Year: 1863

April LIST, 1903. J


DEAR MESSENGER We are quite disap-
pointed thus far in our introduction to a
Southern Spring. We expected that before
this, we should have met its warm breath, fra
grant with the odor Of opening flowers. But
winter scenes to linger strangely in the d" lap
of Spring, " and the last day in March found
us here, with the ground covered with snow,
and nature appearing as bleak as mid winter.
Our stoves are still needfu to give grateful
warmth to our tents, and the extra blanket
adds still, to the comfort of the soldiers Dunk.
There cannot be much danger, we judge of auy
Southern invasion Of the sturdy North, unit
the trost.king leaves these quarters In fact,
if we get here, au accurate descriptio Of the
condition of southern soldiers, and starving
civilians, they must need to 60 abroad soon
for supplies, bat will lack the means for fitting
out an expedition, until their own resources
become moro abundant Some men from
the south occasionally ask admittance within
our lines, whose appearance indicates destitul
ton, and their representations are more than 10
keeping with their fororn appearance. At
the present time, we have strict orders not to
admit persons coming from the Confederacy
to us. We should be willing however to ad-
NIT little more genial warmth from the
sunny South enough at least to melt away
this snow, and give nature jog in the direc.
tion Of summer. We anticipate now, that
this may prove onr last snow storm for this
season, and section, as we expect to find spring
and summer, without going to Vermont for
such luxuries


This regiment now takes its turn to supply
pickets a hours out of As. 1t makes pleas
ant change for our men, and in pleasant
weather, affords an exercise whicE is much
enjoyed. Our line of pickets now extends
along upon TIE bank OF the Bull Run Stream,
which is already famous in the history of the
present war. We find here no large force Of
the enemy, but there is occasiona lily little
skirmishing, and recently, the rebels have
burnt the bridge across Bull Run, which
occupied The place of the old Stone bridge, SC
noted In the first Bull Run battle Barracks
and Notifications formerly occupied by the
rebels, are in sight of our present location
The Orange and Alexandra r. r. is helC
and run by our government, only short dis
tance below Union Mills y: our control ove
it, terminating with the bridge across Bul
Run, where we have stationed an iron claC
car, mounting twelve FOUNDER, that look
frowningly upon the land Of rebellion. w
learn that quite large number of Unior
troops are being massed at Centerville, bu


what is to be the movement, has not as vel
transpired. We all expect that the time il
well nigh upon us, when there will be a chang
10 the programme of the war upon the Poto
mac, and the long quiet " will be broken, b.
vigorous operations. The soldiers, as wei
as the country, are eager for this, and tn
events of lew weeks must tell largely upol
Inc destiny of our country.


All we need to give us success. is mani.
courage connected with united and vigorou
effort. We are sure that since the first break
log out of this rebellion, the bogus confederac.
never saw 50 dark an hour in its fabulous ex