North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1863-05-13
Letter from the I32nd.
CAMP NEAR FALMOUTH, }
AnrIl 26th. 1863.

L
April Goth, 1868.
FRIEND-We have been under ''march-
ing orders for the past two weeks now, with
five days rations in knapsacks and three in
hayersacks, expecting that each succeeding
day would be our last in this camp; but,
from some unforeseen circumstance. we have
not yet been disturbed, and almost begin to
hope that the time for our advance move
ment will not arrive until we are out of ser
vice. | say hope, because the prospect Of
going into an engagement, just on the eve If
the expiration of our time of enlistment,
when, in Imagination, we can almos: feel the
clasp Of the hand we love most within our
own, is anything but pleasant and, yet,
should duty call US, | trust that the no nor
and good-nanc Of our regiment will suffer no
disparagement
The weather, during the past week, may
have had much to do with the delay, but
yesterday and to-day have been as pleasant
as heart could wish, and should such wealth
er continue for Yet few days, bad roads
and bad weather will scarcely be lcgiti-
mate excuse for continued inactivity | think
that HoUker's plan Of operations includes a
vigorous and weIl-supported flank movement
which, if successful, may resG 1t in something
OF advantage to the army and the country.
Whether Hooker is exactly the man to car
ry out all the details in an affair of such mag
| ntude as the offensive movements of this
army must necessarily be, is more than |.
am prepared to say; but the men seem to
have confidence In his ability, and are will
! ing to give him the benefit OF fair trial. A
! few weeks, and it may be a few days, will
undoubtedly prove his capacity or ncapacity.
| | will not attempt to write you the news
! from the army, because We generally get all
that is really Of any moment from the daily
newspapers and, of course, you have bet
! ter or equal opportunities for getting it
The impressions we form from events trans
| pIring around Us, from the general tenor Of
orders &C., is quite another matter, but opin
Ions formed from these impressions are, after
all, merely speculative, and probably of little
real consequence. Thus Judging that you
would prefer little Of the per son'el OF our
company, am hot disposed to disappoint
! your preference.
"Our Bogus"-the same Bogus Billings"
who, in his own peculiar way, figured SO
| prominently in the ranks of our company at
Antetam and Fredercksb sburg, has once more
been the subject Of frequent mention about
camp. Like his last recorded adventure, the
present one happened on picket and with the
officer of the day" Bogus" is not by
any means one of your fancy soldiers. On
the contrary, his ideas of a soldiers duty are
all practical and have direct reference to
the use of means, in his opinion,
best adapted to the settlement o:
the difficulties now unhappily dividing the
country. According to his no tions, drill,
discipline, parades, reviews, inspections,
guard-mourting and Officers of the day."
are all part of prcmcditated system of hum
bug, instituted for the special purpose of
annoying without cause or reason the patri-
otic volunteers who came into the army to
fight, and not to be made the puppets of a
parade, or the tame actors in the play-sol-
der business Of mounting guard. cannot
say. of verify, that Boguss" has horror
of guard duty, but am quite certain that it
has no place of honorable distinction in his
mind-consequently according to the mood
that happens to be upon him, he is either
indfferently careless, or facetiously rigid in
his practice of discipline, upon such occas-
ions.
Not many days since, Bogus" happened
on our @out-pos down near the Lacy
House." and in front of Fredericksburg
His turn of post-duty came on at midnight,
at aboutiwhich hour it is usual for the " off
Ger of the day. to go" the rounds" for the
purpose of seeing that all is quiet along the
lines, and that the guards are doing their du
ty. The early part of the evening had been
beautiful, but dusky clouds of vaper arose
from the bosom Of the stream and now hung