Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1863-03-14
Army Correspondence
Written for the Columbia Democrat.
CAME NEAR BELLE PLAINS, VA, !
March 4th, 1869.

Col. JOHN G.. FREEzE--
SIR The weather in this vicinity
of late has been very variable. Sunshine
with an accompaniment Of birds, snow
and rain, arc daily visitors. In fact the
weather is so mired that its character
cannot be predicted two hours in advance.
The army is quiet Those who hurled
their anathemas at Mcclellan for not
moving last winter with an undisciplined
army, have nothing to say against our
present Generals for remaining quiet
Last spring, week before this time, Gen.
Banks advanced into Virginia, and in the
month of March fought the battle of
Winchosterj or rather, Shields fought it
for him.
The inclemenoy of the weather prevents
much drill, yet there is a sort Of prepara.
tion for the coming struggle which rea
son tells us will be virtually decided dur
ing the three coming months. In THAI
time either Law and Order will triumph
or Rebellion become successful Revolu-
tion' While the old troops anxiously
await the contest, the nine months men
anxiously count the hours and days re-
naming of their term of enlistment. In
connection with this it is rather amusing
to remark the ''blood and thunder" reso-
lutions published in certain papers We
find them issued by men who have never
been in battle, as certain regiments in
Washington, Baltimore, &C., ,r by nine
months regiments which neUey eTDect to be.
1t is very fine for shom to exclaim, clay
on Mac Duff, and id be he who first
cries, Hold Enough =" when they arc
safely slowed away behind strong lortif-
cations. Again, these resolutions arc gen.
orally signed by officers enjoying fine sal.
aries from the. Government, whose "occu-
pation's gone when peace is declared.
All military men are egotistical. This
arises principally from the fact ibat praise
is his principal ambition, and honorable
distinction his sole reward. Hence il is
that the favorable mention Of rccimeut
or battery is considered AN ample reward
for weeks Of toll and suffering. A few
days ago We received the following circu-
lar, which will be read with plea ure be
those who have friends in this battery
Its officers and many of its men are ma
tiyeS of Columbia county,,
CIRCULAR.
Ue'dq"artcrs Of Art'Re,y, lu Corps,
Feb 25ih, 1863 The Colonel command
lag the Artillery of this Corps has the
great pleasure of publishing to the Batter
les under his command the following let
ter, received by him, viz:
headquarters Of Aft&yy. Army of Me
: POtoD"c, Feb %, s63. CoioDcl: Tie
reports of the late iusp, ctons show that
none Of your Batteries are in bad ocdcr--
the only Cops so rgT Toytca. The Batter
les reported i'll the best order are: Rey-
nold's L, lst New York.. .N1Nhcw's +,
lst Pe'WSy'0mi@, and Lcppine's, 9th
4H"IuO IItNhl I d. II UNT,
Brig. Gen. aud Ch.f of Art'y
. Early in the fall of 1861 we were Dc
taGhod from the Pennsylvania Reserves,
OF which we are a part, and served with
Gen. Banks Army Of the Shenandoah
then with McDowell's Army of the Rap.
pahannock; ; then with Pope's Army OF
Virginia, and finally with Che Army of the
Potomac aCain, During PoPo's disas.
trous campaign we lost two guns in the
! four days fight on the RappahannocE
Ford, and three more at Bull Run SC
that We cntc:od Washington with but on,
gun Of the original battery. At the bat
tie of Antielam we were posted on the
''iated corn field" which was thrice lost
and won. From August to December
1862, the battery had but one officer, aud
after the battle Of Antietam ill just before
the battle Of Fredericksburg contained
only one section. Since entering the ser
, vice we have lost through various causel
! toaH 06iccrS ond ne0r eighty men ! Con
sidering our various casualties, you cal
imagine our surprise and pleasure OF
learning that we are one of the three bcs
4 batteries in this army, which has Ion:
r boasted Of its magnificent artillery. Thu
a feguta,s feel little sore on the point
e while all Penusylvanians are much clated
! Yours, ARrILLERIST.
For the Columbia Deipocrot.