Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-10-12
Extracts from Diary kept while in the Army
Of the Potomac review of Battles, Skirm-
ishes. Marches, &c. of the End Wis. Vols.
'HAPTER 1.

1 "
| of the Potomac review of Battles, Skirm-
ishes. Marches, &c. of the end Wis. Vols.
CHAPTER TX.
| Dec 23d.-March down near to Belle
| Plain Landing, for the purpose of building
| winter quarters miles
| We bui 4 huts about seven by ten feet
| of small pine logs, and use shelter tents
| for roofing warm them by fire places
ard chimneys built of sticks and mud.
| From our camp we have fine view of
the Potomac, covered with sail vessels and
steamers.
January 30, 1S63.-An anxious public
| at the North and ambitious politicians,
continue to clamor and censure the fail
| ures of the army of the Potomac so loud Y,
that it becomes necessary for General
Burnside to attempt winters campaign
and-to day we break camp, and march
UP the Rappahannock towards Banks
| Ford. In this march, the 2d Wisconsin
is guarding the trains. and do not halt till
near midnight-a cold wind blows from
| the northeast, with rain since sunset
We are all wet, and stop for the remain
der of the night, on barren ridge, with
out fire or shelter.
Jan 2l-Remain with the trains near
| Stoneman's Switch, on the Acquia Creek
and fredericksburg r. R.-fnd piece
of woods and pitch tents--it continues to
rain.
Jan 22d-March to q point on the Cat
| letts Road, about three miles above Fall
mouth, to join the brigade Weather
rainy-the mud deep, and the marching
| heavy-it soon becomes impracticable for
| teams-cassons and even pieces of artil-
| lery are mired down and have to be aban-
| doned in the mud, for q time. We find
| the army amassed before Banks Ford
and bivouac for the night
! Jan 23d-A Council of War is held
and {. majority Of the generals advising it,
the campaign is abandoned
| Jan 24-Return to our winter quarters
at Bel e Plain, having accomplished moth.
| ing but performed q most laborious march
| OF about 40 miles-oyer the barren hills
of Stafford County-and the campaign is
termed, Burnsides Expedition, stuck in
| the mud.
The results Of this campaign were very
| demora izing, and a general change of
commanders and re organization takes
place Burnside, Sumner and Franklin are
relieved from command, and Gen. Hooker
ordered to command the army, and the
grand divisions of the army broken up
into corps de armee.
February y, 1963.-Second and Sixth
| Wisconsin regiments, 60 by steamboat
down the Potomac on foraging expedi-
ton Cast anchor in Cone River, and
! disembark early on the morning of the
18th, march to and occupy Heathsvil e
County Seat of northumberland County
Virginia.
Return to the boat in Cone River, at
night Distance marched, 10 miles.
Feb 14-Gather from the neighboring
plantations large quantities of grain, hams
and bacon, and number of valuable
| horses, mules and wagons-a'so make
prisoners of several prominent secession
lists.
Feb. 1j.-After starting a detachment
of 81 men overland to Belle Pain with
the animals, which cannot be shipped,
we re-embarl1 and reach camp late at
night The detachment arrive safely in
camp on the 18th, after a journey of nearly
100 miles through the enemy's country
and have increased the booty IN animals
and wagons
March 25.-The routine of dull camp
life in winter quarters is again broken by
an expedition similar to the above. The
Second Wisconsin, under Colonel Fair
child entbarks on n steamboat and pro-
ceeds to the mouth Of the lower Machodoc
Creek, together with a detachment of
about twenty cavalry men, of Harris
Light" Our steamer is q small side wheel
and has in tow a barge and lighter
about daybreak Se cast anchor a few miles
from the creek Hagen, in the lower Mach
odoc, and as soon as it is light disembark
the cavalry and part of the regiment to
reconnoiter the country about; finding
no enemy, we commence to gather in grain
bacon, &c, from the plantations which
, have the greatest abundance. Early ir
the day we move up to Lees Creek, a few
| miles above, where we remain till oul
boats and barge5 are led with grain
bacon. horses, mules and wagons.
March ga small detachment is sem
overland to assist the cavalry in carrying
such horses and mu'es as cannot be ship
, ped. to camp This detachment is under
: the charge Of 1t. Col Kress, of Genera
| Wadsworths Staff A large portion o
| our booty is taken from the plantation o
t the Hon. vii oughly Newton, a membe
; of the confederate Congress. We arrive
2 in camp by 10 o'clock at night, and th'
detachment sent overland comes up al
: right few days later.
April 9, lS63.-Our corps is reviewed
I today by Gen. Hooker, President Lincoln
Sec Seward, Gen. Sickles, and severa
\ ladies OF note, among them the wives
a Gen. s, and Gen. Stoneman.
= April 14-ln accordance with Genera
Hooker's orders, we are supplied witt
b eight DAYS rations, to be borne by tn
= men on the march The load of a soldie
e new to be carried weighs about fift,
pounds voirdupois.
\ April % 2-Governor Solomon visits ou
{ camn-makes n short speech.
April 2S.-Break camp, and at moor
e form in the brigade line. 1t is raining
r March by White Oak Church, towards tn
e Rappahannock-who army moving
dent the Spring campaign is open. Blv
e ouac at night near Fitzhugh's Crosslni
/ of the Rappahannock Distance ! miles
s3g~ Gold is reported to be entirely ou
of the Richmond market Sheridan frs
victory sent it up to an unprecedente'
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