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a proper occasion.
Meanwhile the papers say, “The fine autumn weather is slipping away.”
Certainly; and shall we add, as a corollary, “Therefore let another Fredericksburg be fought!”
Put some flesh on our skeleton regiments, and there is no difficulty; but if, instead of ten conscripts, only one is sent, que voulez vous!
Headquarters Army of Potomac in the field, October 16, 1863
Contrary to expectation to-day has been a quiet one for us; and I have not left camp.
The Rebels toward evening went feeling along our line about three miles from here with cavalry and artillery, and kept up a desultory cannonade, which, I believe, hurt nobody.
Early this morning two batches of prisoners, some 600 in all, were marched past, on their way to Washington.
They looked gaunt and weary, and had, for the most part, a dogged air. Many were mere boys and these were mostly hollow-cheeked and pale, as if the march were too much for them.
Their clothes were poor, some of a dust-color, and others dirty brown, while here and there was a U. S. jacket or a pair of trousers, the trophies of some successful fight.
Some were wittily disposed.
One soldier of ours cried out: “Broad Run is a bad place for you, boys.”
“Ya-as,” said a cheery man in gray, “but it's puty rare you get such a chance.”
An hour before daylight came General Warren, exhausted with two nights' marching, and a day's fight, but springy and stout to the last.
“We whipped the Rebs right out,” he said.
“I ran my men, on the double-quick, into the railroad cut and then just swept them down with musketry.”
I got up and gave him a little brandy that was left in my flask; he then lay down and was fast asleep in about a minute.
To-day they brought here the five cannon he took; 