256 FAMILIES ON THE PICKET LINE. Friday, December 19th, the left Grand Division moved back to White-Oak Church, and the Thirtythird re-occupied the camp which it had left on the Thursday previous. Once more the men applied themselves to the labor of building log-huts and fitting up winter quarters. The "Cabins" were arranged in long rows fronting on the road, and protected from the wind by the grove of hemlocks. The weather continued very warm and pleasant, and but little sickness prevailed in the Regiment. Christmas was devoted to mirth and hilarity, the Colonel giving a dinner party to the officers at his tent. Marching orders were again received on the 30th, but were almost immediately countermanded. General Burnside had arranged another plan of attack, but the details having been ferreted out by rebel sympathizers at Washington, he was compelled to relinquish it. The Regiment frequently went on picket, and as a general thing enjoyed the change. The Fitzhughs, Balls, and several other families who lived near the picket line, always welcomed the officers and men to their houses. Though confessed rebels, many pleasant hours were spent in the society of the daughters, whose brothers and lovers were absent in the rebel army. There was in fact hardly a corporal's guard of young men left between the Potomac and Rappahannock, so effectually had the conscription act been enforced. Among other maidens who were accustomed to entertain the Regiment, was the betrothed of COURAGE OF A FEMALE, 257 Geo. B. Davis, a nephew of Jeff.'s. One afternoon a cavalryman, after vainly ransacking the out-buildings of her father's plantation for corn, approached the door in which the young lady was standing, and insisted that some of the grain, "which he knew was concealed in the house, should be given him." "We have none, was the reply." "Stand aside until I go in and see for myself," he rudely retorted, at the same time whipping out of its sheath a heavy Colt's Revolver. No sooner done than the fair girl planted herself firmly in the door way, drew a small repeater from her bosom, and deliberately aiming it at the rascal's head, exclaimed, "Approach one step further towards this house, and you are a dead man." Cowed and baffled by this exhibition of bravery, the trooper turned on his heel and left. This incident illustrates the coolness and courage with which some of the Virginia women are endowed. The following changes, in addition to those already mentioned, had occurred in the Regiment up to this time. Captain Theodore Hamilton, Co. G, promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, 62d N. Y. Captain G. Murray Guion, Co. A, promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, 148th N. Y. Captain A. H. Drake returned to duty from Salisbury, North Carolina, October 6th. Captain H. J. White, Co. B, resigned. First Lieutenant H. J. Draime, Co. B, promoted to Captain B. 258 CHANGES IN THE REGIMENT. First Lieutenant E. J. Tyler, Co. A, promoted to Captain A. First Lieutenant John W. Corning, Co. B, promoted to Adjutant. First Lieutenant G. A. Gale, Co. G, promoted to Captain G. First Lieutenant E. E. Root, Co. I, promoted to Captain I. John Gummer, Co. E, promoted to First Lieutenant E. Charles D. Rossiter, appointed First Lieutenant D. Otis Cole, appointed First Lieutenant H. First Lieutenant R. C. Niles, Co. H, resigned. First Lieutenant H. G. King, Co. F, resigned. Second Lieutenant G. W. Marshall, Co. G, promoted to First Lieutenant G. Second Lieutenant Ira V. Germain, Co. G, dismissed. Second Lieutenant Pryce W. Bailey, Co. A, promoted to First Lieutenant A. Second Lieutenant Jefferson Bigelow, Co. D, resigned. Second Lieutenant J. Marshall Guion, Co. H, resigned. Second Lieutenant C. H. Howe, Co. I, resigned. Second Lieutenant William H. Long, Co. I, promoted to First Lieutenant I, and since on Brennan's, Davidson's and Neill's Staffs successively, Assistant A. G. Second Lieutenant L. C. Mix, Co. C, promoted to First Lieutenant B. CHANGES IN THE REGIMENT CONTINUED. 259 Second Lieutenant H. H. Hills, Co. F, promoted to First Lieutenant F. Second Lieutenant Walter H. Smith, Co. E, resigned. First Sergeant J. F. Winship, Co. F, promoted to Second Lieutenant F. First Sergeant G. T. Brennan, Co. I, promoted to Second Lieutenant I. First Sergeant J. E. Stebbins, Co. C, promoted to Second Lieutenant C, vice Mix, promoted. First Sergeant Byron F. Craine, Co. D, promoted to Second Lieutenant G. First Sergeant T. H. Sibbalds, Co. A, promoted to Second Lieutenant A. First Sergeant C. H. Howe, Co. I, promoted to Second Lieutenant I. Sylvester Porter, Co. H, promoted to Second Lieutenant H. W. W. Smith, Co. E, appointed Second Lieutenant E. William E. Roach, Co. D, appointed Second Lieutenant D. Orlando Bacon promoted to Sergeant-Major. John W. Alexander promoted to QuartermasterSergeant. Corporal J. F. Barker promoted to CommissarySergeant. John J. Carter promoted from Commissary-Sergeant to Second Lieutenant B. 260 CHANGES IN THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT. MEDICAL DEPARTMENT. First Surgeon S. Mulford, resigned. First Assistant Surgeon D'Estaing Dickinson, promoted to full Surgeon. Second Assistant Surgeon Richard Curran, promoted to First Assistant Surgeon. Duncan McLachlen appointed Second Assistant Surgeon. Edmund De Graff appointed Hospital Steward. |