Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1863-02-14
Army Correspondence
From Tie "Army Of tie Tosomac."
CAMP NEAR BELLE PLAINS, Va.)
January 81, 1868. {
DEAR DEMOCRAT =

CAMP NEAR BELLE PLAINS, Va.)
January 81, 1868.
DEAR DEMoCRAT:-
Since last | wrote you,
the Army Of the Potomac has been on a
move. On the II inst, an address was
issued to the troops by Gen. Burnsides,
stating, that he again called on his army
10 face the Rebs in battle. So on the 18th,
wo took up our line Of march and pro-
ceeded to the bluffs of the Rappahannock,
three or four miles to the left Of Falmouth.
During the entire march, the rain de-
scended, and often in torrents, making the
roads almost impossible for .arillery, and
some places knee-deep to the infantry -
On the morning of the 10th orders were
received, couniermanding the onward move
aud rotarn to our old camps. The orders
were received with great enthusiasm by
the men, and cheerfully and willing obey
ed. So at present, this largo army re-
mains idle.
This evening on dress. parade, we re-
ceivcd Intelligence of the change OF com. L.
manders. BURNsIDEs at his Mtrd request,
has been relieved of his command Gen.
, HOOKER taking The reins. Gen. Frank
in OF the left and Gen. Sumner of the righr
wings, are also relieved, having, as | un
derstund, Immediately after the fight at
fredericksburg, rendered their uncondi
tional designations to the Secretary of War.
l he successors of Franklin aud Sumner,
are to lis, as yet, unknown.
How the government, or rather this
Administration, intend to continue this
war, for the purpose of which the head
has pre- claimed, is MYSTERY yet to be solv'
ed.
/ The soldiers are disheartened ,-sadness
and dissatisfaction appears visible on tho
counteuance of the Army of the Poto-
mae" Why all this ? The cause is ap.
parent to the lea t observer no conf
drnce in the Administration, no trust in
the Commander,n-ch chief, no hope to be
looked for in the Secretary Of War,-no
confidence of safety in the commanders
of our rces, and last but not least cause
tor the decentralization Of the army, is the
III heard experiment of emancipatiug mil
iloAs OF negroes
/ Many officers of my acquaintance have
been cndeavoring for weeks to get their
designations accepted, but so Tar, have been
unsuccessful. 1t appears more difficulty
for officers to get cut OF service than ell
listed men. | suppose there are impor-
tant reasons for not accepting officers res
ignations.
lis with sadness that write thus, in
reference to M'Clellan's once proud, cheer
ful aud happy army. But truth must pre-
vail honor and right predominate, or all
is lost. Give this powerful body OF men ,
the assurance that they are fighting for
the preservation Of our old Union, the Con
stitutinn OF our Fathers, and not for the
freedom of negroes, and happier, more
brave and cheerful army never was reared
Oh! that STIR Spu~sAd B~"nr, would
wave in triumph, wherever our leaders
would bid US 60. There would be no
more compulsions, no more desertons, no
sacrifice too great in encounterlng the foe.
O;2gura, would be word of cheer and
consolation -Richmond our happy des-
tinatiOn.
We have received the sad intelligence
. in camp, OF the death Of another Colum-
E bia county volunteer. ISAIAH Fox, OF
Company /, l3Gth Regiment, died in the
Military Hospital, in the city of Rich
. mond, Ia. on the 18th of January, from
wounds received at the battle OF freder-
cksburg Isaiah's death, makes the sec
ond ,oss in our small squad Of Coumbia
. volunteers, DO ohm p. Ewes being the first
, who sacrificed his life upon his country
: alter Both were brave generous and no
= bic.
l 1t is late at night, and must close
. which do, by promising to write soor
; again.
t Ever yours ,,