The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1864-01-13
WHOLE NO. 378.
Letter from Virginia.
CuLpEpPER VILLAGE, Va, !
! December. % 1S63

| SVLPEPPER VILLAGE, va,
| December; 20, 1868.
/ Editors Times: Since my last letter the
Isl Army Corps has moved to this place in
support Of the Cavalry. We disliked lcav.
ing the comfortable Log Houses, scarcely
finished at Kelly's Ford, and come here to
build anew, perhaps with the same result
Since July last, this corps has been honor.
ed as the Reserve, yet II vas never without
its position on the front line, when before
the enemy, and of late, unfortunately = for
I'D has played rather conspicuous part in
mar ching and countermarching, especially
when all other corps were at rest. On the
latter we NAV h" oivan, ~ n .faelinc, nj lodi
ousv, II so we cannot help 1t, for It seems
as if it was the pride Of the powers-that-be
to keep the "Old Reynolds Corps" as some
term it, continually on the jump. Be
that as it may the lst Corps has changed
its base Of operations, and now figures in
the vicinity Of Culpepper, doing picket,
guard, and fatigue duties. Substantial log
houses are in the course of erection. In a
few days the boys will be comfortably situ-
ated, prepared for any emergency. In
marching, fighting or grumblins, they haze
no equal.
Twenty-Five thousand Of this army are
reported at Army Headquarters, as having
declared their willingness 10 re-enlist as
Veteran Volunteers" under General Or.
dsrs Nos. 19l and 237. The enlistments
are quite lively. The 7.h Regiment Wis
Vols. and 10th Ind. Vols. expect to start
for their respective states in few days,
three fourths Of each having signified their
willingness to re-enlist. The 9Th Wis.
Vols will doubtless follow. The I'd Wis
and the oath Michigan do not feel inclined,
though several Of the 81 Wis. have re en-
listadi but not enough to take the regiment
home. Three regiments Of the "Iron Brig.
ade"-6,h and 9TH Wis. and 10Th Ind
depart leaving the Cd alone. Alas,
what will not Uncle Sam do to get soldiers.
A Bait" one day, "Grab" the next. But
the old Brigade has stood tho storm almost
three years, and now a majority of its re-
mains re.enlst. If this does not speak we'll
for the rough and hardy Badgers, then use
my head for mallet. To say the least it
is pretty broad hint to the 5000 gentle
men, that doubtless they will not be slow
to take. All ye drafted can take warning.
This Iron Brigade" in one year Iar,ic.
ipated in nine battles, suffering a loss
from an aggregate of Three Thousand Five
Hundred fighting strength, of 455 killed
and 2o97 wounded. Th.se figures are Of.
ticial and can be relied on. In one battle
alone, that Of Gainesville, the four Regi.
nents. I'd, 9Th, ard 9TH Wis, and leth
Ind, suffered loss of l4s killed, and 625
wounded, while at Gettysburg these same
four Regiments lost 1872 killed and $50
wounded. Yet notwithstanding the severe
losses to the Brigade, and the rough time
generally, they readily accept new term
Of three years.
The city Of Culpepper is minus any
thing Of interest. A few families still re-
side there, e,otherwise the place is wholly des.
olated. There few very fair looking bull
dngs in the place, and there is evidence Of
its once having been busy little place, and
favorte resort tor the traveller. The caval
ry and Infantry are scattered about it.,
quartered in the vacant houses The Head
quarters, and Division Hospital, Commis
sary, and Quartermastcrs Departments, are
all in full blast in Culpepper. What few
residents there are left, show US dlapida
ted soldiers all the kindness possible, and
from appearances the writer hereof would
conclude tina: the staff officers are not slow
in taking advantage Of the opportunity
given item for dances, parties, &c. Nearly
every morning scme one of the fast young
blcods chronicles the good time had last
evening.
The cars run regularly between this
point and Alexandria, Occasionally Nose
by burns bridge or tears up few miles
Of track. Moseby is regular in paying his
respects to the Army Of the Potomac, and
the impression is rapidly gaining ground
that this wild, hazardous chieftan is some
thing more thrn the ordinary style Of men,
He comes and goes when he pleases, and
never fails to take with him quantity Of
supplies to the detrinent of this great ar
my.
In my last letter ! said l should be with
you in January. So shall if no unfortu-
nate accident happens. Then, oh, then
The fire has most gone out. ditto the
candle, which happily relieves me from
further trespassing upon your time.
G. II. 0.
Old Friends.