The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-11-27
CORRESPONDENCE.
OK PICKET, NEAR THE REsIDESE OF
Hon. JouS MINOR Boris.
NJ. 1870

housc-kccper, be prepared for dinner. To-day
have combination OF those desires, and,
should my letter smell OF the kettle or seem un-
clean, Il am steering bsdHs,) or more prosy than
usual, and that !. unnecessary, you need not
be surprised.
Yesterday morning about 100 Of our regi
ment were sent out here TO do picket duty. We
find ourselves about two miles from Brandy
Station, on the plantation Of Hon. j. NJ. Bolts
On our left runs the Orange and Alexandria
Rail Road, better known TO our detachment o
conscripts when we rode past here Sept. %, a,
u. S. NJ. II. r., /. c. Uncle Sans Military Raj
Road, while on our right within thirty rods Il
situated the residence Of the honorable gentle
man just named. He is strong Union man
and as such. has suffered much at the hands OF
the rebels He has been taken prisoner, has
lost much property. but still remains true tI
the Union. What his exact sentiments are
cannot say, as / do not remember his words OF
actions in regards TO the passage OF the secession
ordinance by the assembly OF Va. One thing
is certain, he Is regarded rs staunch ana re-
liable friend to the Union, his property is
guarded, and to-day soldiers are detailed BY
our Generals TO repair fences injured by the
rebels that recently built winter quarters here
He possesses few slaves. know not how
many, has an extensive plantation, keeps quite
a stock of cattle, horses and sheep, and has The
best residence, with one exception, that have
seen since leaving Fortress Monroe. The
grounds about his buildings must necessarily
look disorderly and neglected since two hostile
armies have passed to and fro here, but the eI-
terror Of the buildings indicates that this was a
desirable situation before the evil OF secession,
and the horror OF war fell like q curse upon
this sacred soil" The house Is built of wood,
two stories high, with green blinds, veranda
an1 MIA HGat tnfth a IN.
The yeranda extends across the end facing the
road, between the caves, and is supported by
four pillars. In the rear are several neat small
houses for slaves, n blacksmith shop, cabinet
shop also, believe, and carriage house. Tn
the opposite side Ot the road are barns, grana-
ries, straw-stacks SC. The farm, or plantation,
properly speaking, contains about 1000 acres
for which he paid $ lOi 900 in Confederate
scrip, about a year ago. My Information came
from one Of his slayes-a man, with DARK
straight hair, dark cOmplexioned, and intelli.
gent-appearing, whom should not and did
not take TO be slave when FIRST commenced
To converse with him. From him and other
slaves have learned interesting particulars
that think our northern pro-slayery friends
cannot deny. These negroes appear to ENJOY
themselves, but one old man seemed to take
pride in telling me he was a freeman. Jovial,
happy. free from care as many seem, contenteu
rs they are with their peck OF meal and TWO
pounds of pork per week, could but think
that to them,
Ignorance Is bliss
Last night relishcd my first hoe-cake fur
nished me steaming-hot from the hoe by tue
aforementioned intelligent slave, John. l,
consisted simply of white corn meal, stirred
up with water, and seasoned with q little sait.
pity the poor lame slave, for, although treat
III lnor nuh An
would feel better were he free, realizes the ser
vile condition in which he is placed, and feels
the heavy yoke of bondage resting upon the
neck OIL hardly dare say it, for he resembles
more strongly the Caucasian than the negro
race-his down-trodden race. God bless you,
kind-hearted John, whether bond or free, for
your several kindneSses shown to me While
waiting for my hoe-cake had ample opportu-
nifty to see the Blue Ridge as its several peaks
stood forth in bold relief against the cold gray
of the western sky, while over the range Tar
up the heavenly dome hung q canopy OF rich
ly-colored clouds, reminding me OF the hrst
verse of Uhland's beautiful German ballad,
The Castle by the Sea, so literally translated
by our own sweet poet Longfellow, the last TWO
lines of which, could but repeat as Sazed
upon the scene,
Golden an red above IL,
The clouds float gorgeously."
Two DAYS ago looked upon the mountains
with different emotions. They were chilled by
the cold breeze sweeping down upon us from
the mountains to all appearance partially COW
cred with snow. They presented a foreidding
aspect, as we stood shiycring in the cold. One
impression at home quite prevalent think,
but Incorrect, wish to help do away with
Many have the idea that II Is very warm here.
Well, the days arc very mild and warm for this
season, but the nights are rery cold. over
coats, blankets, mittens, and rGii.fence ytres
are comiortable--I might ssy-actually neces-
sary.
Since last wrote We have advanced, have
driven the enemy suddenly from their newly
and nicely built winter quarters and are now
only few miles from our gid camp near Cul-
pepper. We may advance again soon, may
cross the Rapidan, may retreat, but eannos
say, cannot even Conjecture where VIC shall so
into winter quarters. / hope, however, where
wood and water arc abundant, and "soft-fdcS'
plenty. Our regiment left the camp mention.
cd in my last Sin the open undulatinS heid,
last Saturday morning, and moyed towards
Kelly's Ford on the Rappahannock. When
within half a mile Of the Ford we passed To the
left of q brick church, and run down hill-
Here VIC first heard the sound OF musketry |,
and booming OF cannon. Drawn up IN line Oh
battle we rested waiting for orders to move up
enemy posted on the opposite side OF the river
10 dispute our passage. But our services we're
not needed, the third, (our) brigade, lior
some reason best known to others We were plac-
ed in the second brigade that day. charging
across the river, and taking the enemy in their
rifle pits. Several hundred were taken, mostly
from North Carolina regiments. Some OF them
expressed great JOY at seeing us, regarding us
ms friends. I thought they were poorly clothed,
a ,laxg hRttpr Clothed
than any they had seen. We forded the river.
drew up, and lay down on gentle. sloping hill
without any fires to dry our clothes, wet as
they were above our knees. Bullets whizzed
over our heads, and some fell very near US.
The precaution to lie down, that we took, saved
some of us from being wounded. One company
sent out on picket was so near the enemy that
the men could hear the rebels talking IN the
woods in front. They anxiously waited for
the dawn Of day expecting an attack; But DC,
fore. morning the enemy "skedaddled, and
left us in possession Of the field. We pursued
them, but without oyertaking them.
About noon enjoyed fine view ON the PLAIN
in front Of us at the foot of the hill upon which
we halted. IL was one OF the victorious corps
moving from Rappahannock Station. Some
were marching in line Of battle, some in column,
some by the right flank, but all ready to draw
up in battle array, should they encounter the
enemy. but grander sight was in store for
Us. Ii was the meeting, or confluence, so To
speak. of several corps near the rail.road, anu
their onward movement towards Brandy Sta.
ton. All that vast open territory was covered
with a living mass Of beings, and, whatever
way we turned our eyes, signs Of warlike hosts
bearing gliitering muskets, and following hoat-
ing banners, the insigRia Of the several corps,
divisions and brigades. met our view. win such
hosts moy;nr acains, them, there is no wonder
that the rebels laid down their arms ut Kappa
hammock Station and Kelly's Ford, and fed to
their entertainments beyond the Rapidan. Our
losa ,xas some A ar 600 The loss of the enemy