New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-12-04
No Idea Of Going into Winter Quarters-
The WeaIth OF the Army Good-The
Hard Labor Performed by Bincks-
How Bully met with IA Black Master
Bragg's Army still in the West-The
Prospect of Taking Richmond.

MONDAY, Dec. j, 100.
Present appearances indicate, in spite ofRll we
hear to the contrary, that we not to Winner on
this eide Of the Raplahannock.
The hour, the day, or perhaps the week upon
which we shall move upon the Rebel army, either in
front, or upon one or the other or upon both TANKS
could not. perhaps, be named by any one, not even
the Commsnding-General himself. do not believe
the thought of going into Winter quarters has yet
been seriously entertained by Gen. Burnside.
The soldiers who are encamped in the roads
rather than sleep in the sheer-tents have employed
their time for the past few days in constructing booth
and log huts, after TIE fashion of the Rebels, and
this hss given many casual visitors to the army the
impression that we were preparing for the Winter
The reports that the soldiers were instructed 10 build
the huts are entirely unfounded. Their superior
officers have INDUCED them IA II, but have not IN
single instance given them 10 understand that they
would not be required 10 abandon them upon mo-
ment's notice, and resume the march, and shoulder
again the knapsack and the tent.
Contrary TO expectation tie health Of the army is
remarkably good, considering the large number Of
new troops who are interminged with the old reci-
ments. am informed by the leading surgeons, who
have been in the army since its formation, that the
number in TIE hofp,as is much less than il was ast
year at this time Nearly all the regimenal hospi-
tails have been provided with large new tents, with
cast iron stoves and cots In this climate we have
but few daysin which the sick will suffer not much IN
these hos ials Large DIVE ings, of course, are taken
when they can be found; bui in an army 10 large as
this il is impossible to provide for AL the sick with
out the use Of canvas tents.
rice upon the cars to Acquia Creek to-day
gave me view Of what Gen. Haupt has accom-
phshed within the pact ten days m repairing the
railroad from the Potomac 10 Falmouth. What il
took nearly ten months last Spring 10 reconstruct
has been accomplished in about one sixth Of that
time. Nearly all the labor then was performed by
soldiers this time confrabands. or 20 call them hy
better name, loyal black, have performed nearly
all the bard labor. | hundreds Of them a.
work to-day all along the line OF the road, at the
depos, NJ on the wharyes on the boats or wherever
there was anything TO be lifted, carried driven or
raised. They were working too, with a iciH, not
with one arm slowly following the other up and
down, or leg moving after the other a. If they
were on their way 20 the gaiOws, but it'll "A rapid
swing and quick step, giving one TO zee IN avery
blow aud every movement that 30 cents Gay, food
and ratlols aud Individual freedom, the sogTces
OF INSPIRATION.
While standing a, tie depot in Falmouth, to-day,
the much disputed question whether a pure-hlooded
African, a genuine Congo negro eau whip member
OF the Auglo-Saxon race was decided night before
my eyes and in the presence OF one or two hundred
Others IN II very few minutes. An officer Of the 9Th
Michigan Regiment who was wounded and taken
prisoner in that severe fight on Jamcss Island,
South Carolina, and who was exchanged but a few
weeks since came on here from Washington IN
seach Of negro servant he had with hin when
South, and whom he bad found very faithful and
Efficient. The officer had been promoted and ordered
70 Join Gen. Rosecrsus in the West lie found bis
servant without much difficulty, and brought him 10
the depot, ami together they were awaiting the
ceEarture Of the train. While the negro wac
standing near the platform a bullying phi
vate who had been talking very loud about
NcClel an and the id HboIioni,ts 20 the d-gust
og to al ufl
behind the negro ana knocked his cap of. the
negro stopped aud pcked his cap up, and then looked
back AID smiled, saying not word about tie III
snlt. In few minutes more the same act was re
raated At this the negro began 10 grow darker
than bis natural hue, ard II nervous twitchiug
could 10 III the vicinity OF his flats, but still
he RETAINED from any open manifestation OF dit
pleaaure and eOOn resumed his usual cheerful and
gOod-natured expression. Again the bully crept up,
for the third time, and, In addition 20 pulling bis
can. struck him quite blow on the back Of the
head. In an instant elmost when the bully hand
had dropued the left fist Of the negro planted
square on the jaw Of his white brother, and FOL.
lowing tia. with lightning rapidliy came "a tre-
mendous blow from the night fist, falling plump
upon the nose and sending the blood IN
streams over both eel igerenis. The fight then
became furious and AZ the bully rallied from
the UNEXPECTED attack, he fell back upon his knowl-
eige Of the science OF pugsm, and dealt tie negro
several severe blows which, for moment, stag-
gered him. but Sambo, disregarding the regulations
of the King, which he knew nothing about, lowered
his bead lifted his right foot, and delivered broad
side square in the belly and chest Of hs assailant.
The bully fell almost as quickly AZ II shot, the sze
of the negTo's head, had struck him. lie lay sense
Less for few moments, then rallied and was car
ried off by lis companions. The negro cOolly but
toned up bis coat put bis cap, and as he took the
hand OF the good Colonel in whose service he was
engaged apoocized for having been in the fight but
said he couldn't possibly help thrashing the fellow.
The Colonel laughed, and told HIN that If he had
five regiments OF tuch fellows, he would return to
Charleston and take the city. During the hour IN
which we were waiting for the cars, the negro was
treated with profound respect, and | doubt very
much whether that Mcclellan claquer will ever
again attack d Congo negro.
IL il believed now by many superior officers Of the
army from the accounts Of prisoners aud deserers,
that, although Gen. Bragg himself may be III Rich
nond ms army still roulaus west-that all we Hhall
have 10 contend with in the approaching struggle.
will be the old army of Gen. Lee and the cOnscripts
which have been around Richmond eince last Sum
Iner The statement Of the official III the Rebel
cOiDnieeary department III Richmond, VINO came
through our lines last week, tnat they have never
is,ued rations for more than 41JOOO mon, and were
not iesninR for nearly that amount now, Is very
generally believed. Although our long delay on
this side of the RappahannOck would seem 10 indl-
cate the contrary, L think the opinion II becoming
general that we have TOO long overrated the stfengb
OF the enemy and that, If we but attack nm DolhIy
and follow him up from day to day, and bring into
action all our reserve artillery aud infantry kIch-
nond will sure be ours before the close OF The year
We are becoming fairy eck and disguised WIN
this huge bugbear. Richmond. The nights OF FRED
not half steep or hall hs lOrmldA,
bic as South Mountain or Champions Pass, ana
doubt very much whether they could be held any
longer IL is true that the Rebels could bring more
men into action, but it is equally true that we could
also and at the same time leave large force To
protect the bridges and the fords. But i do not
believe we are ever to witness AZ attack upon our