Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1863-05-27
ARMY CoRREsP oNDENCE.
BACK AGAIN AT THE OLD CAMr.
May 7th, 1868.

hardly as many hours--but tho fact OF us
having marching orders now, and not be,
ing in camp long enough 10 recruit our
wasted energies, ] must merely stale that
we heard much and saw but little and
are perfectly satisfied that rebels fight
with terrible desperation for a cause which
they orsider as pure and holy as that for
which our ancestors fought the naughty
Briton in the great American Revolution
Of former days
We left our camp on the 2Sth ultimo,
and returned 10 it about noon to-day, and
are now to take up our line of march
again at o'clock this evening. We had
hard and tircsome march from below
fredericksburg to the pontoon crossing
on the right wing of this army, distance
o( abont twenty miles with heavy knap>
eacks hot weather and sandy roads. We
20. there and got our position assigned US
t.. 8 o'clock on Sunday morning the 3rd
inst. and there waited for daylight to
o1ale 30 Inv hall would open at last it
came, and with il came the heavy boom
Vt cannon and the terrific crash of mus
katry. Such desperate lighting has not
bc,n surpassod 10 any ofthe battles of this
wlr, 50 Oh soldiers tell US. would try
a description Of it il | had the power TO
make even 4 faint resemblance 10 the
terrifying sc6ne. We laid on the field on
the night Of the battle, and the corps next
to us was on gagged. The firing occasional
Is would slacken and tho artillery would
entirely cease we would then soon near
the terrible and shrill cheer of the charg-
ing party as they advanced on the rifle
puts of their opponents. when they cane
within short range such volleys Of mus
kerry, grape aud canister rs swept across
that field was enough to make the heart Of
The 6rayest brave beat quick with excite>
ment In this terrible suspense we were
compelled TO lay for the whole Of that
memorable day, expecting every moment
TO be led up 10 the relief of our dying
comrades. But that day and the one
following, and the next wore away and
the elements seemed To decide the con
test by rendering the road impossible for
our trains. We therefore eft our position
nj . o'clock ON the morning Of tho 9th,
aud marched nith a silent quicksiep to-
svsrd thc r;ver. where 10 arrived n little
after daylight. There was host of peos.
,lr thcro aud arrtyiDg Shen We got there,
J, looked as though We might be able 10
compete with any army that was ever
raised, aud recorded in history But as
the Spartan band of three hundred check
ed the progress of the millions under XerS
Xes, SO did the rebels check the progress
OF the iuvinci5le Hooker. Well, We hur>
red on, through the rain and mud, slid
ing, plungmg and wadng through vil.-I
lainous compound of mud and water, till
nany Of tho bows sank down exhausted by
,be roadside still we toied on till late at
night amidst most terrific thunderstorm,
We lost our way and sought protection
from the drenching rain by scattering
through the woods and seeking deserted
CAMPS tor houses were out ofthe ques
ion-a!I the beautiful farms and nice
houses hat adorned the banks Of the Rap
pahannock last year are consumed or des
troyed by Tho ruthless hand of the warrior.
| got in an old brigade headquarters and
found plenty Of good wood. where we
built fire and dried ourselves AS best we
could
Ben was nearly gone up, he could hard.
" walk and he said if had not found
some quarters for us he would have died.
Our Captain too, was very weak, and had
been 30 during the whole march, but still!
he crswled along. But there is no use TO
name individuals, for we all suffered
tnueh and feel to day as though We we're
played out soldiers" But what makes
this thing look worse is tho fact that there
was no use in doing it, for we might as
we'll have stayed along the road. as to have
tried to march back here to our old camp
But field officers know but little what the
private soldier endures while carrying his
knapsack, hat is, his whole available
property house. wardrobe and kitchen
furniture: and they seem to care rs little
as they know. circumstance illusira
tive OF the first mentioned fact transpired
while the trains were recrossing the ponS
toOns the rain was falling in torrents
and the night was dark and cold when
the rains first began crossing a few sol-
dlers We're shiyerIug on the bank of the /
river, where there was no fire 10 be had
they asked the officer in charge of the |
pontoon 10 let them over tho river 10 get |
TO some fres IN the woods on this side that
had been built by ,he engiaeer corps. -
But he would not ,et them cross vet he
Immediately after called for the contra,
pands 90 come forward and oross in front
OF the wagons. Some soldiers attempted
was ordered to bayonet the frs: one that
attempted to cross. Ben says when he
ssw that be cursed the war and It's ,up
por.ers. and would have damned them 10
the lowest regions it his prayers could have
been answered.
Ben has not much respect for what are
here called superior officers. He looks
on man who is less'inielligent and hu.
inano than himselfas being his inferior, no
matter what his rank may be and last
night, after we got our fire built lieuten.
ant OF the I5Oth cane up 10 warm and
stay With us 40 when we wanted 10 lay
acme brush down on the wet ground To
.Ay on. SO as TO get some sleep, the lieu-
tenant was sitting where we wished to
make our bed, Be- told him to get up, he
seemed TO hesitate, but Ben told him TO
g'', Tor hat was our fire :" he then obey
90 out seemed 70 think that Ben was ra.
ther grut. So ;his morning while / was
ee,Grg some coffee, the officer ard got
talking politics and disctjq.irc Tho lo,s ,