The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1863-12-31
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CAMP NEAR BEALToN SrATION)
..-. ON ORANGE AND A. r. r.,
December 9th, 1863.

CAMP NEAR BEALToN STATGoN) +
ON ORANGE AND A. r. r.,
December 9th, 1863.
Dear Fdthcr:-As we have once more
returned to the north side of the Rap
pahannock river, thought l would
endcavor to give you an account ofour
proceedings for the past ten days.
We left our camp at Peola Mills on
the morning of the 9th Of November
and crossed the Rapidan river at Mine
Ford, near Wygon's Gold Mills. We
Net with no resistance on the part of
the enemy in crossing, but some of the
other corps had some slight slirmish-
ing at the other fords, but they soon
drove the enemy, and crossed in safe
ty. We then marched in a south west
direction about four miles until we
reached the plank road leading to
Fredericksburg. After we reached
the plank road we marched about five
miles toward Fredericksburg when we
came to a halt and bivouackcd for the
night. In the morning we left this
road and marched about six miles
through the wilderness, and reached
the plank road leading to Orange Court
House. We marched about five miles
on this road, passing Parker's store,
and reached New Hope Church about
, PM. Here our cavalry had an en-
counter with the enemy and drove
them back to their works.
On the morning of the Goth, our
corps, (thc 5th) was ordered back to
Robinsons Tavern, on the old pike
and we had an awful time getting
there, for it commenced raining in the
morning and continued all day. On
the morning of the 30th about 1 A. M,
we marched within half mile of the
enemy where we remained all day.
Our artillery threw few shells into
their works, but the enemy did not
reply. | suppose they did not want to
let us know where they had their bat
tcrics planted.
About 1 o'clock \. NJ. on the morn
ing of the 1st of this month, orders
were sent to tho difl'ercut corps to be
ready to charge on the cncmy's works.
The order was given in our brigade of
regulars TO stack our knapsaclis, which
was done with willingness, though
some oftho bravo boys thought they
would not need them again. Two reg
imcnts of our brigade were left to sup
port q battery, the 14th and 17th.-
The rest were drawn up in line for the
charge, but thanks to divine Provi-
donce and the humanity ofour Gene
rails, the charge was not made for if
it had, there would not have been one
oftho ID, Sd, 1lth or 18th Z. S, Infan-
try left to tell tho tale for We would
have had to wado stream four feet
deep, and then pass through bushes
and over fallen trees which the enemy
had chopped down in front of their
works to prevent us from getting to
them, but our brave and noble Gene
raj Meade thinks too much of his men
and country to take them into q rebel
trap and have them slaughtered and
accomplish nothing. SO on the night
ofthe 3d we received orders to fall
back to the north side of the Rapidan.
Our corps crossed at Gcrmania Ford.
We marched all night, and it was so
cold that ifyou would stop moment
you would be chilled through. The
9th corps continued it's march to the
north side of tho Rappahannock, and
is now strung out from the river to
Manassas Junction to guard the road;
but guarding tho railroad is too good
a berth for the regulars, and am afraid
they won't letus stay here long. But
we don't care; we are ready for our
duty let it be what it may.
Well, as l have little time to myself
l must close with begging you to ox-
tend my best wishes to all my friends
and l remain Your dutiful son,
JOSEPH B. CROFT,
Go. 4 I'd Bait. 10Th L. S, |.