Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-10-12
OUR ARMY CORRESPONDENCE
p,cu.t Line. Morton's Ford, Rapidan River, /
81 y. G. Infantry, Oct. 2, 1863. l

fiqo' ID G. Infantry, Oct. 2, 1853.
We have been looking for q fight here
aver since I returned. On Meade's ad- !
yance as the papers have already told
Won. our forces fell back to the south side
of the Rapidan. think il, as a whole, \
the most defsnsible position among the
MANY defensible positions in Virginia.
high ridge runs along the whole length
of the river, some two hundred yards
from its south bank. I think it is a branch
Of the Piedmont mountains whose main
chain crosses the river near the Railroad
bridge. Along this aforementioned ridge
our forces are deployed. Being easily
defended, our troops are deployed, in one
line of battle, from GordonsEille to an
other ford below us, some 90 miles from
our left flank. The cavalry guard each
fank-on the left to the Blue Ridge, and
on the right to the junction of the Rapi-
dan with the Rappahannock. The Rap
pahannock runs perpendicular to our
position on our right flank, and We have
detached regiment<with batteries attach
Cd at its different fords, and scouting
~rarties on the other side who keep Gen
Lee posted on all movements the yanks
NAV make in tina. direction. Meade has
masssd his forces right in front of US,
and both armies are in Smelling distance
of each Others position. IF he has the
temerity to risk his military reputation
by an advance in front, | think his re-
pulse is sure. If he attempts to turn our
position by moving around u right
flank, the Rappahannock will have to be
recrossed within his own lines, and cross
ed again under the shadow of our breast
workE-for the Rappahannock line is
also fortified. Should he attempt such
movement, our scouts would find it on
az soon as the movement began, ant
having the inner base line to move on
we would evidently reach our fortified
tons on the Ra%ppahsnnock before he ar
rived on the opposite side. The %turnin,
of our left faEk is impracticabie, becaus
the Blue Ridge is in the way and j
would expose his rear, and jespardize tn
Lincoln source of anxiety Washington
This is the military position in Virgini
at the present time, and it renders tn
barren. Therefore, although affairs hav
looked. and will doubtless continue t
look threatening, l do not think there
much probability of a general engage
ment between us this fall.
A rumor is in camp that Martin an
Cookies n @. Brigades, and Picket's d
vision of Longstreets corps, that ha
been on the South side of the James, ha
been ordered up op our lines. If this
so, it indicates that Gen. Lee intends t
assume the aggressire and Fhs dcs.
then you may look out for bloody wor
or a foot. race as soon as it begins.
Gen. Lee thinks it right, I cannot bu
express the hope that it is so, for l wan
something to turn up that will dissipat
this horrid dullness that pervadss on
camps.
The news from the West has had
tendency to cheer US up here in the ar
my considerably. Lam not much of
prophet but it would not surprise me i
before the war ended, the entire strugg'
was transferred to that central portion
the country, and there reach it's culmini
ton and climax. Things have that ter
dency now, and if it is carried to til
north of the Cumberland, | have no fear
of its final result. But if RoseHcrans
. not driven beyond the Cumberland, | d
fear its consequences. The enemy has
great advantage of us, in military pos
ton, all things else being equal, in Tea
nessee. Both the Cumberland and tt
Tennessee rise in North Eastern Ken
lucky, and scoop down into Tennesst
and then finally empty into the Ohio
Kentucky again. Taking the rivers
base lines, this gives the enemy the &C
vantage of the inner or shorter base liz
precisely the advantage we have ovt
the enemy in the position we hold hel
on the Rapidan. But I must quit, {
you will laugh at my military strategy.
The spirit and health of our men W.
never better. 1t is a source of intini'
satisfaction, after returning from among
the respondent at home, who see nett
ing but ~'subjugation, humiliation ar
slavery awaiting them, and from among
the spectators and extortioners VIII
vampire like, are sucking the lf
blood from our critical Confederacy,
90 amongst the men composing this arm,
and find so many hopeful, confident ar
self sacrificing spirits, who are deter
mifed never to give up this struggle t
life ebbs out, or our country is free. \
thought Of compromise or peace pervad
the minds Of any considerable portion
our soldiery, short of a complete reco'
milton of our independence. They fe
and know that the. bubble of peac'
which the timid and despondent-to gi'
hnuA hln uyO NJ