The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-12-19

was very cold, but no fires were allowed to bel
built there. The Johnnies were having their
nice comfortable fires, and they appeared to be
but a short distance frouus. They didn't appear
to be at all bashful abou. showing their position
by building fires or coming out in sight. But We
must keep back in the woods out of sight and
keep warm the best way we co9Id. BY skutiinc,
knocking off hats, and running around ring that
we made path for in the woods, We managed to
keep from freezing. We expected to be ordered
into action every minute. The companies 10 be
deployed were selected but the order to advance
id not come. The boys were tired of waiting
If they had got to charge on the enemy, they
wanted to do it at once, and have it doLe with,
and not stand there and dread it all day in the
cold.
But the sun went Gown and our lne had not
moved, Soon the order came to left face place.
1t was clear and cold. We got into line after
about our usuai delay in marching and halting,
and as soon as we could collect the matersal, We
had bright rousiug fire to collect around and
to eat supper by. We made our beds around
this fire and slept till morning. Some idea Of
the weather may be understood from the fact that
several Of the caneens that | helped till late in
the evening, were frozen solid in the morning.
and some had burst open and were spoiled. The
t next day We had nothing to d. but to keep our
selves warm and speculate on ,he prospects before
Us. We were on portion Of the plank road that
leads from Culpepper to Fredericksburg, and
could at any time We chose, move down and take
possession Of tue bights at that place. The enc
r my were only covering Gordon8yile. They were
y south and west of US, and we were the nearest
n Frederick burg All this looked as if it might
J. be so, but there was air Of mystery and doubt
e about it that made some of the knowing ones feel
Is iucredu,ous. Our hestating to attack the day
y before looked little as if everything was not
e so well for US as some pretended to believe, They
il had strong position and doubtless were so dis
posed that ther could move down and occupy
!! their old position by fredericksburg, or they
T could fight Us there in either case they held Us
e. to a disadvantage. 1t really looked as if Ger
l. Meade had failed in some brilliant maneuyre B,
o' which be had intended to bring Lee out on al
T open fight. and in this failure, nasmueh as we tlt
declined to 6gbt and giee the reoes their adyan
age it seemed pretty Akeiy that ve should taI
u back across the river once more. This was ren
dered certain when night came and We were or
al dered to pack up and ta. in. htter marahn!
"a two or three miles, or srch matter, we haite'
2! ana formed into line. Skirmlshers were throw
t. out, and we were told chat should remain a
- least tive hours
1t wac certain thing then chat we we're re
ID treating, and that part of our brigade was act
20 ing as rear-guard We spread down car ban
as kets. determined to steaIa little sleep if We could
81 The next thing we have any recollection OF wa
40 Of being aroused ircm good sweet dtsam, ant
ordered 20 form. We Ia beeG there three hour
'S instead of two We were completely chilled
as through and it was quite fortenate hat we wer
v" awakened when We were, for we were ohyerng
~ with the cold, and trembling Ike man ct nine
"S ". We fell into line and before we had marohe
IT. far we were warm enough.
1t was about daylight when we reached an
=, crossed Germania Ferd the next morning W
noticed as we passed down to the river some we
constructed rihe-phs and breastworks fror
which the enemy had no doubt intended to dit
pute our passage across the RIVER, and which
~ were enab ed to dodge through tie foresight an
- gensralshp of Gen. Meade. We marched abot
mile this side of the river before we halted io
breakfast The 9TH eorps had preceded as, an
their men were lying ia the bushes on each sid
of the road, as thicky as they could possibly g
tooether After breakfast marched on lltt
further and finally in woods fer all day, an
the next night Thursday m rnng we we're o
% dered to pack up and fall in, which We did, an
marched towards our old camp. We marehe
'"' an to SteyeGsburg and crossed The Mounta
Creek at that place, some distance above tn
- Mace where we crossed tae same stream on OF
w way down week before. As we came along b
!" the camps of the 9th and Bird corps we notice
'V9 that they we're occupying the same houses, AM
the same places exactly, that they occupied befo
'ne we moved At Brandy Station everything WI
eP' alive with business One suffers wagon was a
70 Irorn a nlattOrn car. INST as