een sufficient to avoid like difficulties in the future.

Our army quietly turned into camp among the wooded heights of Stafford,
opposite the town of Fredericksburg. The Rebels as quietly collected
their forces and encamped on the heights upon the opposite side of the
river. Day by day we could see them busily at work upon their
fortifications. Each morning fresh mounds of earth appeared at different
points in the semi-circular range of hills bounding Fredericksburg upon
the South and West. This valuable time was made use of by the pontoon
train at the rate of four miles per day.

The three Grand Divisions, now that their stately march by the flank was
over, had settled comfortably down among the hills of Stafford. Wood and
water, essentials for camp comfort, were to be found in abundance. While
the little parleying between the Commander of the Right Grand Division
and the civil authorities of Fredericksburg continued, matters were
somewhat in suspense. But a gradual quiet crept over the army, and in a
few short weeks that heavily timbered country was one vast field of
stumps, with here and there clusters of pine trees left standing for the
comfort of different Head-quarters. As the timber disappeared, the tents
and huts of the army before concealed in the forests were disclosed, and
the whole country in the vicinity of the railroad was a continuous camp.
The few open fields or barrens afforded fine review and drill grounds,
and the toils of the march were scarcely over before in all directions
could be heard the steady tramp of solid columns engaged in the
evolutions of the field.

Those who think that duties are light in camp, know nothing of the
legions of reports, statements in duplicate and triplicate, required by
the too often senseless formalities of red tape. These duties vary
greatly in different divisions. With a place-man, mechanical in his
movements, and withal not disposed to lighten labor, they multiply to a
surprising extent, and subs intrusted with their execution often find
that the most laborious part of the service is drudgery at the desk.
Night after night would repose at Regimental Head-quarters be
interrupted by repetitious and in many cases inconsistent orders, the
only purpose of which appeared to be, to remind drowsy Adjutants and
swearing Sergeant-Majors that the Commanding General of Division still
ruled at Division Head-quarters, and that he was most alive between the
hours of nine and twe