Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1863-12-30
LETTER FROM THE ARMY.
CAMP AMONG THE Pines, TWO MILES
SOUTH OF KELLY's FoRD, VA.
DECEMRER lTth. 1862.

/ CAMP AMONG THE PINES, TWO MILES
SOUTH OF KELLY's FoRD, VA.
DECEMBER 18th, 1863.
/ Messra Editors: Not knowing what day
the mail leaves for Salt River, just con-
cluded to write you a few lines this rainy
day for pastime. We have here a very
pretty camp plenty of wood and water,
and comfortable shanties to live in. Most
of the army are in the winter quarters
built by the Rebs during their short stay
along the Rappahannock. These shanties
are well built Of round logs and covered
with clapboards, like those of the first set
tiers OF our dear old county, having weight
poles to keep the wind from blowing
them Off They are all Of the same size
and plan and are arranged for certain
number Of men; where ours are Of all de
signs, shapes and capacities. A person
can easily distinguish between q Yankee
"shebang" and Rebel barrack ours are
mostly covered with shelter tents or gum
blankets, which turn the rain very well,
but are not susceptible Of retaining the
heat so as soon as the fire is out the house
is cold Most of the dwelling houses in
this noighborhood have 5oen torn down by
the officers and soldiers promiscuously to
arrange their quarters as comfortable aS
possible, Our camp is just on the bank Of
Mountain Run, and the Picola Mills, near
by, furnished good quantity Of lumber
4 for the same purpose. The timber here
consists Of yellow pine, linn, black walnut
and white oak. As usual, most of the
land has been at one time under cultiva-
tion, but has been permitted to grow up
wild again by the carelessness of the in
hobitants. The soil is very good here, be
ing from eight to sixteen inches deep, and
those portions of it under cultivation must
have been very productive. The central
depot from whence we get our supplies is
aL Brandy stouon, some eight miles from
the Rappahannock. | have not heard
from any of the Wild Robs that are said to
be roaming through this country in the
character Of bushwhackers, or gucrillas,
since have returned to camp. found
the boys all well when got back, and
found about six hundred substitutes and
conscripts in our regiment, which swells
our ranks to almost the regulation mum
Der but am sorry 10 see so much antip-
athy and prejudice existing between them
and the old boys s-howeyer that will wear
oTin course OF time. l just got here IN
time to bid our old Captain farewell He
, has resigned, or was rather forced to leave
us, through physical disability. Not ey-
cry man makes as good an officer as he
did-he vas kind, humane and impartial
to his men, and trust Ike will live long to
enjoy the bliss of civil lifeas the reward of
having done his duty to his country and
his conscience. take this occasion to
bid him heartfelt adieu ns captrin of
Company L.
Mess.s Editors, when you make your
mail up to the boys who are now in the
salt business Just tell them their old friend
is with them in &wnpqtly-lke Abolition
lists are with the army-and heartily pities
them in their briny situation but at the
same time assure them that it is not much
worse to live in an atmosphere impreg-
mated with salt, than it is in land covered
with lice such as this sacred Virginia soil
is. Whether these "rrey clis" as the
boys call them, are n'ves, or imported
into the country 10y Abolition officers,
don't know but they ore here nevertho
less.
We have read and discussed the Presi-
dents Message, and concluded that he at
last has got up to the right point in regard
to peace--not from the terms proposed in
his proclamation, bit from, he mtlraton that
tioseCsrs not the only terms whict E,ightJc en-
tsrtained This looks well on his part. But
how is his practice on the subject 1t was
rumored in the army papers Il. C., Repub-
lican papors) that A. H. Stephens, with
five other commissioners, came to Fortress
Monroe under a flag Of truce, but our Ad-
minisiration would not receive them rs
commissioners, but as citizens, which con
dilion they would not accept Well, if |
remember rightly, last summer, during
the correspondence between Wood, of N.
York, and "Old Abe" the latter said he
had received no proposition of peaceful
character from the Confederate suthori-