The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1864-01-28
Army of the Potomac.
CAMP FIRST MICHIGAN CAVALRY,
Stevensburg, Va, January 8th. 1864.


rennants-the can't see it" portion
as they are styled by the "V. V. d.
FPS" of that renowned and distin-
guished regiment, who now remain
here. You will doubtless have chroni-
cIed, long ere this will reach you,' the
arrival of the major portion of the
Regiment in Michigan, they having re-
enlisted and departed hence on Satur.
day the Cd ultimo. Of course it was a
gal ori-ous day for the old First, at
least that portion of it who were ''home.
ward bound" They were sadly disap-
pointed however, at not reaching home
in time for the holidays, as it was
promised they should by the "authori-
ties that be-" for they had built many
air castles : had speculated largely
upon the huge old times" they were
going to have, and upon the many con-
quests, tete, .ete's, and fine hand love
tits they were to enter into during
their thirty FIVE days of uDalloyed
pleasure" at home. Their thirty-fve
days" and the Imaginary urpreceden-
ted pleasure attached thereto, such as
dances, sleigh rides, sparkling Sun
day nights" love, rivalry and "social
bums," together with the "almighty
dollar" no doubt was the most potent
and powerful lever which moved our
brave boys to re-enlist. We do not
mean by this to question their patriot
ism. They have already proved that
beyond the cayil of doubt, by their
undannted bravery and courage during
nearly three years of active field service,
and upon many bloody battlefield
No Regiment perhaps, in the cavalry
branch of the service, has done more
hard fighting, and has acquitted itself
under all circumstances more honorably
and bravely than has the First Michi-
gan Cavalry. In the Brigade, in the
Division and in the Cavalry Corps it
stands, by common consent without a
peer. And the reputation which they
now enjoy for courage, daring fearless
and undaunted bravery is due mainly
to the men. With their strong right
arm and fearless hearts have they on
this imperishable renown. Not, how
ever, but what we have many brave and
excellent officers, but that we have had
some sneaks and towards no one will
deny. The latter class | am glad to
announce, have been pretty generally
"cleaned out" since the battle Of Get
tysburg, much TO the credit of the Reg
iment and those officers who bravely
fought in the front ranks.
There now remains here about eighty
men, representatives from the several
companies, who are employed in taking
care of the horses left behind by the
Regiment-allin charge of Lieutenant
Emmerson, Co. A. The weather is
cold, the ground hard frozen and COW
cred with about two inches of snow.
No movement of the army is antici-
pated, and our picket line along the
Rapidan remains in statu quo. The
rebels have strong picket line on the
opposite bank to prevent desertions
from their army, but Notwithstanding
their vigilance occasional squads reach
our lines to avail themselves of Father
Abraham's Proclamation of Amnes-
By the way, we expect our comrades
in arms, the boys of Co. en-" have
many, if not all of them, reached that
" heaven of ETHEREAL joy" that beau
tiful oasis" and are now perhaps at
this moment, (eveniDg) basking in the
sweet smiles of some beautiful gael,
breathing In their ear, with all the pas
siouate enthusiasm of a strong hearts
last love, the deep, undying devotion
which wells up and struggles for ennis
sion beneath that "uniform of blue"
for them. The fair maidens at their
sides are all attention, and trembling
lest through some strange fatality
through some unaccountable dispense
ton of human events-tbe pleasing re-
ality of their novel situations should be
transformed into a dream, they with
the hectic blush of I" unalloyed pleas
ure" and happiness radiating all over
their lovely countenance, yield up to
the veteran braves by their sides the
last, best love of their pure, guileless
hearts
The scenes which usually follow on
such interesting occasions, such as the
mutual pledging and plightiug of VOWS
the exchange of rings, &C., &C., are too
well known to make it necessary for
me to chronicle them here. We, ii. e.)
myself, Charley, Alb, Joe, Jack, and