New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1862-02-14
NUMBER 29I.
Letter from Camp Cnrondelet.
Special to the New Orleans cresesnt-l ,+. 5.t.y.
.1F c.xr. cARosD1Lrf, srAn 4a,sassas. Vs.,

Mr.. Eiaor-Having seen nothing IN the Cres.
cent for long time past concerning the Bouisana
troops, now enveloped in the fogs and mists Of
Virginia winter, and awaiting with patience the
much talked-of advance Of the Grand (Tankee)
Army of the Potomac" a avail myself Of a few
leisure moments to write you.o
/ intmated that we we're enyeloped in fog. The
fact, however, requires the pen Of : Boz 70
receive that degree of force which would do II
justice. The opening chapter OF Bleak House,
descriptive of a characteristic London morning.
will answer as pale photograph OF the state OF
the weather here and hereabouts for the past sig
weeks, and, as such, refer the reader Gf have
reader) to it. Suffice it to say, Old Sol has not
smiled upon us in this latitndinal Longitude since
last Christmas, while the clouds have been con.
stantly weeping, sometimes frozen tears) until
the face Of the country has resolved itself into
vast mud puddle, through which neither man or
beast can scarcely make way. The roads are
next to impossible, and the only consolation we
have (Which is no consolation at ally ia the fact
that Mcclellan can't advance for many weeks to
come. a. 4&&.tA.3 a-s IN a t}4@s4}f
The Louisiana Brigade, .(the sth) consisting Of
the 9Th, 7th, 8tb and 9th Regiments, and Wheat,s
1st Special Battalion, have been encamped on the
present ground about six weeks, and are not yet
ali quartered for the winter. The mems quarters
are mostly completed, at least so as TO be habita-
BILE, but, with few exceptions, the officers are
still all in their tents, with their log houses still In
an unfinished state. We have now learned to de-
nominate them spring quarters as the winter
is nearly over and the houses not settled. The
want of proper timber, and lack of transportation,
together with the great scarcity of lumber in this
section, has caused great delay, which. added to
the fact that our Louisiana boys are not, for the
most part, tip-top carpenters and builders. ex-
plains this fact Notwithstanding, however, the
necessity which has compelled us to remain in our
there has been but little sickness, and remarka-
BILE dearth of fatality in our ranks. The influence
of the approaching spring weather is dreaded by
our surgeons, but we will not anticipate danger,
at in hat ind rvh
thus far so signally sheltered and shielded u.s..
There have been numerous changes in our bri-
gade since last wrote you, in the way Of resgna-
tons and promotions. Dr. Smith, formerly Sur
geon Of the Seventh Regiment, and more. recently
the Medical Director of the brigade, has been ap:
pointed Medical Director OF the Division General
Kirby Smith . Gin which capacity he is now sery-
ing. The Doctor has just received leave of ab-
sence for forty days, and leaves for his home
GAlexandria, Red riyer) next Monday. u
DR.. McKelyey, late Surgeon of the Sixth Regi-
ment, resigned his commission few days since,
and left for New Orleans. His departure left in his
the Seventh, several changes have occurred.
Thos. Gibbs Morgan. late First Lieutenant Of com
pany G, (5arsfeld Rangers) has been elected to
the Captaincy Of company F, Qrish Volnnteers) q
those traits of character which go to make up a
gallant and accomplished officer. Tom " is q
gentleman. true friend, a brave soldier and a
finished scholar. FL 1t* 80
changes have lately occurred by the resignation Of
Capt. Gilman, whose business relations compelled
him to resign. The vacancy caused by Capt. Gill
mans resignation was Immediately filled by the
election of Junior Second Lieutenant Conrad Green,
of New Orleans, than whom better selection could
scarcely have been made. Orderly Sergeant Tai
bot was elected in this company, some time since,
to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation OF
tie was recently elected in company l. Virginia
Blues, alias g Blue Brds,'') to ill the vacancy
caused by the resignation Of Lieut.. r. a. Brown.
+" The Seventh ''-our OWN crack Seventh--is
who, by the way is fully equal to the task Of such
a command, either in winter quarters or when
the !" long rol'' calls to arms. The Colonel, Harry
T. Hays, left us fortnight since for home, on sick
tory rheumatism, rendering him ere he forsook his
post of duty helpless invalid. We miss Colonel
Harry as few men are ever missed from the sphere
Of their duty. Lieut.-Col. DeChoiseul has been
monthsl; also suffering from i'll health. We are
all pleased to hear of his eonvalescence and hope
soon to see him in our midst again.
Major Z. R. Head, our Brigade Quartermaster,
fatal illness, and leaves US tomorrow for the
South, to recruit his wasted strength.
Capt. Surget, the Assistant Adiutant-G General of
our Brigade, leaves Richmond to-day for New Or
leans, on short furlough. Speaking of furloughs,
puts me in mind that none have yet been granted
to any but Virginia troops, and to those but on q
limited SCALE, This greatly disapponts many Of
our boys, who expected to have an opportunity of
visiting their wives, parents, children and friends,
this winter. Why more liberal policy has not
been instituted am unable to say, but simply re.
cord the factthat none have been granted, or are
likely to be granted this winter and in the spring
We would mt go if we could. if an attack Of the
enemy should seem at all likely. So our old
folks at home need not expect to see US till the
war is over
A circular recently made its mysterious way
| into camp, and believe was generally distributed
throughout the army, signed by Adjutant- General
Cooper, and pertaining to enstments to fill up
war companies below the minimum number. This
circular came in the form Of an order from the
War Department, and called upon officers com
manding regiments, battalions and all independent
war companies, to detail one commissioned and
one non-commissioned officer or private from eact
war company below the minimum number" II
proceed to the place of enlistment, and raise sale
| company to the maximum number, as prescribed
by law the said details to be :. subject to the ap
| proval of the commanding officer of the. army Il
| which said companies are attached" The recep
tion of this circular order in our midst occasonet
| no little pickering and confusion, as all wanted
! to go, and but two from each company could pro
coed on the mission. In regard to the Louisiana
troops, however, all disputaton was soon at ar
| end, when it became generally known that oul
State authorities had forbidden the further enlist
ment of troops for foreign or Confederate service
! Our Brigadier. General, Taylor, is now in Rich
mond, and will ascertain probably, whether thiE
prohibition extends to the filling up of companies
now in the field. If not, details will be selected
from many of the short companies to visi
Louisiana on recruiting service. We all hope t,
be-" detailed" of course.
The telegraph and Richmond papers have err
this informed you of the transfer of Gen. Beaure
gard from the army of the Potomac to Kentucky
Though we all appreciate the fact that the service
OF this our own nonpareil General will be Of NOR
Importance to our great cause in Kentucky thai
in Virginia, and that our loss is kentuckys gain
STILL the fact that Gen. B. has left us, effects tn
troops to no small extent. His presence here
although he was but third in command, (Which, b.
the way, was not generally known by all, even o
our Louisiana boys) was of itself a tower Q
strength and the intelligence that he had left tn
scene of his glory and labor for the past eigh
months, was for afew days a severe damper on tn
spirits Of our brave boys, who felt as if their rgh
bower was gone. But with Johnson, Smith, Long
street and our other brave and gallant Generals
we still feel that we can defy and repel any nun
ber Of bastard Yankees which are likely to
brought to meet us at this point .,'
/ had the pleasure of an interview this eyenin
with an officer of the French army, who arrive
here day or two since from W Washington- -7stea
ing his way through the Yankee lines. He is
gentleman of fine bearing and good family, and
most intelligent observer Of passing events.
brought important dispatches to Gen. Johnston, ar
has given our leaders much important informatic
relative to the movements and present status
the army at and near Washington. He states tn:
Mcclellan had matured all his plans and was pr