THE WISCON SIN FARMER.



  In our own case there was this one mitigat-
ing circumstance, namely, that we enjoyed the
agreeable company of a number of Wisconsin
friends-prominent among them, three of her
popular Governors, to whom we, here and
now, return our grateful acknowledgments for
numerous courtesies. Long may they flourish!
VISIT TO THE ARMt ON THE RAPPAHANNOCK.
  "d No passes whatever to civilians !" But we
were not to be bluffed. It wea just after the
return of Hooker to this side of the river; the
army was again nicely quartered but might
any day ",move upon the enemy's work's."
We wanted to ee the Grand Army of the Po-
tomac in quarters. We weat.
  The way from Aqui, Creaek-Vtten mils,
by rail-was desolate enough. Fences al gone
-41ibw ekNa  d off sad burnt up-traces
here and there of what had been oora-fieldi,
the old stubsai d stalks; stili standing in the
midst of over-growing weeds-tad not an in,
habited dwelling the whole distance.
  At Falumth, on the river, just opposite
Fredericksburg. An immense stir at the depot
-army steres being tumbled off the oars mad
hundreds of great wagons waiting to receive
them. We pile into an empty two-horse wag-
on, and are driven, Jehu-like sone four miles,
over rough ways, in constantly enveloping
clouds of dust and buwgl the midst of old
deserted winter owesp, .; earing and feeling
were the only senses allowed free exercise, for
the blinding dust and sufrocating stench of de-
caying horses and mules, only half berie*,
compelled a violent suspension of sight and
smell.
  At last we are tumbled out in a delightful
little orchard on the summit of a mound and are
cordially saluted by the Col and Lt. Col. of
the 139 Penn. Reg't of Vol's. Noble, warm-
hearted, generous, patriotic soldiers, whose
heroic conduct in the charge on the Heights
with Sedgwick's corps made them thrice wor-
thy of our respect. As far as the eye can reach,
and much farther, indeed, are the encamp-
ments of the several divisions and corps which
make up the Grand Army; covering every
knoll and slope of this undulating section of



Stafford Co. for a distance of fifteen miles up
and down the river.
Oh it was a grand spectacle when,at evening,
the drums beat, the bugles sounded and every
regiment and battery stood in its place on pa-
rade. It lacked only one thing to make it the
most splendid, soul-stirring sight we ever saw
-that was the prestige of a glorious victory.
  Early on the following day we might have
been seen upon the Colonel's charger, and in
military dress, dashing through the intervening
pine woods, for the very outposts of our pick-
ets, on the bank of the river. Rebel pickets
were on the other shore with glistening bayon-
ets, and, at first, wq approached cautiously.
But finding thgy 4id not ahqot, we became more
plucky and rode uip and down the liner within
speaking distance for more than ten mlps,
viewing the rebel camps and the scene of the
recent battle on the other side; stopping here
to say a cheery word to our brave and pattiot-
ic boys, And there .4%sivistering a slight re-
bake or wholesome Pdvloop as circumstanes
seemed to require. Altogether we had a rich
time-a time to be remembered. Thanks to
the shrewd favor of our old-time friend, Maj.
H. C. Bull, (formerly Gen. Bull of Madison)
Paymaster to the Army.
   THE STATE AG'L OOLLEGE 0 MARYLAND,
Near Bladensburg, and about 9 miles from
Washington.  Of our delightful visit to this
prosperous young institution, at another time.
              PRILADELPHIA.
  Our mission accomplished, we left the " city
of magnificent distances " for home, via Penn-
sylvania and Ohio. Spent a lovely sabbath in
the city of Brotherly Love-about the hand-
somest and neatest city in the Union. Excite-
ment occasioned by Lee's raid had somewhat
abated
  Homeward again, and over that magnificent
route along the Susquehanna and Juniata, and
over the crest of the Alleghanies.  No better
road and no finer scenery in the United States.
  Stopped at Tyrone.  Over the Bald Eagle
Branch of the Penn. Cent. R. R., and thence
on fout over the Bald Eagle Ridge, some eight
miles, to



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