The New York herald., 1863-01-26
Our Firth Army Corps Correspondence.

N =
RApPAuAS~ TX, Jan. %, 1888.
Stuck ia tie Mud Const-Prospecis Of victsryBmtf
ing Rodd,--Efst on tho Army-oGcers and Men Boh
Share Alike ae M,sri>s Of the Present Rotions, dc
We OF the Fifth army corps still stuck here In the
mud but trying TO work way out Of II as fast
possible. Mud is old enemy Of peninsula memory
and attacking him In the old peninsula style, with
promise Of speedy victory Our weapons OF attack are
the axe thc shovel the pick pine logs. At daylight
this morning nearly the whole available force was con-
stitutcd grand detail to lay corduroy roads and
right merrily tho themselves work to
plsh thc assgned task ami they working with
right merry vgor, and rapid crowns their labor
II is exciting well as animated spectacle subms
sivcy the woods bow their heads beneath the sturdy
strokes o the axcmen, deep excavations and dod
follow the patti % the picks and shovcs bridges
Spring INTO being IL under the touch Of tasmanc
wand and crownng all roods OF easy travelled road
II the proerct OF the same magic influence, take the
place of I'M Assable mud. As understand Il, corduroy
roads have been ordered be built tho whole distance
from old camping ground to the Rappahannosk, u
being necessary accomplish the double purposes
OF bringing supplies US and making further advance
An Of the depth Of the mud may be gathered from
the fact that bat two batteries Of this csrpstapan
Hazlcu's Fiuh United States artillery and Captain
waiermsn's First Rhode Island-have been got posi-
tion the river and these were only got there BY
attaching sixteen horses to each piece, and hundred
men, who, with ropes aided in drawing them along The
poutoons am Informed han mile this eide OF the
river, the wagons bearing them axle deep in the mud.
The mud hore IN tact outpeninsuss the peninsula Cot
Vincent, commanding the Third brigade Of Grfins
division, informed that he actually mule 50
deeply embedded in the mud that only the tips OF his
visible. The soil Ia of that spongy porous
character that Il is easily made into mud. All the
inhabitants unite in saying however that the present rs
but faint circumstance OF what the roads alter
visitation o and cssenng Of tho frost IN the
ground.
who shall not say tha, the prospects for
carrying the projected programme OF the pre-
sent movomsnt 10 successful termination do not
look go3mys cheerfuly oboyed The order send.
Ing them here, they will cheerfuly obey any prder
sending thom anywhere 1t cannot be expected 10
conquer npossbhitic The golden opportunity OF
advance movement IN tho part weeks u sunshine and
almost summer warmth and good roads was not soEod
should have been Tho fanlt lies sone~hcre, bat
not with the army, AMI the sins Of omission q our
army directors the past cannot be compensated by
sins Of commission Toface the army right about
g. back 10 our late quarters, wherever Il deemed
practicable TO pass the balance of tie wiper aud
when advance Is possible, no, imrossIbe, as nov,
again move on the enemy, satisfied from
tons With multItsdcs G officers from generals down,
would have no bad moral effect upon tho army bu;
greatly the reverse saeh step would revive corn
denco, sprt, patriotism courage would hppos
aud Increased determination in the future would change
army from dsspondcnt. dispri,ed one 70
enthusiastic one--an enthusiasm which terr0ts
Of cannon Ian bullet or payonet could
iauut,--a enthusiasm as unayhg as tae
immortality OF the brilliant Victories tbat 81 and would
be achieved II is ids 70 say iat the enemy ths
war Of The elements 70 combat - wc lave Az
Officer told me to-day that twcvo days ago he VI
formed u the present movement. The enemy have
doubtless known u for ten days AMI they poa,on
accordingly, ,a9atng'our advance aud earnestly hoping
for Il ami well they may wait and hope. r. cro.x tho
would be Ffedericssburg enacted 0yer agstn.
The enemy could % eyerI Ihins se cogia ~ potAyH