The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1865-02-16
EItract

+ From letter of soldier in the Army of Nir
ri,ia. dated January 31st, 1865:
a The year that is gone was nromentous one
and its record is made up of lights and shadows,
smiles and tears, joys and sorrows, victories and
defeats. The year has opened gloomily for Tile
Confederacy and disasters follow in quick sncces-
sion vet contrastcd with our condition This tine
last year, we have reason to congratulate or
selves: cur condition is immcasurably better. Te
have redeemed from the hands of the cncmyian
empire of Territory, cast and west of the Nlisslspp-
pi river; We have forced Sherman to a base onbc
Atlantic Coast where hc is less dangerous lhaI lie
was at Atlanta, and where We hope our peoplcwll
be able to keep him cooped up our currency i5ast
improving, measures are being taken to ell thc
ranks of our armies,-LEE has been appointed
General-in-Chief over all our forces, and BECK
EXR1DoE Secretary Of War, and trust, that sirins
will find us fully prepared at all points, strpigcr
and more formidable than ever. True, this srmy
is somewhat gloomy, but such is ever theAcase
when the men arc in wintcr-quarters, and Twill
vanish when the campaign. opens. We are inhuts,-
on the Charles City Road, miles east ofRich-
mond, just in rear of impregnable fortifc$ions,
aud we do not fear any force which the eneuf may
bring against u.s. The health Of the army Is ex-
cellent, and the men are generally cheerful Our
rations are very good, but rather short, wehre in
no danger of over eating. We have had sub very
cold weather, thatthe James river. is frozd over
and navigation stopped; the ponds near en-
campment furnish fine opportunities for kating,
and manya cracked crown and bruised ye, at
tests the assiduity with which our men live en-
tered on this sport. Then, too, the soldir have
one or two theatres in operation, so thatwc are
likely to pass an agreeable winter.
Peace rumors are very current here at this
time ); Congress, debates peace, the papers peak of
peace, and on last Sabbath, the Hons. III. SrE-
pHENs, r. NJ. 7. HUNTER, and JOHN a. CMpDELL,
really left Richmond, for Washington toalk with
Lincoln about peace. But our people sbuld not
be deceived by these rumors of pedce. Hcse gen
tlemen have gone to Washington, simpl as gen.
tlemen, and not as authorized Commissioners of
the Government; they can do nothing therefore, to
bind us or the enemy nor, while we ply for sue
cess to attend their efforts, does any Intelligent
man here believe that they will effect ay desira-
BILE end. No. one here is deceived in te matter
and you will see from the resolutions,nassed bv
this Brigade on yesterday, sad those bfother nor
tons of this army. tI.lat the soldiers Re satisfied
that war; anS preparation for war, is the one
great, pressing business of the hour, nd to this,
the attention and energies of our peop, should be
solely directed, until our enemies az forced to
.erT hey alonecan be, by fore. of arms
mas never tried to deceive y as to his
5er1hs of peace, and they are now til same that
hey have ever beer, unconstitutional submis-
ion, emancipation and confscation ind all talk
,rpeacc is simply designed to district our coun-
ills and demoralize our army and peofe."