Year: 1863

After ne naQ passed around anu VleWeu US as
we stood, he took his position on convenient
eminence, with whole battalion of mounted off
GERS ranged on either side Of him, among whom
we're some forei ,ners with their square'top caps
and elegant Uniform, and before these officers we
passed in review" in the same position relative
ly that we occupied as we stood, only we were
in d" closed order and spread out twice the dis
tance between each division. By the time the
whole corps had stretched itself out far enough
10 double this distance between each regimental
division, those that started first had got back 10
about where we were when it came our turn TO
start. At one point we passed over prominent
knoll where we could see the whole circle, and it
was quite IN interesting spectacle TO witDess The
whole body was moving along in regular order
keeping time to good music which gave peeu'
liar unduIating motion to the moving column,
and an effect to the view that never can be trans
ferred to the most natural and life.ike pictures.


We moved to this place week ago last Mon
day. About that time we were having some
weather that we called most uncomfortably cold.
We moved from Brandy Station that night a
short distance OF between TWO and three mics in
nearly northwest direction. The rebels have
had their camps all around here. These worthless
had built them some very nice quarters here, as
if they intended 70 remain here all winter They
had their log houses mujded up" and their
fre-paces Of peculiarly seryiceable pattern,that
even we sArsgI Yankees nave in some instances,
copied after to advantage. From appearances, |
should Judge that We had driven them out from
here in rather unoonyen en-. haste, as they ha.
LETT more camp equIplge, old clothes and the like,
than we general y find 10 camps that they have
left


But yer" few OF Us put up any tents, and IN
agne but very few Of US slept any that first night,
unless they had great deal better success than
did. The keen northwest wind direct from the
fngd zone was our tornenter, aud we couldn't
get away from it. Cover ourselves over ever SO
nicely with blankets, head ears, toes and all, and
a current Of air like a current Of ice cold water
would feel US out and spJiI our comtorL Night
passed away but the cold weather did not. For
several days All I.slts it ranliuei the same.
We gathered wood with all our might, and built
US fires large and high, and 10 this way managed
very well 70 keep warm. The exercise Of gath
erng the wood, however, deserved thelprincpal
share Of the credit, for the FIRE would burn but
not warm u.s. The camp is in what was short
time ago a magnificent oak forest, but many Of the
tall trees had been culled out by the rebels, and
now we have nearly destroyed the remainder. A
continual peelng is heard oil through the camp
every day, aud especially during this cold wealth
er Every axe aud every hatchet that we could
borrow, by fair means CT foul, we're put to their
busiest use. The crashing of falling oaks was
constant. The Army Of the Potomac was obliged
to be busy the cold weather drove them to it.
But we have had some very mild, pleasant wealth
er since. For the last few days It has been the


finest Of Indian Summers.


We had left Warrenton with what they told
US must at ver or six days ratious, but mine, for
some reason or otaer, eaureiy disappeared about
the fourth day, and many Of the other boys were
in the s,me umahondi predcament. Cold wealth
err and the duties and exposures we had UNDER
gone, had sharpened our appelites, AID when one
days ratons we're not enough, we always borrow
from ta ext 50 long as We have the next days
rations with I'd when the next day comes il
we can't buy any, Of the commissaries, as we
almost always can't, nor at the suffers, and these
are never around at such times, there is no o,her
alternative bat TO go without till ratons are issued
again. From an inventory Of the contents OF my


hayersack when we started from Wauenton,


noticed that had Just iorty-eight hard tack, anc


about one pound and a half Of salt pork, besides


sugar and coffee Of which had plenty. Now am


wiling to leave it to the most sbsemlous man II


The United States, i that is sufficient sustenanc'


for such fellows as We, engaged as we we're da


ring those six days. suppose that many yer!


sensible people would hardly consider 1t gen


tee or interesting topic to treat upon, or care Il


know what we have to eat aud what we don


have, but must beg the readers especial y,


bearance in our behalf, for we soldiers often hay


but little else to think of except what we sha ea
aud what we shall drink and wherewiIhal We sha
get our ratons and sometimes this subject oe
! comes to us one of painful importance hav
t lived in this world upwards Of score Of years
but up ill now could find enough to satisfy tn


most unreasonable demands Of the inner man
7 but at tss particu ar time could not, and thong
d Uncle Sam generally feeds his boys weIh | al
;, prone to call him at this time, outrageoaey sur
n gy. wouldn't have exposed the old fellow nc
G mentioned bis delinquency to the Freeman II
n hadn't promised TO do so in consideration of
e half dozen OF hard tack and drawing
is sugar. should have promised my hat, boots
Ia undershirt at that time, rather than not to hay
- had these


:. Irtcoect being in Just this same predicame
=. once before, and at the risk Of being consider'
"a tedious or gwen to flo ding fault, will just me
=. ton the circumstances. 1t was abou. the 18th
\ October, when we were Ietreating from the RaPI
= an. We had marched back from Rappahannoc
"A to Brandy Station, and halted there to get o
= suppers aud await further orders. There was
nr that particular time great inquiry among
n, BOYS, some asking Of others It tney had a
IN " grub to spare aud some that still had qua