The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1864-02-12
FRIEND PALMER: /:

FRIEND FALMER:
With your permission would congrat-
ulate you upon your assumption of the duties
of "assistant Editor Of the Gazette and wish
you success in all your undertakings. Every
thing is quiet and it is quite dull here nov, and
in our little ''cabin houses" we are enjoying u
short respite from more active duty. Save be-
ing on picket three days out of every nine, we
have little to do. Until quite recently this cav
airy division (Greggs) had been kept moving
around, either changing position or raidin5 into
the valies above us. corplo of weeks ago
tho division went into winter quarters, but how
long they will enjoy thea it is difficult to say,
The week preceding Christmas this Brigade the
I'D was sent to Luray in Page county, Va,
Sperryville Thorntons Gap &c. We had quite
holiday season, riding forty miles per day with,
fine prospects passing Chrstmas in the saddle.
We succeeded in burning few tanneries and
other manufactures belonging to the rebel gov
ernmcnt, captured a considerable amount of
poultry and ruined the bright apticipations of
a considerable number Of Of Johny Rebs who
were al home on furlough, to spend tho holli-
days. At Luray Court House we heard a las
Gy exclaim, "Indced believe the Yankee Cav
airy are born devils, coming down here at the
Holidays driving away our dear ones, stealing
our poultry and tobacco, and running cur Christ
mas in general We endeavorcd 10 convince
them that if they became acquainted with US
they would find us as fine set of fellows as
ever they met, that applopriating turkeys and
chickens to their own use was an act learned
when quite young sy the yankees, and that there
was peculiar species of attraction, that caused
our fingers to wander to the feathers of q fowl.
. tbotf hnlo
us to be lying, and we would venture to wage
onr sabre against the leg of fowl that in their
midnight dreams they yet imagine that the yam
KEGS are charging through the town Of Luray.
But awaY with nonsense, many soldiers in the
army, who hail from Bedford county alc and
have been re-enlisting. Many or at least ua-
ioritY of these men are credited to other conn-
ties, cities OF towns, some perhaps are enticcd
by county and some influenced by o,hcr reasons
Now this is not altogether fair for the oidc
ty of Bedford to be ROBBED of her rights, and
those most interested should see that she is dealt
Justly by. When the next draft takes place
some will learn, perhaps, wherein part Of the
difficulty lies, we may be mistaken in our con-
jectures, and we trust that we are if not for the
sake of those who do not like to be drafted, or
come 70 the army, at least on account of Bed
ford county.
A recent order fom head quarters cavalry
corps army Of the Potomac, orders that all
guerlllas or rebel soldiers caught IN our uniform
'shal, be hung upon the spot and specifics pun
ishment for commissioned or non-commissioned
officers and soldiers, for permitting such persons
to approach them, whilst on duty. Every sue--
lila should be hung without mercy, anu sent to
the .ecions Of Pluto on a ''double quick"
Among the recent visitors to the army of tho
Potomac, we had the pleasure of meeting one
of the citizens of Bedford, tail tie svay from
7eras.) We presume that during his stay here
ho did not form very favorable opinion Of ar
my life; and, no doubt, he is aware, from ex-
perience, that there are more bewitchiug viands
in this world than 'salt pork, hard tack and
swollop," (he has a very Indifferent opinion of
the merits of "swollop.") All arc patiently
waiting fer tho winter to pass away and The
summer to come. Wishing you pleasant win
ter, remain, yours, &C.. BEDFORD
At camp Douglas, near Chicago, in the re,
cent cold weather, eighty soldiers on guard, had
their feet, ankles and hands SO badly frozen that
they arc incapacitatad for duty for some time,
many for life. Two rebel prisoners who esoap-
ed were frozen to death.
Mrs. Lamb, Of Jackson county, Indiana, frozc
TO death in her own house on tho night of tho
1st, for lack of sufficient bedclothing to protect
her from the severity of the weather. She was
very old and was in most destitute circumstances.