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| Ever-busy troopers at drill: Union cavalry in winter quarters The swiftly moving Confederate troopers, under dashing leaders like Stuart and Wheeler, allowed the heads of the Union cavalry not a moment of peace. When infantry went into winter quarters they could live in comparative comfort and freedom from actual campaigning until the roads became passable again for their heavy wagon-trains in the spring. But Confederate raiders knew neither times nor seasons, and there were many points when the damage they might do would be incalculable. So the Federal cavalry's winter task was to discover, if possible, the Confederates' next move, and to forestall it. This photograph shows three troops drilling on the plain beside their winter quarters. The stark trees and absence of grass indicate clearly the time of the year, and the long shadows show as truly as a watch that the time of day was late afternoon. A swift night-march may be in store for the troopers on the plain, or they may return to the shelter of their wooden huts. It is probable, however, that they cannot enjoy their comfort for more than a week or two. |
