Year: 1863

EDITOR FREEMAN The Old Brigade is
still occupying about the same position that we
have occupied since the battle at Rappahannock
Station, with the exception of the week that we
spent on our reconnaissance, as the boys call it,
down in the wilderness" The 9th regiment
and ours have changed camps for winter quar-
tiers, if we aressaowed to have them here, but
the other regiments remain Just as they stationed
themselves month ago We have all been as
busy as bees to make US comfortable houses, and
we shall very much regret to move away and
leave our labor to begin anew.


Our regiment moved nearly mile eastward
from where we were, and we have secured our
selves a very pleasant situation and one that We
are perfectly willing to occupy until spring if our
commanding General sees fit to allow US the
privilege. The ground here is nearly level
sIopng just enough to permit the water to run
off during the muddy season, and Of q nature less
adapted to that universal sloughy condition o pc
culiar to Virginia, The land here was covered
with oak forest, similar to the camp we have





the other of the contending armies Now and
then there is line representative of the forests
former glory, but in a week from now, il we stay
here, these will have perished with the rest A
little further east the woods remain undsturbed,
so that at present wood is within convenient
reach, but every day its border recedes further
and further from camp, and by the time that we
have spent our winter here if we shodd happen
to do that We shall begin to see value in the
FIRE wood that We are careless to appreciate when
wood S plenty.


Yesterday and the day before there was ru-
NOR that we were going to fall back across the
Rappahannock before We should be allowed to
consider ourselves in winter quarters. Howimuch
foundation this rumor may have, cannot say,
but it rather lacks confirmation, although such
an event is highly probable. The line of the
Rappahannock would be much easier to hold
during the winter, while there can be but little
advantage 10 maintaining an advanced position
on this side of the river. We may be better
able to keep a strict watch Of the rebels, perhaps,
but We certainly do not occupy so good position
for defensive operations as If river lay between
us and the enemy. Now this moving camp at
this time of year, is matter Of serious moment to
us, and all the probabilities in regard to 1t, pro
or con, are discussed around our tert fires with
eager interest But few moments ago | was
listening to a couple of debaters who were ar
going this question of moving back across the
Rappahaunock, and from them | got a pretty
clear view of the subject though hardly enough
to warrant me in making decision in the matter
One point that WAS brought forward to prove oul
going back was the fact that so many" 4" veterans
were going home on furloughs, by virtU-lof thel
re-enlistng, some as individuals, some as compa
MES, and some as whole regiments, according tc
General Order No. $40, from the war depart
ment. These furloughs, if the veterans enlist
very extensively as We hope they will, cannot fai
to weaken the army very percepuby, and hence
oblige us to seek stronger position. There ar
some at the north that will grumble as they al
ways do when they hear that this army is moving
towards Washington, but they ought not t.
grumbe because old soldiers re-enlst.


One argument advanced to prove that We wer
not going to move, was because all the men anc
some of the officers, who are men sometimes, wer
so busiy engaged in putting up their t. houses
SO nicely, which it was urged, indicated that a
expected to stay here all winter. This argument
however, was quickly disposed Of, for it is every
where krown that the men in the army of tn
Potomac will work as busy as beavers to bull
their houses, although not assured of remaining /
camp single week. A fellow will work all da
for the sake Of good sleep at night, and tn
taking good care of ones self here in the army
is business that pays handsomely in the lon
run. otherwise the chances are that his run wi
be very short, and that he will fall prey to son
malady, or at best, cripple his constitution al
seriously endanger his life. The exposures
this time of year, are very severe, ana the DO!
have learned that it is the best way to build
well as they can, W 'ether we are going to stay {
not, and the extra comfort we derive in majo
ity cases, well pays us for all Of our trouble, a
though we have been sadly vsred bacause v
were ordered out of comfortable houses scarce
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