The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1864-01-01
ARMY CORRESPONDENCE,
2D BRIGADE, ID DIVISION, }
ARMY or THE Por0MAc, Va,
DEC. 10. 1859. \

Perhaps few lines from this portion o.
the world may not come am,ss, and the scrbb
ling of them will serve to while away an houl
of soldiers idle time Thanksgiving Dav
which is now past, in the Old Dominion. die
not remind US msch Of thatday in the keystone
State, though il may have stirred in the hearts
OF the sons of Pennsylvania, many memore;
of the fondly cherished past. We hope that
the citizens of our native state, did not fail TO
observe the day in their good old style, and tia;
many prayers were offered for the success o!
our armies and navies, and the welfare of our
country. On the morning of Thanksgiving
Day, Nov. 2oth) beneath bright sun and
| clear sky, the army of the Potomac planted
their banners on the southern banks of the Ran
idan. This division (Gregg's) crossed the river
at Ely's Ford, without meeting any force of
the enemy, save half dozen of pickets. and
marched to Culpeper Ford to guard the road
for the fifth army corps, which was crossing at
that place. The same night we marched near.
ly to Spottsylvania Court House, and ON tho
morning of the 9th advanced on the Dlank
road leading to Orange Court House, where the
division met tho advance Of the enemy, who
were compelled to retire until the cavalry he.
came engaged with A. P. ili!rs division. when
they were relieved by tho fifth corps, and the
fight for the day ended. The cavalry fouobt
dismounsed. On Sunday, the 10Th, noon. while
the commitsaries were quietly issuing rations.
we were attacked in the rear by lIampton's le-
glon OF rebel cavalry, accompanied with ar,il
ery, in strong force. After driving in the pick
cts OF the Sd Penn'a and lst Mass. cor,oan;es
OF the lst brigade, they were engaged by q por
tion OF this brigade, consisting OF the 10th and
I'd Penn'a., and rcpulsed after a well contested
engagement, with a loss on our side of tifty or
sixty men and commissioned officers. We fourbt
dsmounted, and many of us found it the mos,
difficult, as well as warmess. Sunday afternoons
task, we have had fJr some time, despit. tho
cold weather. We have fought mounted and
dismounted, and find that fighting dismounted
in the wilderness, with O. sabre hanripe to vour
side, is no easy task. When we returned to our
camp in the evening, we did full justice TO our
fresh ratlons, though feeling pang of sorrow
tor the loss of cur comrades. Perhaps like the
crows OF Prince William county, Hampton's
legion scented ration day, and beng somewhat
hungry, pitched in for share. This was the
only division of cavalry that crossed the Rayi-
dan, Buiord's and Kipatrick's remaining norsh
OF the nvar On the evening and night of tie
lst December, the army began to fall back. this
division remaining, TO cover the retreat and brino
up the rear, until the morning Of the I'd. We
were closely pursued by the rebel cavalry, and
shortly alter cur crossing, they appeared on the
opposite bank Of the river Though many ob.
jects of the recent advance may have been at
tanned, yet it was not without loss on our side
Many brave ones sleep their last sleep south of
the Rapidon, and perhaps will soon be forgotten
by man, though not by God, the soldiers friend.
The rebels were very strongly fortified in their
position south of the river, and no doubt it
would have cost hundreds Of valuable lives TO
have dislodged them. Tho army have full con-
fidence in Gen. Meade. In the recent advance.
wc frequently heard of the gallant conduct of
tho l3oth Z. ", in the ID division, Sd corns
We are now picketing in front of the army, the
various tords along the Rapidan. The rebels
picket the opposite side, and some very amusing
conversations take place between tue ,ickets
across the river. Hard tack, coffee and supar
we exchange for tobacco, as suffers sunn,;ns
especially tobacco, are very difficult to obtain
here now A few days ago we had the pleasure
of smoking pipe full of Col. Whites tobacco.
and though 1t once belonged TO member of the
southern chivalry, we detected no extra quail.
ties in it. You may often hear the Federal sol.
dior mailing, "Hilloa, johnny Reb. have vou
any tobacco over there for hard tack?' and the
heb answering: 'iIow are you Yank; bays
you any hard tack, coffee or sugar to EXCHANGE
for tobacco? We have na,y hard tack and are
as hungry as the devil. Cross over, we WON'T
shoot" And the next proceeding you see is,
Iank, or Johnny. mounted ON his horse. for,,-
ing the Rapidan, Faith ig rcligiou.ly kent anil
| those who cross are moi prevented from return
ing. The only annoyance we experience in
picketing, especially ysouth of the Rappahannocs
IL occasioncd by sueriilas and bushwhactsrs,
for whom the country is admirably adapted
They murder our pickets in cold blood. and tboir
only object IS plunder. They are coward!y,
contemptble, sknlking foe, stealing uson the
picket at the midui sht hour when all are wrant
in slumbcr. Deep and deadly is the hatred the
cavalry bear towards them, and sparinc ia this
quarter they are or will be shown, should thew
tall into their hands. Their blood il poor n.
tonement for the lives Of many of cur comrades
taken in the forests of Virginia. Mosobv and
I
his band are no more than gang of midnight
plunderers, nurdcrers, and towards, afraid to
meet US in honorable fight or on equal terms; if
they find us prepared, they generally show n
'clean pair of heels. The infantry are brsv
as bees erecting winter quarters. Tic weatnar
has been very rough and cold, making i, some.
what uncomfortable in D'abri cents. Psrbans
the best way IS to tabc cold fingers and frosted
toes all in fun, and laugh and be merry while
you can The term of service of many reri.
merits will soon expire, and some are re.enlist.
ing--otsers are weary, or disgusted with the
horrors of war, and will NOT re-enst Perhaps
they are weary of beholding dead men, or may
he, bloated forms melting beneath burning sun,
| lips upon which woman once loved to besiow
the kiss OF love, now wreatbed by the loattsomo
worm, the horrible stencil of the battlefield, or
the mangled limb remind them of what may be
their fate. Many will La;l With dnl;,L . a. =.