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Chapter 15: winter of 1862-63.
The
battle of Sharpsburg was followed by a series of movements which brought both armies face to face again on the soil of
Virginia.
The unfortunate
General McClellan fell under the ban of his government, and was superseded by
General Burnside.
The Federal army moved slowly southward from the
Potomac to the
Rappahannock, while the
Confederates made a corresponding march through the
Valley of Virginia, crossed the
Blue Ridge, and placed themselves on the south side of the last named river.
We quote from the “notes” of
Rev. J. W. Mills, who fully participated in all the hardships of the army:
October 29th.-Orders just received from headquarters to cook two days rations, and be in readiness to march in the morning at an early hour.
All is anxiety — no one knows whither we are to move.
Are we to cross the Potomac and attack the Yankees?
Or are we to go southwards to some point of railroad communication with home and friends?
These are questions of importance to us. I hear men saying: ‘Well, I will go anywhere I am ordered.’
In this long march many of the soldiers suffered greatly for want of shoes and clothing.
“Each regiment,” says
Mr. Mills, “has its barefooted squad, who are permitted to pick their way through the rocks as best they can.”
The feelings of our people in the
Valley, as they saw the troops move on with the head of the column filing off towards the mountains, were very sad. “As we marched through
Winchester the band played ‘ Old Folks at Home.’
We saw ladies, young and ”
