National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-12-26

The confederate troops had scarcely set
tied down after the movements and excite
ments attending the repulse Of Gen. Burn
sides army at Fredericksburg, when the
merry Christmas time was upon them.
They had not as yet gone into winter quar-
tiers, and the dilapidated tents which only
partially sheltered them caused much suf-
ferng, for the weather had turned intensely
cold. The boys were looking forward to
Christmas, however, as It was anticipated
that double rations aud some extras would
be issued on that day, and we had been
living on poor fare for some time. The
country around had been swept as bare as
the palm of the hand by the foraging par
ties, and fowls or fresh meat were not to be
had Gt any price. Moreover while the bulk
of the troops might hope to receive boxes
OF good things from home, our regiment
had no such prospect, for the federal forces
lay between us aud those who loved us II
will he seen, therefore, that the double
ration question had an especial interest for
us. Well, Christmas morning dawned,
clear and cold, and sure enough the com
missary dealt out double ratlons Of fresh
meat, with beans and molasses, and, best
of all, some captured coffee-a rare treat
IOT us Hb DONb nuu ulhu llHuuEtu 10 Sc
cure enough apple brandy by running the
pickots, risking their lives to do SO, to give
all Christmas jolllncation. Well, the feast
was being prepared in the innumerably
various styles peculiar to the cuisine OF old
soldiers, and the men were walking around
jmpatlently and eagerly shifting up the
savoTy odOrs waited through the camp. All
was joyous expectation and watering of
The mouth.
DISAPPOINTED ny DRUMMER.
Suddenly the drummer boy popped out OF
his tent and began furiously beating the
well-known 'lOng roll" and the adjutant
came hurrying through the companies, di-
reciing the captains to get their men under
arms Immediately, with such rations as they
had and two extra packages of cartridges
rolled In the blankets. IL ever set Of men
were ineffably disappointed and disguised
we were then. Had volcano suddenly
belched forth in our midst We could not
have been worse COMPOUNDED. "What the
ID is up now?" was growled on every
side. However, there was no use crying over
split milk, so to speak, and, snatching up
the halfcooked viands, we were soon
formed and on the march. II was then
Tumored that the enemy's cavalry had
crossed at United States ford, above Freder-
icksburg, and were cavorting about In rear
of the army with the evident Intent OF burn
ing the bridges and tearing up the track of
country, and a rough country II was, was
forced from the stsrt, and for some fifteen
miles there was hardly pause to draw
breath The command suffered greatly for
want of water too, because nearly every
man had pint or two OF apple-iack in his
canteen, and nobody dreamed OF substitute
Ing water therefor. We reached the point
TO which we had been ordered about mid
night, and lay on our arms till daybreak
without being permitted to build fires.
A DISCHARGED ARMY.
Tired and shiverng with cold the soldiers
huddled together, expecting, however, to
have warm work when the day broke. VIII
1t be believed that when the sun had
mounted an hour or so, an aid-de-camp of
Longstreet's rode into the biyouac and In
formed the commander Of the expedition
that the enemy had returned to his lines in
fact, II was a false alarm. Uncle Toby says
that "our army In Flanders swore terribly,n
but venture to say that they did not ex-
coed In that respect the men of our regiment
on this occasion. We marched back to our
camp moodily and YEARLY, aud l venture
to say the most Disguised set Of privates In
Lees army. That was how one regiment
spent the Christmas day of 1862, and there
was no "peaee on earth and good will to
men" sentiment In their hearts.
In this connection, may say that those
OF middle age who did not enter the civil
have but faint idea OF the toll, priyation,
and racking suffering incident to the life OF
the soldier. To realize the truth, the ex-
perience must have been undergone. The
reports Of generals and the histories often
zllude In general terms to the sufferings of
the soldiery, but In terms too cold and gen.
eral to give conception Of the realities.
REBELS SUFFERED MOST.
The confederates undoubtedly suffered
Tar GREATER yipfsgitnlnG than tha Irpion
armies, Tor apart from those hardships in
cident to every army In the field, they were
poorly clothed and fed which was not the
case with their opponents, as rule.
In this sketch | shall endeavor to relate
few incidents common to campaign,
which may give some notion OF what the
private soldier must undergo, for, II the
anXieties and responsibility OF the officers,
both of the line and staff, are left out of
consideration, they have much easier time
OF it, physically speaking, than their men.
Because, on forced march, which | believe
TO be the severest test OF the pluck and
endurance of the troops that occurs In a
campaign, the officers carry little or no
baggage, and they are not required to keep
in the ranks as the men are, and marching
in the ranks is very different and much
more harrassing than picking path out
side at will. Well, we will suppose COM
mand is ordered to reach an indicated point
enemy or to hold a threatened and i'm
portant position. And in this am writing
from my recollection OF experiences In the
18th Virginia regiment, of Pickctt's division
Of confederates.
SOLDIERS IN MARCHING ORDER.
The men are drawn up, and those who
have knapsacks are ordered to pile them.
Then the company officers see to 1t that no
man carries more than single blanket.
tpn Ntrat nly nf ptrt1 nras
out making, with those in the cartridge
box, sixty rounds, apretty heavy weight
in itself when the caliber of the rifles was
5S, as was usually the case. Next, three
days rations of hard tack and bacon are
issued to last for four or five days, or until
more could be procured. The line Of march
Is taken up and the quickstep ordered from
the first. Now, 1t must be remembered that
a soldier, with his rifle, ammunition,
blanket, provisions, &C., is weighted down
by about fifty pounds or over, and this dead
weight, instead of being distributed oyer
the body, bears chiefly upon the shoulders.
ACTUAL BATTLE NOT THE WORST.
Those who have never been there gener-
ally suppose that the actual contact of
battle is the hardest and most trying to the
nerves and pluck In the phases OF soldiers
life. This is fallacy. Many time have |
heard my comrades express satisfaction,
after long and distressing march, at hay
ing got at last within striking distance of
the foe. do not believe that the man lives,
or has lived, who could honestly say that he
never felt fear while on the eve of battle, or
rather when first going under fire. Any
man who could naturally do so should be
classed as creature without senslbil-
ity and allied to the brutes who have
fearless courage, simply because In the
grand plan Of creation 1t is neces-
AIRY for them to have 1t to exist,
but the veteran soldier has, in the battle,