1           Bucks County Intelligencer,  From the 104th Regiment.  December 30, 1862  Page 2  Col. 4           1

 

From the 104th Regiment.

GLOUCESTER POINT, Va.

Dec. 24th, 1862

Messrs. Editors : —To-morrow is Christmas.  Will it

be a merry and happy Christmas with you at Doylestown? 

Can you rejoice and be merry over our defeat at Freder-

icksburg ? Can you spend the hours of to-morrow in re-

joicing over the state of things at our Capital ?—the re-

signation of the Cabinet?  If their resignations are ac-

cepted by the President, will their places be filled with

better men ?  Will they prosecute the war with more

vigor?  Will they end the war by fighting—or will they

compromise with those Southern traitors ?  I cannot see

into it.  I cannot see what they mean at such times as

these.  I am waiting patiently for the result; to see if the

change is made for the better, or worse.  If for the bet-

ter, very good.  But if our country is ruined, and their

pockets are all full, I think they had better dismiss as

and let us return; return to those whom we left behind. 

As for the defeat, or sad result to our army at Fredericks-

burg, I am not surprised.  I always thought that Burn-

side would never succeed without a blow was made some-

where else at the same time.  I have as much faith in

Burnside as ever.  I believe he will drive them to the

wall if he has the men and provision—but some one must

strike a blow at Richmond at some other point.  If the

works at Fredericksburg are impregnable, our army

must advance somewhere else.  We must not delay for

delays have proved dangerous.  Delay a few months more

and Richmond will prove impregnable on all sides.  It

will be so well fortified that an army of a million men

cannot scathe the walls of rebeldom.

If our army had been victorious what a grand jubilee

you could have had throughout the land of freedom!  But

now our thoughts are disturbed, and our hearts saddened

by the inglorious defeat—and the murmuring for some

one slain on the terrible field of battle, will make the day

a dreary one.

The boys who would not go out on brigade drill one

Sabbath afternoon because President Lincoln wished a

strict observance of the Sabbath throughout the army and

navy, have been courtmartialed, and a few dollars of

their monthly pay has been taken from them, besides, an

addition of some extra hours of guard duty.  That the

boys so disgraced the Regiment in not giving out, I don’t

understand.  That it will take some time to wipe out that

one stain.  I cannot believe.  That we must submit to all

orders, I know, and I will always do it; but still, I think

the order of the Commander-in-Chief should be obeyed

first.  Whether the boys absented themselves because

they were religious I am unable to say; but I think the

drilling would not interfere with their religion.  That

the excuse they gave was worse than nothing at all, no

one will doubt, for I believe it to be a fact.  I believe

the boys were wrong in not going out and should have

been punished ; but I also believe it to be wrong to read

such orders to a regiment, for it has a bad effect upon the

men.  I will drop this question before I get into trouble,

and as ? is unnecessary.

Yesterday we were again on picket.  We had a pleas-

ant time and the day being warm, everything passed off

admirably.  We saw some rebel cavalry or guerrilla

scouts at a distance, with their sabres glittering in the

sun’s bright rays.  They looked as if they were relieveing

each other.  A citizen came to the lines in the morning,

stating that he wished to go to Staten Island, State of

New York.  He was taken to headquarters; but whether

he succeeded in his passage, I am unable to say.  He

said that the rebels had right smart of cavalry beyond

the Hook.  The Hook is about half a mile from the picket

line.  We also had a party or squad of the F. F. V.’s to

to visit our line.  The party consisted of three ladies, a

Sergeant (about 8 years old) and a colored driver.  The

ladies, being of the higher class, wore silks, well-flounced

and put in excellent shape with crinoline.  They rode in

style and were beauties of the Southern Confederacy. 

They wished to see Lieut-Col. Hart.  Whether they re-

vealed any secrets I am unable to say; but Col. Hart

says they came to inquire into the reconnoisance which

Gen. Naglee made about a week ago—the party having

captured a pony belonging to them.  Col. Hart needs

praise for his graceful and polite manner while convers-

ing with them.  I will now stop before I get-worse.

           Yours respectfully,                    T. C.