Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1863-01-14
LETTER FROM THE ARMY.
CAMP NEAR FALMOUTH, Va,
Dec. %. 1862,


rolled away upon the swift wings of wal
and time, since last dropped you line
But days, months and years are short in
the army, and although 80 are not fire.
quently blest with the light Of a counte.
nance fresh from the shades of Clearfield,
or Centre, yet we cherish their memories,
and still hope that ere the winter months
will have fully departed, and the time OF
spring birds. leaves and flowers, will have
returned to light up TIE deep old forest
halls near our native hearth, some Of our
coat tails will he seen waving in the breeze
on Graham's Corner. r. II, Shaw, and
myself, have the promise Of 80 days this
side Of Jordan. Pray for US, you that live
in the land where Sundays are not forgot
ten ana perhaps the hearts Of the militN
ary gods may be impressed, and they grant
us the pass. Some of the Clearfeld boys
are still with US in good health, and 9th
ers have passed away by death and disa-
blity to serve longer. James NJ. Jordan,
of Lawrence township, died in camp on
the 10Th December, Of typhoid fever, with
gangrene og the lower extremities. His
brother was with him at the time, and re-
ports his death as peaceful and serene
Jim was good soldier, and was buried
with the honcrs Of war. He rests on re
bel soil, and dreams Of wars no more.
wish we had some better news to tell
you but the gods Of war seem not 10
smile upon US, and the smoke of rebel
camp fires Oil the other side of the Rap
pahannock reveal not the road clear to
Richmond. Surely, surely somebody has been
hurt and something IS Wrong. We have been
repulsed again. But we are not discoura-
ged. This everlasting Yankey army is a
big thing. and cant be held still long
and il wo can only coax the rebels to cross
the river after US wo can pay them back
with compound interest. Tue rascals claim
10 have driven us, but It's not so. | have
seen all the fighting in Virginia, except
that on the Peninsula, and this last was
the very best conducted retreat o: any
ever saw There was no haste, no jump
ing into the river, no panic. Even the
Doctors, who are celebrated for their
c-caution, were as cool under the fire
ofrcbel shells as Jaaer Cambol would be
at a shooting match, or Your own stoical
Wood in Drt.ng a pension certificate We
intend to get the rebels in the pit the next
time aud make them dance o cotillion 10
the tuue Of lie Unicn, Wont some of the
Coward to Richmond" friends come dow
and give us IIi.?
The two old Clearheld companies
and k are pretty well played out. Come,
roll us out a score or two of the patriots
from the pine regions, and we will all
make them welcome. 1t is orly fifty miles
from here 10 Richmond, and if the pom
toons are all ready, we intend TO 60
straight through in two day. 1t won't be
a hard march Tor a raftsman, So we shall !
expect you confidently. n B.-If you
can't come yourselves, send some of the
bhoys. Start them with pocket full of
postage stamps, and FIVE days dried veni'
son, and we will furnish the knapsacks,
canteens, dc, for the talauce of the march;
and if we have good luck, and don't have
too many Hills and StoneoalLs TO climb, we
will all take a Union dinner in the Old
Domcion Hotel on the 10th of January.
But enough of this: | am afraid you
will think have lost all common sense,
and gone to the leeward of reason.
would tell you something about the great
battle of Fredericksburg, but it is not
worth while. can't do the subject jus
tice, aud of course you know all about it,
or if you don't, it's not my fsult-for
printers are expected to know everything.
Our brigade did not suffer severely in the
fsht-onIy l32 in killed. wounded eud
missing. This extraordinary escape is due
to the almost ulatchless military skill of
Gen. Carroll. lie is a real u. s. A. officer.
and among the very best in the service,
and should wear two stars. That is my
opinion. 1t is cheap, of course, but good
as long as Congress don't object to it. One
soldier from Clearfeld is wounded. His
name is z. Gelnett, of company X. He
will soon recover.
All the original field, line and staff of
the o.d Eighiy-Fourth P. ", are gone,
but Quartermaster Kephart and myself
The rest have been killed, slckened and
died, or played out in our present excel>
!ent Colonel, S. NJ. Bowman, weyet cher
ish the name of our first gallant and true
bearted Colonel, w. G. Muir ny, fresh and
uniading in the hesrts of all who knew
him.
The weather is yery mild aid pleasant
here, and W" have hard crackers and
.hiskes e-plenty here. Think of us whom