THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC: Relation of the Army and the Government; Condition and Prospects of the Army (1/16/1863)

New York Times - Times Machine ^ | 1/16/1863

[Homer_J_Simpson]

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, CAMP NEAR FALMOUTH, Va., Tuesday, Jan. 13, 1863.

It is now over a month since, on the heels of the battle of Fredericksburgh, I left the Army of the Potomac; and I return after that interval to find the situation, in all its main aspects, unchanged. The felling of the forests, carried to an enormous extent in order to keep up the giant camp-fires, has in many places sensibly altered the physiognomy of the country; thousands of log huts, built by the men of their own will and motion, have advantageously replaced the miserable and worse than useless shelter-tents, and there have been numerous shiftings of camps for convenience of wood and water; but in a military point of view everything is as it was. Our force is still distributed along the north bank of the Rappahannock and from Falmouth along the line of communication to Aquia Creek; the rebel force still holds Fredericksburgh and the south bank of the river; though Gen. LEE has of late been withdrawing his troops from the immediate vicinity of the town and distributed them, for convenience of supplies, along the line of the Fredericksburgh and Richmond railroad. Balloon observations reveal their camps hugging the railroad as far down as Bowling Green, and even to the North Anna River. LEE is very well aware that when we next cross the river it will not be at Fredericksburgh, (though I rather surmise that is now the best place;) that it will be at a point some distance up or down the river, and that our advance will be by a route that will bring us some miles south and in the rear of Fredericksburgh. It is highly probable,

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1861-1865: Seminar and Discussion Forum
The American Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: May 2025.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.

Posting history, in reverse order

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Link to previous New York Times thread

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4123539/posts

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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The Army of the Potomac: Relation of the Army and the Government – 2-4
News from Washington: The Troops in the Department of the Gulf the Nineteenth Army Corps – 4-6
From the Rebel States: Estimates of the Results of the Battle at Murfreesboro – 6
Editorial: McClernand’s Army – What Will he Do With It? – 6-7
Editorial: Private Property in War – The Law and the Precedents – 7-8
Free Labor Experiments in Louisiana – 8
Editorial: Encouraging Signs – 8
Editorial: An Eventful New-Year’s Day – 8