Year: 1863

vance with this at this time OF year and attack
Lee in his chosen position, would seem to US like
an adventure too foolhardy for madman to at
tempt. Success would be impossible. If the
army heStated to attack when we had the enemy
cornered against the Potomac at Wihamsport, it |
surely does not look as though, with the same ar
my to oppose US and all the advantages reversed,
we should now be anxious to bring on collision.
1t frets the North more than anything else except


the draft to have this army lie still, butt the very
sefshness of their desire to see the Army Of the
Potomac move, they must desire success also, but
success cannot be had without proper means, and
it requires time to secure these. The men are
worn out and exhausted and loudly call for rest
These long forced marches have told fearfully
upon the best constitutions rest is impera-
lively needed or the army will be too much weak
ened by disease to be capable Of effective service.
No particular malady affects the men, but sort
of general debility, relaxation of the whole sys-
TEN that has long held out against severe and
/ protraced tardships. The surgeons calls lately
well attended. The long train of sick, lame and
halt that find Their way Jothe surgeons tent every
morning, shows conclusiveIy that something is
needed to repair the physical vgor Of great
many VINO have been heretofore proof against
the severest pIivations and hardships. Give us
good food something less concentrated than hard
tack and pork, and let us rest and recupcrate our
strength awhile, and we shall soon be able to as
tonish the world again by our long marches and
hard fighting. Douot think, dear friends at home
because we have no sympathy just now With the
impatient spirit that asks SO often, " why don't
the Army OF The Potomac move ?" that We are


Indifferent to the cause, becoming demolalizad,
willing to sacrifice our country's interests 10 our


love Of ease, or are in any way losing the spirit
Of patriotism or the spirit of war which we trust
has characterized our efforts from the outset. On
the couuary, our very desire for success demands
inactivity just now. You nave called US brave,
heroic and self sacrifsing, and whether we have
deserved it or not we have accepted the compli-
msnt, but after all it is no more than the truth to
say that the brAyest and best Of us would be al.
NEST as willing to see the Constitution of the
United States destroyed as to see his own


But before anything great can be done we not
only need health, but we need reinlorcements
Men at home are being drafted to fill our thinned


ranks, and some of these-sulh as have no con.
venient $500 to spare-we shortly expect to see


out here. These men will need some experience


in drilling and camp life before they can take the


fel . What better time for that than now? The


paymaster, too, is expected and all of US arC
= = quite willing that he should come as soon as ht


sees fl and discharge any obligations he may have
' to us. Taken all in all, we think we have quite


forcble reasons for thinking that are to 60 into
' permanent camp here. After ALL before this let
: ter is read in Vermont we may be on the NOV,


again, and more fercely engaged with the enem,


than ever before.


The army is world almost exclusively by itsel


now. Without money and without suffers, de
u pendent on our own resources and Independent


of every one else, we can live on without care 0
trouble, knowing that our commssary can Away
be relied upon, and that hard tack will ever b.
abundant. Lovers of tobacco appear to be tn


principal sufferers. Those who love tobacco, ant


have borrowed till they can borrow no longer hav
; indeed trouble that makes them of all soldier
!, the ones most miserable. 1t must certainly be
most excrucating annoyance for those who affirm
: that the use of the peculiar weed is the soldier
:. principal comfort, to be deprived of bis idoze
: luxury, but as do not use the article myself,
presume Ishall never be thanked for plying thos