Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1865-02-18
Preparations for the Spring Cona-
paign.
ARMY OF THE JAMES,
BEroRE RICHMOND, Feb. 8, 1855.

BEroRE RICHMOND, Feb. 9, 1885.
Tho changeable weather which we have
been experiencing for tho past few days is
both unpleasant and inconvenient. Some
times it is quite cool, but does not continue
so more than twenty -four hours, when the
warming influence of the sun materially i'm
proves the climate. At present, in conse-
quence o. the unfavorablc weather, nj! mill
tary operations upon ary grand scale may
be regarded as suspended. Days passed
into nights, and nights into mornings, with
nothing more exciting than the unvaryinR !
monotony of military routine. Not even
the dull rumbling of distant artillery ~
heard to quicken the martial circulation OF
patriotic enthusiasm, But all is rs quie. as
if the angel of pence had paralyze the con
fronting armies. This very stiffness is not
only oppressive, but is the calm which pre-
cedes the storm. Further more the dcpo.
ncnt sayeth not.
The spring campaign, soon to DC COM
thenced upon scale of terrible magnitude,
will fully meet public expectation, What
| part the Army ut the james will take Will
be announced after the drama shall have
been enacted, One thing however, may be
assunled that though there was much re-
gret occasioned by the removal OF General
Butler, the manifest fitness of General Ord
to commend this army, uniting as he does
the polish of the gentleman with the disci-
pline of the soldier, is already inspiring it
with renewed assurances of confidence in
his ability to govern 1t in camp or handle it
: III the field. FrGrs were at first entertained
that the colored troops, whose good conduct
| and discipline upon all occasions were very
much stimulated by their admirations for
: General Butler, would to certain extent be
1 depressed. The friends of these organiza-
. tiOns need entertain no fears in this respect.
In the opinion of General Ord they ore not
: inferior in discipline or martial bearing to
u any other soldiers, and all that can be done
: to increase their consfoyt ;.ntl effectiveness is
e in rapid progression. lie has personally
visited their camps, entered their quarters,
t and observed Cor himself what improve
L ments were necessary for their convenience
r and the good of the service. His modest
bearing, coupled with almost the entire alb
! sence of military trappings, when wrapped
:, in his surtOut, would leave the impression
: that he was visitor in the field rather than
!, the commander of this department. Ills
o venerable appearance. with q countenance
! of stern resolve not unmingled with gentle
n ness and other eminent characteristics, pre-
= sents type of American nobility born tc
IS command.
d 1t must not be inferred that General Ord
,f is any more solicitous about the welfare ot
S his colored troops than his white soldiers
g lie is soldier Of the regular army, and
Il recognizing both elements as essential tC
IS the overthrow Of the rebellion and the
1t preservation Of the CEion. he has riser
h above all prejldices and partiality, and acts
" with reference to what is right and just
Is Under such general the Army of the james
n will not fail to make brighter its record ir
II the campaign so soon to be opened.
5, The yeport, which for some time has beer
p in circulation, that this army is to be uni,eo
with the Army Of the Potomac, is received
by officers and men of this command will
=, the greatest dsiayor. None are more Sc
a we're in their condemnation of this proposed
- Union than those who have served in th'
Army of the Potomac The officers all 81.
: that, having lett it, they never want to re
=, turn to it again. AS the rumor goes, Gene
- raj Meade is to be relieved and Genera
Sheridan is to command the whole united
= armies, all of which the readers OF TIN
; Press may take for what they are worth
y themselves estimating their value
~ While the negotiations for peace wer
;, transpiring at Fortress Monroe, the reb,
!; soldiers were so much elated with the pros
- poets of a favorable and satisfactory adjust
y ment of the pending difficulties that descr
NJ lions ceased. since, however, II Is under
is stood that the peace mission ended in smoke
q. the poor, hslt.starved, penitcnt "gray-backs
70 are again vending their way into our lines
y full OF assurances for their future good con
~ duct. a day or two ago a rebel soldier TT
queSted prcmission 10 90 INTO the corn-ielt
, on the Baulware plantation Of which hav
: frequently spoken III former dispatches. t
: gather the scattering ears. guard of tw
~ men were sent to accompany him, whcr
u upon very little consultation, all three o
=, them delivered themselves to our colore
:. pickets as deserters, including the arms &
the guard. Such and similar occurrance
+. are witnessed daily upon different paris q
= our line.