New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-01-24
Interference with the Plans Of the Army by
n Severe storm-A Hnit-StrugEiing
with the EIcrnents-Eow the ARTILLERY
aud ponioons were Moved-Deseription
Of the Grounds 10 be Trayersed.
BANKS FoRD OF TuR RiPPABAsHocg,
Six MILES ABOVE FALMOUTH, Jan. p 1903.
o on speei.l C0TTespondent-

SIX MILES ABOVE FALMOUTH, Jan. o. 1865
II viii Do difficult 10 convey the full and correct
impression of the difficulties and uncertainties which
It present surround the army now gathered about
this locality. The anxiety OF the people at home
eau be hardly greater than has been occasioned in
the army by the very unfortunate interference Will
our plans which the severity Of the weather has oc-
casionsd. For more than twenty-four hour right
upon the commencement Of our movement, when
every hour of delay was the sacrifice Of life and the
risk Of success s,orm Of the greatest severity has
blocked ef4ctually our progress and rendered the
final issue uncertain. The storm ID still raging,
and the prospects Of its terminating are entirely ill.,
definite The wind is bowling, the rain peltng. the
cold freezing and tho army exposed to it all with
ont shelter or protection. 1t is Of the severest
nights Of year. Few ct home would venture out
in the storm without some pressing necessity. Yet
the army has been for that twenty-four hours
drenched in it, pierced by it, and almost frozen in It,
Military operations have halted. We have been
struggling against the elements with might and
man, yet the progress is hardly percePtible. The
coil has melted under the rain like wax. Horses
hoofs slump into it, and they draw their feet Out Of
il VITA groan and an evident exhaustion OF strength
ne NltblE u luc W VIZ '"-~"t
and the infantry must be called into Ieqoisii)n to
lift The wagons out Of tie mud hoes In the dark
ness Of the night the greatest difficulty bas been ex-
perienced in finding tic way TO their designated posi-
tons Batteries have turned of upon wrong roads,
and IN place Of being al in position By da!light,
few have no. found their destined positions after
twenty-four hours. BY the greatost oSort, most OF
the artillery bad been placed in position by noon
In evidence Of the effort which required, twenty
hoises were seen fastened to a sin8e gun--a ~
pound Napoleon.
The ponroou train was most seriously affected by
the storm. When tie bridges ought all TO have been
completed, many Of the boats were scattered upon II
score Of roads in ali directions fast in the mud or
LOST IL tie labyrinth Of roads with which the country
ID nesected A remarkably confused siate 81 M S'
pery2jed the pontoon train. The horses, exh'nS"d
were unable TO move the wagons, and detal! Of
three regiments Of infantry was made to help them
out Of their situation. These regiments were the
I4lst, SD, and 1lith Pennsylvania. Long ropes
were fastened to tho wagons, aud nifty men hoia Oh
each, pulled them through The mire TO their debina'
ton. They worked Justify and cheeriully, and tue
bach bone OF tho army proved It's value Tor dra'a No
we'll US fighting. The tuggng Of the faeged-out
horses through the mud and storm with artillery and
ponoon wagons, and the efforts Of the men to ex'ri
cate them, with their shoulders TO the wheels or
pulling at Il rope, made .he activity Of the night fu
of interest and long TO be remembered by those who
witnessed il or participated in it.
The continuation Of the storm renders it most un-
certain as 10 when the crossing will be commenced,
JUDGED an entire abandonment Of the present effort
moy be rendered necessary. Enough OF the pom
toons have now arrived for the construction Of part
of Ito bridges, and the artillery is sufficiently ready
for the effort. Yet the delay has been so long con-
tuoed that tho enemy have probably become some
what aware Of our intentions. and the roads upon
tue steep hills Of the other Sids Of tho river are IN