Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-12-24
From the Eifh REGIMENT.
Transfer from Shenandoah Army On Grdnfs
ertrsne left-1he Sizth Gorps-7Hs Potomac
y A,Tay-Inaportant Increment Expected.
Cnrresnnndenca or tha stata InnrnaI

y
/ extreme left--Ihe Sizth Gorps-7hs Potomac
Il A,7ay-Inaportant Increment Expected
Correspondence OF the State Journal.
CAMP OF 5TH REG. WIS. Vols,
NEAR WELDON r. r., Dec. 81
Since writing last our whereabouts has
been greatly changed. We are no longer in
the beautiful valley of the Shenandoah
beautiful Notwithstanding the desolating infu-
ence of war.
Our division, the list of the 9th corps,
broke camp on the morning of December LIST
and reached our present camp on the morn
ing of December 9Th, making the journeyso
perhaps two hundred miles in three days and
three nights, and without losing or having
seriously injured by accident single man.
We find ourselves in the immediate front of
Grants army and. on the extreme left. Our
whole corps is to occupy this position, al
though only part has as yet arrived.
We are now on another battle-ground, that
OF August 18th. Very many brave men have
here given up all for liberty and country. 1t
is to this point the rebels look with greatest
interest, because here their communications
are most menaced There is perhaps no DO
sition in Grants army in which there has
been harder fighting, or which promises
harder fighting in the future, than this. Our
corps, as you have seen often stated, is en-
phatieally a fighting corps not one in the
in the army stands higher. The rebels COM
plain that they meet US everywhere. To
them the badge of the red cross is ever a
great terror, and well it may be, for nearly
everywhere this summer have we met them
in deadly strife. Our corps fought them on
this same ground last spring. They then left
for Washington just in time to engage in
battle upon arriving, before single half day
should 60 by, and to save the city. Thence
they were sent to "the valley" where they
bore a glorious part in the fercely fought
battles of Winchester, Fishers Hill and &C.
dar Greek, at which last two named places
they saved the day. Now we are here again.
and here for hard work. Many suppose that
very soon we are to participate in a grand at
tempt to turn the rebel flank, and take the
Southside Railroad. 1t may be, inasmuch as
Buffers canal is ready for use, or nearly so,
that simultaneous attack will be made by
our two wings. But not knowing 1.-THE of
the elements that enter in to the great prob
lem here being worked out, one can scarcely
give an intelligent guess as to army move
ments.
Our advance pickets are about mile from
Us, face to face with rebel pickets, they being
within a stones throw of each other. They
are said to be on the best possible terms with
each other. At other points, not far distant,
we have no pickets, as the advanced works
and lines of battle are within stones throw
of each other.
The weather here is delightful-much the
same as later May or early June in Wiscon-
sin. The roads are dry, even dusty, and ev-
erything of this nature is propitious. The
month of December is fraught with momen-
tous interest to US, as to army movements, if
the weather continues as now. Everything
seems to Indicate that Gen. Grant does not
mean simply to take Richmond, but to bag
Lees army, a la Vicksburg. And this is
what we all want done, let it cost what it may;
and we want it done soon-ere this campaign
closes.
One of our Generals of note is reported to
have been much elated by the arrival of our
Corps, and to have exclaimed, 81 see no rea-
son now why we may not lick the devils out
of their boots" | am led to believe that the
spirit of the army is much as it was when en-
tering upon the spring campaign. We have
settled down into the stern anticipation that
there is much hard work before us in the i'm
mediate future, and the no less stern and in
flexible resolve that we shall accomplish it,
and do it nobly. The country may expect
great things of the Army of the Potomac, and
expect them soon.
B. G. HAMMOND,
GhanIain nth Wisconsin