In Winter quarters.
The Federal army went into winter quarters along the line of the railway from
Fredericksburg to
Aquia creek, with a base of supplies at that Potomac landing.
Jackson established his headquarters at
Moss Neck, near
Fredericksburg, and
Longstreet's corps occupied the vicinity of Banks's Ford, and the Second corps went into winter quarters in
Caroline county.
Thus these two powerful contending armies, with their camp-fires in sight of each other, went into winter quarters and commenced the work of preparing for another trial of strength during the coming year.
Let us examine their respective conditions, opportunities, and advantages, as they lie inactive in their camps.
One was fairly rioting in the luxuries of life, with the entire world from which they could gather their stores; with ample means to go into the markets of the world and purchase that which they needed, while the same money could, and did, purchase them new recruits, and caused the other not only to fight against the men of the
North, but to meet face to face upon the battle-field an army composed of nearly every nationality under the sun; hunger to them was unknown; privations of any kind to them were rare, and there stood at their back a strong government ready, willing, and able to supply every demand made upon it.
