The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1863-03-26
from Our Iunteers.

LETTER FROM co. =, 1882 PENNA voLs---PoP-
rLARIrY OF GEN uooKER--NEGRo SOLDIERS
-P1cKET1SG-A MISTAKE cORRECTED-THE
IpJUTANTsHIP, ac., &C.
NEAR SToNEMAN's SWITCH, VA,
lHarcA II, 1868.
Correspondence of The Alleghanian.
The weather has been changeable and
.reacherous during the past week-snow,
rain and sunshine in quick succession,
completely spelling the roads, and render
ing forward move an impossibility. The
discipline and health of the army are
pood. and the moral status far above that
of any other period since the commence
mept of hostilities Gen. Hooker Is very
popular with both officers and men, and
it is no exaggeration to say that there Is
rs much confidence reposed in him as
there was in Cen. Mcclellan. He gives
every department. his personal superinten-
dence He has issued some new orders
that possess the merit Of beins prectica-
bic, among which are those pernftins
three privates out Of every hundred men
70 visittheir homes OH furlough, !regula-
ting the number Of officers to be absent
from regiment at a time, and ordering all
pbsent aud loafng officers to report for
duty at once on pain of dismissal. The
eommissarics are ordered to supply the
troops with fresh bread four days a week.
We also receive potatoes, onions and fresh
beef The sale of whisky by suffers and
pcdlers is prohibited. The men are well
fed and clothed, and when not marching
through the mud are comparatively com
Portable.
Much diversity of opinion prevails here
relative to the organization of negro regl-
nents. Among officers the project meets
with much opposition, but the men gen
orally favor it. Ap idea prevails among
them that if the negro was enlisted and
organized into companies or regiments, he
would be detailed to perform much of tic
lator now necessarily imposed on the
private soldier. In this army, today,
there are not less than twenty thousand
men labor.ng on fatigue duty, building
bridges, making roads, unloading and
leading cars and vessels, and other labo-
fious ano in many instances servile duties,
degrading in their tendency and discour-
ins to the men. Give this army twenty
thousand negro laborers, and you will re-
lieve exactly that number Of white men
from detaiiet; duties, and strengthen the
army BY the addition of twenty thousand
men TO their legitimate duties as soldiers.
The rebels understand the use Of the nc
gro. They put the axe and spade in his
hand, anG he docs their labor, while their
soldiers are at liberty to fight.
Our company came off picket on last
Wednesday, and l know Of nothing that
would interest you more than a descrip-
tiOn of what we do and how we DO it when
on that duty. The picket line where we
go on post is about three miles from camp.
1t is the grand guard in the rear of our
army. 1t may truly be called line Of
human beings, extending from the Poto-
mac to the Rappahannock, through which
not even mouse could creep without
being observed. This line is supported
first by squads Of men numbering twenty
five each, oficered By Lieutenant, a
eergeant aud three Corporals From
these men the reliefs are formed, three in
number, relieving each other every two
hours. Should the enemy advance against
the line, the sentinels are ordered to fire
their guns, retreat on the squads, and if
they are not then able to withstand the
onset, again retreat to the reserve, which
consists of several regiments placed at
intervals of a mile or more apart, and
about half mile in the rear of the line
these reserves are expected to delay the
advance Of the enemy, if not able TO repcl
them, until the main body in camp be
allowed to form in line of battle
Letters received here from friends at
nome make complaints concerning SEN
'ence in. former letter Of mine, wherein
made mention of the circumstance of
Corporal Samuel w. Davis having met
TIE iamented Hugh J. Humphreys, after
TIE battle Of Fredericksburg, while the
's'ssr waa en- his way. mortsily wounded,