is only few miles in front, and
large country southwark yet to be explored.
The regiments here in camp are the 4th
and 9th and 7th and 9Th Ohio; the lst and
9TH Virginia; also the 18th and l4th Indiana
not yet gone into camp. OF cavalry there is
500, and l6 pieces artillery. AtSpringfeld,
eight miles from here, on the road to Green
Spring, the 7th Indiana is in camp; also a
considerable force of the MRy6eld Home
Guard. About ten miles in advance, on the
way to Winchester, regiment Of the enemy
ia said to be in camp, while the main force
seeks protection behind the breastworks at
Winchester.
What will be the result of this array of con-
tending forces, no one can tell just now
Many think the standing order will rule, but
the ''boys" are too impatient for a fight just
to warm them up, to remain idle all winter,
especially while they are led on by the in.
clinatioR of probably every officer in the
division. Romney ia to be hel1-this may
be considered certain, and how much more
will be added thereto the future will deter
mine.
Gen. Kelly is at present at Cumberland,
having recently suffered eighty from the
injury received at Phillippi last spring,
brought on by excessive labor. Gen. Rey-
nolds is to be here soon, and if am not
much mistaken, some work will be done be-