North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1864-04-27
CAMP OF ARTILLERY BRIGADE, 6 A. G.
NEAR BRANDY STATION April 16, 1864


MR. EDITOR This was the day appoint.
ed for the review of the 81 h Army Corps, By
Gen. Grant but the inevitable rain put its
veto upon The proceeding, and thus tie at
fair did not come off-for which evident in
terpusition Of Providence all the soldiers
who were to have been actors inthe show
are, or ought to De. abundantly thankful
These reviews, under most circumstances
are both tiresome aud tedious and, SO far
as Can understand the actual benefit TO be
derived they are ofvery trifing moment
The purposes for which they are held arc
that the General may judge of the morale
discipline and effectiveness of the forces un-
der his command. The manner Of conduct
ing them and the haste with which all the
details are gone through with, necessarily
give the reviewing officer but the smallest
opportunity for even the most superficial
Judgment. He first rides along the lines at
hand galop-usualy paying more attcn--
tion to the PAGES of his horse than TO the men
before hm,-the men are then wheeled into
column, take up the quick step. and at this
pace pass the reviewing officer, who has pre-
viously taken his position some considerable
distance in front of the centre of the line ;
after which the columns break into files, pro-
ceed to their respective camps, and the re-
view is thing of the past How much the
confidence Of the General in his fighting ma
terial has been strengthened, or how much
the good qualities of the men themselves has
been improved by the display, you can judge
quite As we'll as or any other actual witness.
| Active preparations for an early advance
of this army have been going forward for
some days now, and every indication points
to fJrward movement so soon as the con
ditiUn Of the roads ani the weather will per
init but " the rain-it raine!h sil the time !"
and you know rain makes mud and mud
blocks the wheels. The neighbour streams,
too. are filled ~ the banks, and need only
shower Of little more thun ordinary violence
ing them THUS making the crossings even
with the aid Of our efficient engineers and
ponton,ers, difficult, if not Impossible
To keep this aLmy supplied with f.rage
subsistence &c, even under the most favora
BILE circumstances, is matter If some mag
ntude, and certainly one Of the most seri-
GUS considerations which must enter INTO
the plans Of the General conducting IT'S move.
ments. Transportation, by wagon trains
for any considerable distance, would be
simple impusslbIlity, during The present un-
settled state of the weather; and I would
not take it as evidence of wisdom or go ID
generalshp were movement undertaken
until there is reasonable assurance that the
elements will prov. propitious. For this
reason, | do not think that the army will
move much before the last of the month.
notwithstanding that the orders relating to
Suffers, baggage, &C., which usually imme
dlately sprecede the opening of campaign,
have already been issued. So far as my own
personal feelings are concerned, do not care
how soon We break camp and enter the field
make sharp. quick, and, trust, decisive
work of it. Thus the sooner 1t is culnmenc-
ed the quicker It will be over with
The mountains west and north Of us are
yet covered with snow, and occasional fleecy
squalls are by no means uncommon. Vege-
tatIon is unusually blaekened-as at this
time last year, and in this Immediate neigh
bOrhOod, peach trees we're in iu|l bloom,
whilst at present the buds are bnt little
swollen, aud many days must eIapSe before
they burst tte}I winter coverings. Even the
blue birds and robins, those early harbingers
of spring, do not twitter among the IeAfIess
hail the early morn. In the early April
days of last year every bush was flied with
melody, and the bright wings of the merry
songsters foated everywhere in the sunlight
1t may be that the wanton destruction Of
orchards and shade trees. and the levelng of
immense forests have driven he birds from
their usual Summer haunts to seek coverts
in more umbrageous shades
Time was, before the ruthless hand Of war
had swept over this fair land, when this
was perhaps the most beautiful, best cared
for portion Of Virginia. You will bear in
mind that We are but few miles from White
Sulphur Springs, and on the direct road lead
ing from Culpepper to that once arlst"cratic
and fashionable Summer resort. Tall To-
Gusts once stretched their branches across
this road, its entire lengtn-fling the air
with their fragrance, and inviting the weary
traveller to rest beneath their grateful shade,
fair fields smiled upon the husbanlman's
busy care-fragraht orchards surrounded
alike the stately mansion and the humble
hut-hucks and herds grazei Iazily within
the enclosure upon the hill side, "r chewcd
the cud of meditation beneath the branches
of some lonely oak, and the plough b"v whis