Year: 1861

CAMP Hicks, ANNAPoLIs, Dec. 10, 1861.


The ''cold snap" which we were having
when your correspondent ct. E." wrote you
has passed away, and we are now enjoying
weather us mild and genial as a spring day at
home. On Sunday morning our cars were
greeted with the familiar notes of the blue
bird. That old Jack Frost may not again Wis
it us so rudely, is the wish of every souer
here, for canvas tent is not the most comfort.
able dwelling place in cold weather Our
clothing is in general amply sufficient for any
degree of cold which we shall probably be
called upon 10 endure, but the blouses, or IA
tigue coats, must be excepted, Tor they are
without cavil rather too thin for winter use,
but we hope soon to be in warmer cline,
when they will be sufficient.


Yesterday we had our first brigade drill, and
it was a good one. The twenty-fiHh regiment
was the first on the field, and it was while we
were waiting for the others to come up, that
Lieut.. Colonel Sprague was thrown from his
horse, fracturing bone at the wrist To day,
instead of a drill, we had a review OF the four
regiments at present composing the brigade.
Besides the brigade drill, we have another new
feature-target practice to change our usual
routine. The men all enter iutO it with great
zeSt, and before long we shall have a goodly
number of fine marksmen. For accuracy
of fire, l think our guns will prove III
ferior to none and they throw their
balls at a very hi4h rate of veoci-
ty The different regiments here are now
firing more or less every day, and at al
most any hour ma" he heard the echong re-
ports of single shots or the heavy volleys of
platoon firing, and occasionally the ru h and
whack OF Il Mimic bail as it flies through the
air and strikes into the target. Somebody is
once in while little careless, for to-day
stray bullet came through the cap and cut the
hair of a teamster as he was riding along the
road. A more thorough appreciation of the
enormous range OF the Mimic bullet will make
us careful not to fire in the direction of any
houses, camps or roads, which are much less
than a mile off. The army rifle shoots so
strong that those who are accustomed to The
use of common guns only find themselves al
| together dt sea III supposlhS lhey can nfe al Il
target without danger to man VINO is pass
ing hall or three-quarters of mile beyond
and in line.


We do not know how soon we shall go from
here, AMI ale not particularly desrous Of
knowing, but like true soldiers, would be glad
any day to receive marching orders, ana in
the meantime await them without impatieuce.
We are not yet paid of, and there is good deal
OF just complaint that we are not. a good
many of our soldiers came of with only money
enough to last them few weeks when they
calculated upon getting their wages, and they
now have no means of obtaining things which
are to them very useful if not absolutely ne.
cessary. Our teamsters having good deal
OF teaining TO do, and the road between here
and Annapolis being eXecrable our Yankee
colonels have had some of their men engaged
in road mending, thing apparently unheard of
IN tins part of the country and we have now
more endurabe highway between here and
the city. Tie general health of the soldiers
is good, and we are all in high spirits