The New York herald., 1862-01-19
OUR ARMY IN FRONT OF WASHINGTON.
OUR ARMY IN FRONT OF WASHINGTON.
The Camps Crystalized in
Snow and Ice.
MUD VERSUS THE SACRED SOIL.
~~>~~~~~~~~>~Y~~~S~~~>
The Anticipated Forward Move.
ment,
f.. Ac. An.

The Anticipated Forward Move.
ment,
&c, 6c. &c.
OUR SPECIAL ARMY CORREspO pONDENCE.
CANP Lyon, Va. Jan. 10, 1892
Haf Of January has already gone, and the middle Of s
month nnds the Union army Of the Potomac placed IN the
same postion geographically speaking, which occupied
not only at the commencement Of the year. but dur
Ing the closing months Of the DID, On this beautuI night
the sky clear the moon shining at the full and the at
mosphere comparatively mild, the army H. % It has
been these many many nights, reposins In tranquility
had almost said In tranquility and peace but 1t sounds
strange to speak Of army in the hsd rsposns in
And what has army to do with peace Much to do with
H. and this army has everything to do with 1t Is to
restore order throughout the nation to reesablsh
OF the ildsst Of governments in all portions Of the
country lot peace exercise Ter gentle sway all
the States that tho army Of the Potomac the armies Of
the West and the Southern expeditions have been or
ganized Our Southern friends would have believe
that emancipation of the slaves s the grand end CO.
vernment has in view. Let them be assured that
emancipation Of the slaves the settled policy Of the
President most Of tho officers over here would resign
their commissions and the Union army would soon be-
come dsbsndsd To simply put down the rebellion III
what the army here for, and what it ia determined
TO do.
In order TO be ven prepared to accomplish hatpurposs
the different divisions have been put in effective con-
dtion possible Court martas have disposed Of many
Of the inefficient and incompetent officers That ageat
desdeatum for the efficiency of troops depends very
much upon the competency and good conduct Of their
held officers The regular routine Of camp duties, promi
among which is the daily drill has been patiently
pursued for months. Most Of the regiments in
excellent state Of drill and discipline They prompt
ly and skilfuy execute the various evoutions Of the
line They ready at any moment to take the feld
against more than equal numbers Of the enemy. In
Southern cities have heard Southern people say-and
probably they believed itha their soldiers could with
the greatest ease whip any body of Northern troops
thrice their number. All ask, on behalf Of our SOL
diers, is fair neld with equal numbers, and will
ling to abide by the result The facts show that where
ever and whenever our troops have met tho rebels
fair field have Invariably been victorious But while
most Of regiments exceedingly proficient, there
some-those more recently organizedwhch are not
thoroughly disciplined People who croak about the in
activity Of the army do not seem to realize how much
time and trouble required to discipline body Of
troops perfectly that they would not be overwhelmed
in any possible contingency. believe that in all the
army there is scarcely volunteer who is not vaorous;
but everybody knows that soldiers bravo though they
y
battle field. As have already intmated, most Of
troops have attained and the rest are fast attaining the
necessary proficiency.
For week or more, however, the weather being un-
favorable. there has been very little drilling. Soldiers
have been seldom seen in column in line except at
mps
regmenta cncampments the sentines ON the parapets
and the pckets on the outposts The different drill
grounds deserted hardly footprint had been made
in the white mantle Of that Overspread them Not
long the first Of the year covered all the
hills and valleys with q robe more royal than Of er-
mine Then came an almost impenetrable fog which
enveoped the army for more than forty hours During
the daytime could not see the length Of regmenta
camp ground and at night person passing along the
road frequently found himself close beside sentinel be-
fore there the perempty summons to halt How the
faithful sentinel listens, and how he strains his eyes to
discover any one approaching The greater probability
danger ou.ckens his sensibes; for it Is almost i'm
possible for him to tell who enemies and who
friends Sure enough the movements Of army have
been promptly and accurately communicated 70 the en-
emy that our government Placed IN precisely the same
II 10 surrounded are its enemies and who are really
lis friends But durpg the continuance Of the fog the
st disappeared and mud succeeded IN abundance
Then the second fall Of on Sunday and Monday
again covered the encampmens Part Of II still remains
sentod mos, picturesque appearance. All day You
could hear the rain patter not against the window panes
but on the canvass tents Few went outside their can
tive. Most OF the soldiers employed themselves In
reading books and newspapers, and in writing let
Colonel Cross, OF the Fifth New Hampshire regiment, in
General Summers division, that during three stormy
days his regiment away three thousand letters.
Sunday evening visited most Of the tents Of Col Nc
Knights Ono Hundred and Fifth egment in
Gen. Hsntzeans division and in every tent saw some
soldiers writing. said that yesterday tho country
presented picturesque appearance. Tho rain continued
TO descend; but II fell IT froze Everything became
crystalized The trees looked exceedingly beautiful
Pines and cedars large and small sparkled all the
brilliant though they had been encrused
OF winter
looked half grand as the scene we witnessed here
yesterday on the Virginia side Of the Potomac.
To-day all the icices melted, and the country looks
as dcsolate as ever. While the weather overhead is
mild tho roads In terrible condition. have heard
many people say that Virginia the muddes place they
have ever seem can add my own testimony without
the slightest mental reservation. Mud, slush-why, !
DON know hat il would be necessary for mud 10 mud
and slush is sush, and both are mud, only there
Is such immense amount OF IT, Ride but mile
or two, and your horse is covered with IL; wagon
wheels sink couple OF feet more In places,
that 1t is difficult to transport army stores even snort
distance. l do not include the turnpikes, however,
which are In a olerabls condition. Every has heard
great deal about the sacred soil Of Virginia. Now Ia
the mS 70 & s9' n ~ ana rsay nosrv
would wager that any one should take walk in this
region he would necessarily carry away on his boots
n he be Of tho most devoted lovers Of the Old
dominion. .
columns OF the Herald, on bands for the army, has
given great satisfaction military men. II has been
theme Of conversation IN every camp nave visited sEce
the line have splendid brass bands, while others
have only drums and hfes. Tho band of the
Fourth Maine regiment IN General sedgwicks brigade
ia an excellent will not say the best In ths
vice. for you know every division, and every brigade
and every regiment, has boon said by some
time be the best IN tho service" The Fifth Mich
gan regiment General Richardson's brigade, daily
expecting Detroit band, In which II Is said
there are some accomplished musicians Some OF the
New York regiments have bands The universal sen
timent that regiment should be without one Be-
aides the value Of martial the battle field,
band is source Of great enjoyment TO the in camp,
while they awaiting the long anticipated forward
movement
That brings me 10 jet with few remarks on which
will conclude this letter This army has been preparing
for the forward movement. Those who have believed
that would not spend the winter IN Its present position
on the Potomac think will not be disappointed. But u
/ will not move until the arrival of the proper moment.
The necessary being made for the
In eaimsns wherein companies have Of dif
fsrcnt cabre. all the companies now receiving the
l NJ YeatnrdAv Fourth Maine reoi-