Headquarters 53d Regiment P. V.,
Falmouth, Virginia,
Wednesday, Jan. 28th, 1862.
Messrs. Editors:–Again our army has been defeated–this time by the elements and not by the enemy. Last Wednesday if the
weather would have continued favorable another attempt would have been made to advance on the road to Richmond. On the
evening of the 20th all the preparatory arrangements were completed. Hooker’s and Franklin’s commands had broken camps
and marching some ten miles took up a position along the river about seven miles above Falmouth. But the adage says truly,
that ‘man proposes and God disposes.” Up to the night of the 20th, pleasant weather and fair sky seemed to mark an auspicious
commencement of the movement. On the night of Tuesday the 20th, a severe rainstorm set in, the floodgates of the heavens
opened and a perfect deluge poured down upon our unprotected soldiery. The storm continued with unabated fury the whole of
the following day, and the consequence was that the Rappahannock became too much swollen to construct a pontoon bridge
across it, and the roads were in a condition almost impassable for infantry, and as to moving artillery it was out of the question.
For three days and nights the troops were kept waiting for “something to turn up.” With no protection from the pouring rain but
their blankets and scarcely any fires, the exposure was indeed fearful. A few days ago the whole Army was ordered back into their
old quarters. Fortunately our Grand Division had not been ordered out. Thus disastrously ended Burnside’s second attempt to
advance–true there was no battle fought, but a defeat itself could scarcely have put the army in worse spirits. As a matter of course,
Gen. Burnside has been removed–and Sumner and Franklin have resigned, and Gen. Hooker is now in command of the Army of the
Potomac. Well, we shall see what we shall see!
It our last we were cheerfully rubbing our hands and congratulating ourselves on being possessed of such comfortable
quarters in the village of Falmouth. Alas, for the fallacy of human understanding! Perhaps at the very moment we were writing
to you how nicely we toasted our feet at the blazing hearth, the old Bull Sumner was callously getting up an order for our
removal. On Sunday morning last we received orders to move. About noon we moved out of town. Col. Brooke’s brigade
relieved us and will henceforth do provost duty in Falmouth. Col. Brooke is military Governor. Our regiment moved to a pine
woods in the rear of Gen. Hancock’s Headquarters, where we are now bivouacking. Our boys are busily engaged in
constructing log huts, they will be finished I presume by tomorrow, when we will go into regular camp.
Yesterday our excellent Surgeon, Dr. M. J. McKinnon, of York, Pa., was, at his own request, honorably discharged
from the service of the United States. The Doctor has been with us through all our campaigns, and has been ever at his post of
duty. Though his ill health necessitates him to leave the service, yet we feel sorry to part with him, as he was an honest, open
hearted man, as well as a most skillful physician. May he be blessed with long life and fair health.
It affords us pleasure to chronicle the promotion of Sergt. Major Thomas Raifsnyder of Pottstown, to the First
Lieutenancy of Company D. This promotion has been won by gallantry at the Battle of Fredericksburg.
S. H. Rutter of Company A, has been made Sergeant Major of the regiment to fill the vacancy occasioned by the
promotion of Lieut. Raifsnyder.
Lewis Bland, 2d Lieut. of Company B has resigned, but there has been a promotion to fill the vacancy. Sergt. Howell,
of Company F, is acting Quarter Master Sergt. during the absence of Quarter Master Sergt, Ludwig, at home on sick leave.
Capt. Wm. Mintzer, the excellent Provost Marshal of this Division, left for Pottstown, this morning on a short leave of
absence.
Yours &c. L. J. F.
[Montgomery Ledger, February 3, 1863]
