Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1863-01-02
NO. 40.
army 5VrFesPoudenee Delaware Gazette.
From the s2nd Regiment.
CAMp or rur - RE O- n.

CAMP OF TIE SD REC. o. V. l.,
Near Stafford G. H., Va, Dec. %, 50
/ Ed GAZETTE On Saturday, 18Th inst
the SD once more bade farewell to Fairfax =
| The llth army corpse hal already preceded us
several days on the march toward Fredericzs-
burg and Gen. Sigel and Staff had followed
The Proves: Guard must needs bring up the
rear, in order to arrest lingering depredators
and stragglers, and protect the trains whi3h
were slowly tOiling along after the troops over
the dreadlHl roads. The mud defed descrp-
tion. Broken wagons, dead horses and mules
ammunition and cquippage strewn by the
roadside, indicated the enormous difficulty oi
moving large force with its necessary OPP
pendages over such a route. During our SER
vice under the gallant Fremont, We often made
| > miles per day over roads as b5Sd OF. worse
than this. We found we could easily-yso it
Row. Not SO with a couple OF new regiments
the lO7th Chic aud S2d Illinois which bad
days the start Of as. We overlook them on
our first days march, toilihg up the banks OF
the o coquan river. The heights along this
stream have been strongly fortified BY The reb-
els. These abandoned lorti6cetions are one of
the most impressive features Of the country
1t is an interesting fact, too, that Col. Heck
er. 82d ILL.,, was General in command Of the
revolutionary force in Germany, wherein Gen.
Sigel then figured as a Colonel.
No pen can describe the utter desolation of
this portion Of Virginia. The curse of sa-
very has done for it no less than might have
been expected from the whole swarm OF plaques
that fell upon ancient Egypt. The soil, said
to have been once FERTILE is utterly impover
ished, and one eau but wonder how the few
wretched inhabitants snbsist. About two
thirds of the surface is covered With thick,
dense growth of pines, cedars, scrub-oalls, &c
Everywhere nothing but pine seems to meet
ones gaze, until the eye grows weary and the
heart sick Of it. Yet these pine thickets
make excellent camping places. Their over
hanging branches shield from sun or rain, and
break eff cold winds. The rebel encampmcnts
are almost always in the midst of them.
Thus was the 82d not many nights ago
The writer hereof had betaken himself to his
blankets beneath the overshadowing evergreens
and been luled by hemoanihg wind to sleep
which proved only too balny. For, during
the ''wee sna" hours, the rain began to fall in
torrents. The first few monitory drops broke
the spell Of slumber and gave admonition Of
what was coming. Bat the warning was un-
needed, and again l committed all cares to
Morpheus. But soon innumerable little stream
let's discovered to be sIyIy creeping under me
brought me to my understanding. 70 find
ones self in undrcss uniform in the midst of
violent rain-storm, and compelled to arrange
his toilet in pitchy darkness. to say the least,
j. Il ,la
Stafford G. H., hardly deserves the name of
town. A few scattered houses, . gloomy look
ing prison, and an ancient Courj-house, are its
most noticeable features. The 11th corpse is
now encamped here awaiting orders
The 10Th Ohio takes the place of the 82d,
in Gen. McLane's brigade. The SD has been
promoted to the honorable duty of General
Provost Guard for the grand Division Of the
army under Sigel. The utility of having a
general police force of this kind becomes every
day more apparent. Struggling, desertion.
drunkenness, stealing, &c. are more efectually
lerreted out and punished by this means than
any other perhaps Perfect good order in
camp and on the march can in no other way
be attained.
The late disaster at Fredericksburg has not
essentially discouraged the army. but the tur-
buent state of affairs at Washington is some.
what dishear;ening. The government, the
people and the army must harmoniously work
together if this rebellion is to be crushed
Had it been so, the Southern Confeleracy
would ere this been among the things that
were. Ii is too true that Generals and poIiti-
clans have been too fearful Ofeach others sue
cess TO the detriment of their patriotism
Had Fremont captured jackson, or Pope de-
leated Lee, it wepld most likely have elevated
either to the head Of the Army. Hence they
were not eo-operatcd with by other aspirahts
and partisans. And is it not safe TO surmise
that the pending elections in New York and
elsewhere had something to do with the other
wise unaccountable delay Of the army on the
north bank Of the Pot6mac D. At any rate
no one can SHY there was not possibility of
design Of lifts kind to disuhect tAe people to-
ward the Administration and its candidates.
I know these arc startling suggestions, bul
they are such as occur TO onr minds. isolated as
we are among the pines Of Virginia With
our glorious cause and orr immense power
why are there so many different kinds Of poll
cy for the prosecution of the war? Is it not
because there are 20 many individuals who
want to be king? Q, for our couatrys sake,
let us have unanimity. Let the people rally
around the President, and let the two demand
and see that the army dos its duty. Let ev-
cry General be held to II strict accountability
for his condnct Let common sense displace
policy, devotion to our cause supercede devo-
tion to party and individual glory, and love of
right deihrone the love of wrong. Then
heaven will bless our arms and give US the
victory 49, N
.'''' i y ours for the Republic,
A. T. SECHAND.
-''.