New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-01-24
From Our Special Correspondent.
PEsKWyE GRAND DIVISION,
STAFFORD COURT.HOUsE, Jan 81

Army.
Prom Our Special Correspondent.
RESERVE GRAND DIVISION.
STAFFORD Court House, Jan. 81, 1853.
For two days pat the Army OF the Potomac las
been under orders 10 march at an hours notice. Ex-
pectation has been on iiptoe as to where we were
20 90; speculation has been busy as to what we
were TO do. Thus we have lived for about week.
Early yesterday morning the rafting of wagons, the
beating o. drums the rumbling of artillery, and the
CHATTER Of horses hoofs, told that a movement was
really taking place. Whittier The head Of tie
column moved OF southwark. The proclamation
issued by the commanding General may throw some
light upon the mater. Ii means fight certainly
Your correspondent accompanied Gen. Schurz and
bis division to the position assigned for them. The
cold weather had flozen tie mod and rendered the
roads very passable. WHAT the cold had failed TO
do our mounted pioneers. under Col. Waterman,
effected. Greeks weis brdged for infantry, miry
places filled for the passage of artillery and any OBJ
stscles, triAng or great, overcome. The march was
made in excellent order, and the men were in good
spirits The wsgon-rans were all up IN due season.
and lot an accident OF incident Of note occurred.
Riding back 10 headquarters over the same road, an
empty clmp-ketile, and the customary csmp-hres
built at noontime. were The only indications that
march had been made along that route. Half
dozen straggels comprised the whole Of that usually
large portion Of the army. At one Of the houses
along the route the fences in good order. and
the whole establishment did not seem TO have suf
fered at al from the war; indeed, if anything tae
family appeared 10 have been the gamers as
several u. s." cattle we're with those right
fully belonging to Tie farm. Riding bome distance
in advance Of tie division, Gen. Scnurz and stah
came to a line of our mounted piekets. The sentry
challenged, and conversation enslied, IN the course
Of which it was ascertsined that this portion OF the
country had double line Of pickeis, Is they had
trouble in the adjoining woods from bushwhackers
and small parties Of Rebel cavalry. They Lad lost Six
or seven men already" Here was point where
the barbarity Of picket shooting and the absolute
necessity of "etenal vigilance" in soldiers on
picket duty, became apparent. Zach sentry remains
on duty, mounted, FOR TWO hours, during which time
the most careful scrutiny Of the neighborng woods
10 absolutely Indispensable, lest some murderer
creep up within shooting distance. One who has
never been placed in similar position and expert
eneed the nervous anxiety Of this honid suspense
has no idea Of how peculiarly tireeOme aud wearing
it ia upon the men. All the senses are wrought up
to the highest pitch for two long hours darkness in
cressiDg The intensity. You may see nothing, hear
nothing dining tie whole time, and yet moments
relaxation may cost you your life.
In tits connection it is fitting TO aude 10 the cus-
tom in our army Of trestrg Rebels who wear ON
uniform in the ssmo manner those captured in tho
eGtinate--if anything connected with the Rebellion
can be consideied legidmate-uni1orm Of the Con-
federate army. At Dumfrics, our picke;s were az
costed by eolders aud officers in our uniform, and
told they "could 20 in, as the picAets were with
drawn" Thus thrown of their guard, they were
readily captured. Their men ride thorough the lines,
our uniform shielding them from harm, and plaus-
bio story about being sent with orders or uch
matter quoting the confidence of the picKet. OUGHT
not any and all Rebels caught in the uniform Of the
Union army to be summariy dealt with as spies p
Last night, the most violent storm we have had
commenced. TIE windows Of heaven seemed
opened, and Eo!us blew his fercest blast. Tents
were soaked through and trembIingly acknowledged
the strength Of the wind. To-day, the mud, deep
eniDg with the still-cOndnuiDg rain, tells rather
unfavorable story for the contemplated operations.
But the delightful uncertainty Of this Virginia
weather may give us fair skies tomorrow, and
warm sun and Spring wind remove the mud. We
have hoped so much heretofore that we now rely
upon faith" tho evidence Of things not seen, the
subsistence Of things hoped for"
Sumner Oh the I.efS, Franklin in the
Center, Aooiier ON the Bight-Thc
Army in Mofion-scenes Along the
Road-Cheerful Endurance Of the Men
"A Fierce Rain-The PonfoonB Again
Hehind-The Rebels Concentrating.
From Our Special Correspondent
BAsKs FoRD OF RAPPAHAsSoCE,}
six Miles above fredericksburg, Va, T.
Thursday, Jan. ~, 1868.
Eominsly, Summers 10 the Right Grand Division
Of the Army, Hooker's the Center, aud Franklin's
De Lesh Actually, 700, Sumner IVA held ths hight