Md. Heights, March 8, 1863.
Dear Father:
Yours recd. Am sorry to hear that you are so afflicted with rheumatism, it must come hard to you, as you have always been so healthy. There are only two sergt’s called from each company. They were examined, and a hard ex’, it was. I assure you there is a feeling for you here; there is scarcely a day goes by but what I hear your name spoken of in good terms. The noncommissioned officers recite once a week from the red book on artillery. They are going into the thing scientiffically: have bought several useful books on artillery and take hold of it with energy. I do not get lessons, but I am in the room when they recite and gather considerable information. I took a tramp with several of the boys to Solomon’s Gap, 5 miles out on the ridge; it is cut through the mountain; could see plainly where the battle of South Mt. was fought, it is about 12 miles from here. Would it pay for me to have a firkin of butter come out here? I will leave it all to you; butter is 35 cts. a lb. here and scarce at that. If it will pay ship it along, as there are plenty of chances to dispose of it. The Lieut, assigned to the Co. has not arrived yet. There are many reports going here; one is that we are going back to Fort Warren! Very respectfully yours,
L. Bradley, Jr.
Sunday, 8th—Went on forage; got back in time for preaching.
MARCH 8TH, — Judge Meredith’s opinion, that foreigners, Marylanders, and others, who have served in the army, have become domiciled, and are liable to conscription, has produced a prodigious commotion. Gen. Winder’s door is beset with crowds of eager seekers of passports to leave the Confederacy; and as these people are converting their Confederate money into gold, the premium on specie has advanced.
Judge Campbell, Assistant Secretary of War, has decided that Judge Meredith’s opinion is not authority; and hence his son-in-law, Lieut.-Col. Lay, who at present wields the Conscription Bureau, acts accordingly. But Gen. Rains has a contrary opinion; and he intended to see the President yesterday, who is understood to coincide with Judge Meredith. It is also alleged that Secretary Seddon concurs in this opinion; and if this be the case, an explosion is imminent—for Judge Campbell must have given instructions by order of the Secretary, without the Secretary’s knowledge or consent.
I advised the general to see the President and Secretary once a week, and not rely upon verbal instructions received through a subordinate; he said the advice was good, and he should follow it. But he is much absorbed in his subterrene batteries.
March 8.—Early this morning, Captain John S. Mosby, commanding a company of rebel guerrilla cavalry, made a dash into Fairfax Court-House, Va., and captured Brigadier-General Stoughton, and over thirty other officers and privates, together with their arms, equipments, and fifty-eight horses.—(Doc. 131.)
—The sloop Enterprise, having run out of Mosquito Inlet, was captured off Hillsborough, Fla., by the gunboat Sagamore.—The Forty-third regiment of Massachusetts, under the command of Colonel Holbrook, surrounded and captured a company of rebel cavalry, with all their officers, on the Trent road, some distance from Newbern, N, C.
