THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. 61 mense; for long marches could not have been made without leaving the rear of the columns broken and scattered in the woods by night. Six miles was the extreme limit of onr day’s march. Sometimes we may have done better; detached corps relieved of all impediments made some long day’s marches, but these were exceptions. The troops were in excellent condition. The men were vigorous, strong and intelligent in appearance. The uniform of the whole army was the same; light blue trousers, commonly tucked into the boots, and a blouse or jacket or short tunic of dark blue. Some red mark on the dress distinguished the artillery, a touch of yellow the cavalry. The common head-dress was the ktipi, but many wore a soft black felt hat, with gilded ornaments. The officers, clad like the soldiers, were distinguished by small gilt straps on the shoulder, and a purplish sash. Nothing can be more simple, more comfortable, or more soldier-like than this uniform when it is properly worn. In the evening, when we came to a halt, the eamps were formed with much order and ♦regularity. The shelter-tents of the soldiers were put up in the twinkling of an eye. The staffs planted theirs, which were larger and more commodious. The head-quarters was fixed in some central position, with the tent of the General-in-Chief in the middle, and two parallel ranges of tents on either side. The cavalry officers brought in their reports of their recon- noissances and of their constant skirmishes with the enemy. The telegraphers brought on their wires, fastened as usual upon posts, or enveloped in gutta percha and unrolled along the ground from a rapidly driven wagon, which was followed by the operators on horseback with the apparatus slung from their shoulders. All the branches of the service were organized, and the printing office worked as regularly as it could have done at Washington. Let us do justice to the Americans. They understand thia camp-life better than anybody else. Their locomotive habits,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM4ODY=