The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-01-07
Special Correspondence o. tho X. T. Tribsn.
From Gen. Burnside's Army-What
our Soldiers are Doing.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE PoTOMAo)
Friday, December 20, 1862
All is quiet here o-night and nothing
has occurred within the last tweaty four
hours worth telegraphing.
0rPosITE FREDSR1cKsBuRG, Dec. "a.
Whether or no the chief officers in
command of the Army of the Potomac
have received any instruction from the
still higher powers that "winter quar-
tiers j." is now TO be the order, none but
themselves can positively say certain it
10 that the soldiers are everywhere act
ing upon the superstition that the "Rebs"
are to be permit d peacefully to snjey
their occupation of the Fredericksburg
heights for some time yet. Every where
is heard the sound of axes cutting down
the sparse pine and cedar, aud still scant-
Ter oak trees, that make up the thin for
ests of this part of the Old Dominion
Every where goes constantly on the work
OF building log huts, Of putting up turf
ohimneys, OF ceiling up and roughly floor
ing the interior of huts, and Of erecting
stables for officers horses; in short, all
things show that the men have resolved
TO make themselves comfortable in their
present quarters for the rest of the winter
From headquarters, too, come floating
certain stras which are universally ac-
cepted as significant of the direction in
which the official wind is blowing. Many
officers having commands, and many
other staff officers indispensable in case
of a renewal Of active operations, are
said to have procured leaves of absen ce
for a length of time that will enable them
to spend the holidays among their friends
at home. For the soldier there is no
leave of absence, no visit with friends,
except such yicarious visiting as mag be
carried on in the guise Of CHEEKY, COM
forting letters, which are, let us hope,
more plenty at this time of year than any
other--for the soldier there is little Chris
mas cheer; "hsrd tack and "salt
junk" taste no different on Christmas
day than before or after, and if he can
get eanteen Of whisky to make an eve
ming toddy he is only too hAppy-le1 us
not be too hard on him, for even such a
celebration is better than none have,
however, seen pinned on one or two tents
a sprig of holly, in humble remembrance
Of the holiday which should draw all
men closer together, aud when loving
kindness should rule over all tho earth.
Glen. Hooksr's centre grand division,
with which my duties specially lie, are
encamped in the same position, or very
nearly So az it occupied before crossing
the river--the officers, like all the others,
those who can, getting leaves Of absence
the men, like all the others, those who
must, staying in camp and making them
selves as comfortable as possible for the
rest of the winter No movement and
no p esent signs of one.
The only thing that have observe d
that might possibly he construed into
an Indication Of q speedy advance ia
some direction was a simultaneous move
ment Of the pontoOn trains; but il sp-
peared TO be only in obedience TO an
order Of General Woodbury. 20 concen-
irate the trains, that they may be put in
perfect on der, and be ready the minute
they chance 20 be called loF.
There being in camp a rumor that J.
r. B stuart was about making another
"raid" by crossing the Rappahannock
somewhere near Deep Run, went out Of
my special dominioRs, invaded the ter
riiorY held by General Summers grand
division, and took a twenty mile ride mp
the river 10 the United States Ford, and
Whereabouts. found the foFds all guard
ed and the shores Of the river are vigil
lantly pioketed by some OF the regiments
Of General PleAsSntion's cavalry brigade,
which consists Of the 9th llliAOis, Sd In
diana, sth Pennsylvania, 9th regulars,
sth New York cavalry, aud Pennington's
battery OF horse artillery. The other
side ia just as vigilantly guarded by the
rebels, Hampiion's Legion doing the
duty.
Of course as the events Of the terrible
battle Of Fredericksburg are eanVassed,
hundreds Of instances come 10 light Of
individual gallmtry, daring, and coolness.
Col. Burnss +, giment Of the Irish Brig
AIDE went into the fight with about 700
men, and came out with $50 One after an
other the standard bearers were shot
down, until tjDenty men had been killed al
the duty, and the co!ors were torn 10 rags
by the storm Of Gre through which they
were soc CALAMITY bora. Seven differ
ent times did the Colonel himself seize
the oolors from the ground, aud hand them
20 tho nearest man. Aud at tho last, AZ
Ter even al this, the colors were lost, az.
ter 50 meB had fallen ia their defense