Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1863-01-28
A SOLDIER.
CAMP NEAR STAFFORD C. H.,
Va, Jan. Is, 1863.

VA, Jan. l6, 1905
Dear Chronicle DO not think that
your friends of the 9th o. V. c., have
forgotten you, though our letters are few
and far between. In the present inactive
state of our army here, there is very lit
tie going on that would interest you.
On the 18th of last month we received
orders to follow Sigel's main column and
push on to Fredericksburg. We marched
on as fast as the horrible mud of Eastern
Virginia would allow US. The thunder
of Burnside's cannon melting US to hur
ry on, and filling Jul hearts with high
hopes of coming victory. But i'll news
flies fast, and long before we reached Fall
mouth tidings of disaster met us. We
reached that place only to find ourselves
too late.
After various scouts and changes of To-
cation, we pitched our tents here, where
we have been for the last three or four
weeks, that is, our tents have been here,
but the greater part of the regiment
have been constantly on duty as pickets
and scouts. There is no rest for cavalry
in Camp.
We are now empEatically among the
Pines. The country h~ereabouts was worn
out years ago by the combined effects Of
tobacco raising and slave labour, and the
greater portion of it has been left to re-
sumo its native wildness. One who had
never seen it could hardly credit the ra-
pidity with which pines will cover an until
led field. Let the land lie idle but one
year, and the pines will spring up as
thickly and as green as wheat on q newly
sowr field. In the course of four or i've
years they are as high as q mans head,
and so thick that it is almost impossible
to pass through them. Year by year
they have steadily encroached on the cul-
tivated fields, until now you may ride for
miles along the roads and see nothing
but pines. Here and there is some old
mansion, green with moss and tumbling
to ruin, and occasionally the ghost of some
old apple or cherry tree reminds you of
the country's better days.
But a short half mile from our camp is
an ancient ~Episcopalian Church, built, as
. tablet in the wall tells, in l75l; de-
strcyed by fire in 1855. and rebuilt in
1857. 1t is built in the form of a cross; its
walls are covered with English Ivy, but
the interior is in a good state of preserya-
ton.
It's queer little pulpit. perehed in an
angle of the wall, its square box peus,
its high gallery, and stone floor. with
neither stove or chimney, all speak loud
" of the past. Tradition says Washing
ton was married here, and for aught
know it may be true,
Twelve miles north of US is the little
town of Dumfries, a village Of three or
four hundred inhabitants, once contain
ing seven thousand. The old Court
house still stands where Patrick Henry
pronounced his celebrated grafton, which
is familiar in the mouth of every school
boy. The walls and roof are all that are
left. A cannon bal! has made a rent in
the roof; another has crashed through
the walls, and a third through the oupo-
la. 1t may be natural for man to IN
dulge in the illusions of hope" but
gathered little from these mementoes OF
the past and present.
think we shall not long remain mac
tive. We haze been under orders to be
ready to move at an hours notice for some
days, and we are keeping three days
cooked rations by US. God grant that
whatever movement we make may be
successful. .
The health of the regiment was never
better. We have lately been strengthen
ed by a reinforcement of sixty drafted
men, whom Col. Lloyd brought with him
from Ohio. The Col. is now in command
of the brigade. To US this is a source of
qualification, for We haYe have had dutch
brigadiers SC long that an English ORDER,
no matter how difficult, Is music to our
ears. Truly yours,
--5s eli 10 z-5I O.. n. 4. BARREf.