February 7, 1863, The New York Herald
Our White Oak Church Correspondence.
NEAR WHITE OAK CHURCH, Va., Feb. 4, 1863.
The weather yesterday was terribly severe. Although it was clear, there were high winds and a freezing temperature to penetrate the flimsy shelter tents or dash down the chimneys of the soldiers’ huts, and scatter their scanty fuel across the earthen floors. It is a wonder indeed, even protected as they are by unusual luxuries in the way of dwellings, that the men have escaped being frozen. Fuel, it must be remembered, is still very scarce, and even with their superior accommodations, owing to the lack of this necessary article, the men must suffer greatly in this severe weather.
“Pratt’s Light Brigade,” the organization of which I noticed in a previous communication, has at last been completed. The troops have all been picked or selected for estimable qualities, and they have a good commander. The duty of this brigade, it is understood, will be to precede the left grand division on all marches, in the opening of a battle, in skirmish, and all light duty.
Items of news were never more scarce in the Army of the Potomac than at present. At General Hooker’s headquarters, too, this assertion is borne out by a general appearance of dreariness and desolation, indicative of the present very unwarlike state of somnolent inactivity. Everywhere the same dulness is to be observed. Even the mule teams do not move with their wonted alacrity, as if knowing that the exigencies of the case do not demand of them such great exertions as they were compelled to put forth a month or two ago. In short, despite impressions to the contrary, there is a general idea here that we are in winter quarters. In proof of this is advanced the fact that from headquarters has lately been received a systematic plan for granting leaves of absence to a certain number of officers and privates at a time.
There is in high circles a growing antagonism to the left grand division and its officers, and some have gone so far as to make publications detrimental to the good name of this fine body of brave men, excluding none from their unjust censure, but involving all – officers, privates and niggers – in the maelstrom of their malice. The worst they can say is hearsay, and arguments they do not attempt to advance.
General Franklin, it is true, has been removed; but he left us with the dignity of a soldier and a gentleman – not as a culprit, all adjudged, who cowers from the presence of the law. He has since demanded a court martial with becoming dignity. Let those remember who seek in their spleen to vilify the whole of Franklin’s old command that its majority is composed of some of the bravest troops that followed McClellan through the dangers and horrors of the peninsula, and whose only crime, in the eyes of their self constituted judges, is that they will whisper in their dreams the name of their “Little Mac,” and wish in their hearts for his return to command.
Of course, under the influence of the high winds of yesterday, mud is no more; but on the contrary, granite could not excel its present hardness. Add to this that the wagon ruts still remain as they were impressed, a foot deep in the pulpy soil, and you can imagine the practicability of a lively gallop over the country as it is, in its present rough state. Transportation is, however, facilitated by this state of affairs; so we have great reason to be thankful. Ovens are being erected from which it is proposed to serve the men with daily rations of fresh bread. This is really a charity to our poor victims to tack.