Sunday, March 15, 1863. A thunderstorm of hail.

"Sunday 15th. The 16th Regt. went out on scout last night and brought in four prisoners. The Colonel went to the Shoals this morning and has not yet returned. The Brigade Band came out and played Old Hundred, Sweet Home, and the Stair. It is now raining and hailing, thundering quite hard. March is rough weather out here, or has been so far. Night has set in with a hard wind and a severe hard storm."~ Diary of Oliver A. Browne, Co. K, 15th Regiment


"March 15. In the afternoon the long roll is beaten; the regiment called into line; arms are stacked, and we are told to be ready to start at a moment's notice. A few guerillas came down the other side of the river and fired at some of our cavalry; but this was all, and the last that was seen of them. The pickets were strengthened during the night. The camp guards have been allowed, through the cold weather, to go to their tents as soon as relieved; but lately one relief has been kept at the guard-house all the time, as rebel cavalry are prowling about more nights. These are not large bodies, varying from ten to two hundred. Many of them are citizens, clad in the uniform of Union soldiers, who know every hill, valley, by-path and hiding place from the Potomac to the Rappahannock." ~ Lt. Edwin Palmer, 13th Regiment,  The Second Brigade: or, Camp Life, By a Volunteer (1864) 

"He’d Qurs 16th Vt Inf Camp at Fairfax Sta. Va 

March 15th, 1863

My Darling Wife

"It is very late so I shall not write much, have been writing business letters & feel tired . . . No I lost no horses, of course. The General was 3 or 4 miles from us. We would have taken care of him had he been here! his quarters were at the Ct. House. I caught 4 rebels last night. Well my angel I must go to bed alone Its dreadful cold, been thundering all the Afternoon & hailing & snowing. I never saw such weather. I do wish my sweet little wife, would love me tight. . . .

Yr husband W." ~Wheelock G. Veazey to Julia A. Veazey UVM