The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1864-12-22
Letter from Co. c, 2osth p. ".
MEADE's STATION, Va, Dec. Is.

MEADE's STATION, VA, Dec. Is.
To the Editor of The Alleghanian
On Wednesday, 9Th inst, our command,
still known as the provisional brigade, fecei-
we'd orders to be ready to march at a moments 3
notice. AS it was a fact patent to the whole
army, that Warren with formidable force
had moved to the left, the orders for a time
were deemed precautionary merely. On Fri
day evening following, however, the order
came to break camp and move to the left the
quarters to be left under guard until our re-
turn. The evening cold, and the air
keen. That evening the column moved to
Hancock's station, and there rested for the
night iE an open field. In the afternoon of
the next day, we changed our position for the
protecting shade Of n Leighboring wood, but
the byouac fire was scarcely lighted ere we
were put on the march to our former location,
whence we commenced our tramp over the
jerusalem plank road, which runs nearly due
North of our lines. Warren. with his gallant;
old fifth corps, had moved against the Weldon
railroad, with but six days rations, had been
absent four and not been heard from. and fears
were entertained that he would be forced TO
resist the attack Of overwhelming rebel col
umnS. We were moving to protect him from
the Nottoway river was reached, the object of
the march gained, and repose in sleep was
found as easily rs though the wet ground was
the most delightful of couches Warren had
reached the other side of the river, and all
was we'll, with the object of his mission
gained. He had moved to destroy the Weldon
railroad, below the point at which the rebels
for some months have received their supplies.
After daylight the po4nRons were laid across
the river, and the '.btfHy boys of the fifth
corps, as Warren himself called them, when
they were tearing up the railroad, began 70
cross But 1t Is not my purpose 10 speak Of
the movement ITSELF but only of the part borne
by the provisional r.gade.
Shortly after three in the afternoon, iSun-
day,) We commenced to wend our waJ back
to camp. Rain threatened to fall and make
bad roads. but in the fore part OF the night it
cleared of, and the moon shoEe out brightly.
About midnight the air turned exceedingly
cold and blew hercely, that one had TO
quicken his pace to keep from growing chill.
But the cold, perhaps, braced the system, and
made it easier to 7, ach our destination than
it would otherwise have been. After reach
ing our lines, many eYaded the vigilance of
the rear guard, and sought repose in sleep in
places sheltered from the wind.
OF the advance columns, many of those who
struggled were afterwards found dead by the
roadside, having been shot by gucrrillas.-
shot and denuded OF all their cloihing. 1t
was fer this, believe, that the destruction Of
every building along the route was ordereI.
As the shades of night fell Oh that Sabbath
evening, the zenith was lit up with the flame
of burning buildings. many of them OF the
finest character,
At abou. twenty minutes past one on Mon
day morning portion of the reg iment reached
camp, the remaining portion having through
exhaustion delayed on the road. At daybreak
we were again ordered to move to place
near Hancock'S station, about three miles
from Meade's station, where the regiment now
lies, supporting some movement, of which
am unable to inform you. None of our COM
pany are missing, and all are just recover ng
from their fatigue. Out of sixty-six hours,
none scarcely got more than from two to four
hours sleep: and in about thirty-three OF
those hours we marched scarcely less than
from forty to forty-fye miles. This is under
rather than over the mark. GAMMA.