On the 13th of August the whole army was encamped on the south side of the Rapidan.  We were commencing to settle down for several months of rest and enjoy a season of furloughs, as it was evident neither side would begin active operations until the armies were recruited up and the wounded returned for duty.  This would take at least several months.  But, alas! for our expectations—­a blast to our fondest dreams—­heavy fighting and hard marching was in store for our corps.  Bragg was being slowly driven out of Tennessee and needed help; the “Bull Dog of the Confederacy” was the one most likely to stay the advancing tide of Rosecrans’ Army.

* * * * *

CHAPTER XXI

Transferred to Georgia—­Scenes Along the Route.

While in camp great stress was laid on drills.  The brigade drill was the most important.  Every day at 3 o’clock the whole brigade was marched to a large old field, and all the evolutions of the brigade drill were gone through with.  Crowds of citizens from the surrounding country came to witness our maneuvers, especially did the ladies grace the occasions with their presence.  The troops were in the very best of spirits—­no murmurs nor complaints.  Clothing and provision boxes began coming in from home.  A grand corps review took place soon after our encampment was established, in which Generals Lee and Longstreet reviewed the troops.

All expected a good, long rest after their many marches and bloody battles in Maryland and Pennsylvania, but we were soon to be called upon for work in other fields.  General Bragg had been driven out of Tennessee to the confines of Georgia, and it seemed that, without succor from the Army of the East to aid in fighting their battles, and to add to the morale of the Western Army, Bragg would soon be forced through Georgia.  It had long been the prevailing opinion of General Longstreet that the most strategic movement for the South was to reinforce General Bragg with all the available troops of the East (Lee standing on the defensive), crush Rosecrans, and, if possible, drive him back and across the Ohio.  With this end in view, General Longstreet wrote, in August, to General Lee, as well as to the Secretary of War, giving these opinions as being the only solution to the question of checking the continual advance of Rosecrans—­renewing the morale of the Western Army and reviving the waning spirits of the Confederacy, thus putting the enemy on the defensive and regaining lost territory.

It should be remembered that our last stronghold on the Mississippi, Vicksburg, had capitulated about the time of the disastrous battle of Gettysburg, with thirty thousand prisoners.  That great waterway was opened to the enemy’s gun boats and transports, thus cutting the South, with a part of her army, in twain.

This suggestion of General Longstreet was accepted, so far as sending him, with a part of his corps, to Georgia, by his receiving orders early in September to prepare his troops for transportation.