Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1863-12-18
The Recent Movement in Virginia.

\ letter 10 the Boston IrareHe- from a
correspondent with the Massachusetts lst
Regiment, gives distinct account of the late
advance Of NIeadc's Amy, and the reasons
for it withdrawal, as follows:
! The regiment left brandy Station Thanksgiv-
/ ing day, Nov. %, and crossed the Rapidan on a
/ pontoon bridge, without resistance from The enc
my the same afternoon. Proceeding up the RIGHT
bank Of the river, they came in contact with the
enemy's piekcts just at nightfall, who, AT cr a
brief skirmish retired, when the column haltcl
for the night and biyouackcd in a dense pine
Wool.
Ut daylight the next morning (Frilly). hay-
ing obtained a negro guide, the CORPS moved
through the wooi, and about noon met rebel
skirmishers drawn up in front Of a turnpike roll
over which wagons and ambulances were then
passing. Lines Of battle were imIueiiatcly flrrn-
cd, the artillery postei, and the First Brigade
sent out to skirmish, and, if possible, uncover
the enemy's position.
The wood was 50 thick that neither side could
see the other without advancing, so that most of
the firing was hap hazard and without result
Just about dark, however, both lines got enrtg-
Cd, and for over hour fought " IN great spir-
i, though without the usual effect Of an engi-c-
ment in the open country. At first our side FIJI
back 80 as 10 afford the artillerists am opportu-
nifty to sweep the woods with grape and canister
shot. This having forced the enemy 10 retire,
they again advanced; the enemy retreate,l. and
before : O'Clock the firing had ceased altogether
both sides. Considering the amount OF ammu-
milton expended our loss was Incredibly small.
nd that Of the enemy no doubt similarly So.
During the night and bitterly cold one il
was, the rebels abandoned our front, and re-
treated to their line Of entertainments At or near
Danielsyile, ON the plank road to Orange Court
House. During the whole of saturday we followed
them. Sunday, positions were taken and arrang-
ments made for charging their works The as
sault was appointed for O'Clock Monday MORN
ing. The First Regiment and First Brigade were,
as usual, IN the first line. Gems Meade and
Warren rec0nnoterei the enemy position They
discovered very formidable entrenchments. with
nearly an hundred pieces OF artillery, planted 50
as 10 enflade the advancing lines The rife pits
and infantry covers were swarmfng with troops.
Forty thousand men, protected, and On the
crest Of steep rige, were TO be assailed by les
than fifty thousand; ten thousand at least woull
be killed and wounded in the first assault and
ten thousand more might be in the second. with
the probability that large proportion Of the
NNNlt7A MNllA fllt OF ttll ntlOft tlcl Culill on
tain transportation to Washington Reluctantly.
but wisely, as ! think, therefore, Gen. Meade
abandoned, the assault and after waiting nearly
80 hours 10 see ii the enemy would come ont Of
his works and give him battle on the open plain.
returned TO the Blpidan, re.rossei without loss
and reoccupiel the camps len just eight days
previously.
Among the the incidents Of this ex-
tensiye reconnaissance two are especially note
worthy. First, several prisoners were taken
barefoot and without 0vercOats or blankets The
weather was 80 cold that on three successive
nights ice formed u the brooks third ofan inch
thi-k, ami IN many canteens the water was frozen
solid. some of our -hiruHshcrs, shot dead by the
rebels. were louudby US denulcj Of every article
Of clothing, and al were deprived of shoes aud
oyercoats. This shows great dtsttution in the
encmy's ranks.
Second. some Of the North Carolina men taken
actually danced for joy when they found them
selves prisoners of war, positively huggcf and
kissed our soldiers whom they had just been
fighting, and. declared that not only they but
many others hal been waiting months tor a
chance to get away, but they were watched So
sharply that il was next g. impossible. Tins
shows great dissatisfaction IN the enSmy' RANKS.