"I see it is fast approaching the hour of midnight, which is to put the finishing touch to this 5th day of April, 1863. It so happens that I am corporal of the guard, and as I have to post every relief for 24 hours, once in 2 hours, and must keep awake, I will give you the benefit of it. Our "residence," a log hut 18 by 24 feet, contains a dozen "sleepers," mostly sound ones, they having been out on picket last night in the wind and snow storm. By the way, this storm caps the climax. Will you believe it? We woke this morning, and found the snow piled in doors and out. Between our barrack and the Captain's tent, it was 4 feet deep, about one foot on average perhaps, but the wind took it everywhere. We tied down the roof of our shanty, or we should have been shelterless."~ Daniel B Stedman Brattleboro, VT, age 22, Pvt., 16th Regt, Co. B, Letter of April 6, 1863 Brattleborohistory.com
"April 6. Another foot of snow this morning, and rail fences are getting scarce. I have often heard of the sunny South, and that the "sacred soil" of Virginia would be a lovely place on which to dwell, but I cannot see the point. One day it will be scorching hot, and the next freezing cold, and such a sudden transition from the heat of summer to the extreme cold of winter, is not very agreeable to me. The snow is melting quite fast to-day, which will raise the creek so high that I do not think the "rebs" will attempt to cross to-night."~ J. C. Williams, Corporal, Co. B, 14th Regiment, Life in Camp, 104 (1864).
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