New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-01-27
The Condition the Soldiers Returned in
Indications Of SnGcrin.. and Exposure
The soIdicrs' Opinion of the Increment
The Efforts Made TO Set Forward.

The soldicrr' opinioo OF the Movement
Thc Efforts Wade TO Set Forward.
/ from Our special CorresE ondent
! LryT GHAND Division, Jan o, l86l
! Gen. Franklins army is mostly back IN the quar-
tiers which were left when the advance was com
menced Generally the soldiers marched back with
better animation and vigor than could have been
looked for after their terrible exposure 10 the recent
storm.
But to-dsy the roads and fields are full Of strag-
gers, showing that the T1rn and mud bad made
many Of them unable or ndIslosed TO keep their
places in the ranks. Squads of sodiers 10 be met
in every direcnon sitting weared by the roadside,
or plodding heavily along under the weight Of then
knapsacks through the heavy tenacious mud. IL
mauy faces are unmstakatlc marks OF the suffering
aud exposure TO which they have becu subjected.
Many one is afflicted with fever and colds IN conse-
queuce OF tie uniayorable weather which attended
tie recen, movement and having lett their regi
ucuts from inability 20 keep up IN the march, have
suffered from Wani Of food, want Of care, and want
OF everything which & noldier experience who fail.
into The desplsed category Of strheglers.
VI iih the army, and with The inhabitants, soldier
who 10 away from his place in the ranks j. carsed
al once among the shIIks who drop behind 20 steal
and plunder from The people. Little sympathy II
extended TO those who may become enicebed by
long roads and heavy burdens, or slckened OY tho
hardships ana prvatiOns, which nature Ii unable to
Withstand. Such-and / have many OF them
to-dsy-ask as the greatest benefacton, the priyil
eye OF remaining Ui night M "a stable With tho
horses, ana are refused or liece OF " soft bread
which IL regarded az the greatest OF luXures, and
they axe unable 10 obtain 1t, not having been pad IN
III sIX months
met soldier to night sitting upon log by the
waysidc with 20 much. suffering in lii cOunteaauce
t.aL 10 were impossible not TO regard him. Feeling
HE pulse lac proved TO be in hi h fever. lie wa
only half mile from Ms regiment, but was Gnab q
70 axe auoiher sep. He wished TO send word 10
his captain oil his condition. lie nn old man
with gray Bair ana beard, and spoke OF u wife Gnc
SIX children at home lie sad that this WAC hrs las;
march lie came to DC soldier, be said, but nc
was too old now, and MS Constitution TOO mucA
broken down.
The uulversal testimony Of the straggleEs Is OF
their disgust with the present aspect OF tnIngs. IT,
be " stack ~ the mad' at the beginning Oi grand
effort, and 10 have been several days III the nidHi
Of the scveTest and most unpleasant scenes OF q
.oldiei's experience has excited all kinds OF com
plaint and inuimurinys. | have never heard 70
much dissatisfaction expressed before Us / have
to-day.
A disposition il manifested in many quarters "a
attribute the failure OF the recent movement, not ~
the unfayOrable weather and the mud, but 10 the
want Of hearty cooperation among the officers.
Rivalry aud jealousy, rs NJ tie battle OF Dec. is,
caused the failure this occasion also. So ray
many whose opinions have Il WIDE influence IN Me
army.
Bat. whatever lack Of enthusiastic cooperation
there NAV have been in any quarter, It vii be
difficult Tor any who SAW the condition OF the roads,
and twenty horses iugging 40 single cannon, and
/ 10 men al one p0ntOOn wagon, ana the mud-holss
/ filled with dead and wOrn-Out animals, 10 believe
| that arytiiug could have been accomplished, with
the greaicet pos6be GOODWILL and eXorion OF every
one. Seyeriyfvc dead horses were counted TO-
day in the sLor; space Of three miles, between the
ford and Beriah Church. Dead horses are 30
abundant that Il man to-day was eudeayoiibB TO
contract for hOfses' tails and names.
The pontoon boats are being eHtrcated as rapidly
az possible from the mud into which they had sunk.
| a portion Of tne Engineer Corps was this morning
sent ont with their arms, and rAtons for three daHs
10 a-sist IN getting the boatH again into better posi-
tlon. The Engineer Corps have the most labonou4
OF work and seldom idle. For two days and
nights of the last movement the only rest they bad
upon the muddy earth under their boats, and OF
this but a little. This department get an immense
amount Of exposure and perform untold labors Lut
receive little glory or credit for it.
/ Since the storm the roads have rapidly improved
with two days of Intermittent sunshine. The
weather has been like Spring, bat not yet settled or
reliable. Tie Virginia farmers are suspicious OF II.
and reckon shall have falling weather shortly.
The army is generally protected against the rains
which wa must now expect. During their recent
absence the roofs, constructed from their tents be-
IInS taken with then the rains considerably dam
! hged Iheir mud and log sbanbes. The roofs are
again restored however, and fires built III the fire.
places, and tie huts dried for their occupants.
BARTLETT