Camp Butterfield, Hall’s Hill, VA, Feb. 24, 1862

Dear Register:—One month ago to­day in closing a communication for your paper I expressed the hope that I should soon have something of importance to about. Since that time glorious victories have been gained by our troops in Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee and Missouri. Imperishable laurels have been won, and many brave hearts that then beat high with patriotic emotion, now sleep the sleep of the brave; and still the grand army of the Potomac maintains the “masterly inactivity” that has characterized it since the fatal rout at Bull Run.—Occasional reconnoisances, frequent rejoicings over victories, and a visit of the General in-Chief among the troops, are theonly incidents that have occurred to break the monotony of camp life. It has rained the greater part of the time, and almost all drill has been suspended excepting a little target practice, and occasionally a dress parade, when the mud is not too deep. On Saturday, the 22d inst., in compliance with an order from headquarters, all the regiments in this portion of the army were called out to listen to extracts from Washington’s Farewell Address. It was a scene calculated to awaken the liveliest emotions of patriotism.—While the chaplain read with a clear, sonorous voice the parting admonitions of the Father of his country the National airs came floating on the breeze from the bands of a dozen different regiments in the vicinity.