just “a tithe of the patriotism”

As the main armies in the Virginia Theater retired to winter quarters, a Richmond paper’s “X” correspondent reported from the Army of Northern Virginia. The troops were pretty well fed and clothed but still lack blankets. The reporter believed this lack could be easily remedied if Confederate citizens were only a tenth as fired up as they were when the war started.

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch December 19, 1863:

From General Lee’s army.

[from our Own Correspondent.]

Army of Northern Virginia, December17, 1863.

The campaign of 1863 may now be said to be over. The troops are doubtless in their winter quarters, and the condition of the weather to-day leads us to believe that all warlike operations are now at an end until the vernal suns of 1864 shall bring a more favorable season for military movements. The enemy is in Culpeper county, with the bulk of his infantry, consisting of four corps, lying around the Court-House and Brandy Station, and with his cavalry pickets reaching out to and beyond Mitchell’s Station. One corps is beyond the Rappahannock, for the purpose of guarding the railroad. It is not true that the enemy have ever destroyed any part of the railroad, or that they intend to change their base of operations. On the contrary, as soon as spring opens Meads will either push for Richmond or be forced back to Washington.

enemy (artist) lying around Brandy station

A party of prisoners, five in number, brought in yesterday evening, say that the enemy are busily occupied in constructing mud huts, and in corduroying the roads so as to make them fit for travel. Our men are similarly occupied, and already have constructed very comfortable quarters; whilst the pioneer corps have been unremitting in their efforts to improve our roads. The road passing through Orange C. H. has been converted into quite a good pike.

Frequent inquiries as to how the army is fed. In response I would say that the army receives an abundance of good flour and beef for five days, and bacon for the other two days of each week. Occasionally there are issues of sweet and Irish potatoes. The army has also been receiving during the last ten days supplies of new clothing and some shoes. The troops are well fed, and in the main well clad, the only much-needed article to the soldiers comfort being blankets. The lack of them could readily be supplemented if the people only possessed a tithe of the patriotism they exhibited in the outset of this war.

back in the saddle

The country will be gratified to learn of the return to command of Major-Gen. Wade Hampton, now commanding a division of cavalry in the army. Gen. H. was wounded at Gettysburg. The cavalry corps is composed of Hampton’s and Fitz Lee’s divisions, the whole under command of Maj.-Gen. J. E. B. Stuart, who ought for his gallantry and worth to be a Lieut.-General.

The field hospital accommodations in this army are as follows: A general hospital for corps No. 2, under Dr. Black; one for corps No. 3, under Dr. Iliggin bottom. There is also a receiving and forwarding hospital, under Dr. Claggett, assisted by Dr. Newton. All of these are now located at Orange C. H. Persons coming here and seeking information of their sick friends can get it by applying at one of the three departments.

X.

Wade Hampton III was wounded during the Gettysburg campaign by several saber cuts to the head and a piece of shrapnel to the hip:

In the Gettysburg Campaign, Hampton was slightly wounded in the Battle of Brandy Station, the war’s largest cavalry battle. His brigade then participated in Stuart’s wild adventure to the northeast, swinging around the Union army and losing contact with Lee. Stuart and Hampton reached the vicinity of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, late on July 2, 1863. While just outside of town, Hampton was confronted by a Union cavalryman pointing a rifle at him from 200 yards. Hampton charged the trooper before he could fire his rifle, but another trooper blindsided Hampton with a saber cut to the back of his head. On July 3, Hampton led the cavalry attack to the east of Gettysburg, attempting to disrupt the Union rear areas, but colliding with Union cavalry. He received two more saber cuts to the front of his head, but continued fighting until he was wounded again with a piece of shrapnel to the hip. He was carried back to Virginia in the same ambulance as General John Bell Hood.

on a corduroy road

The photograph of the four men in front of tent is said to be “artist A.R. Waud, seated left, and Captain J. Henry Sleeper, seated right, and other officers of the 10th Massachusetts Battery at Brandy Station, Va.” from December 1863