A CHRISTMAS DINNER After the great battle at Fredericksburg both armies seemed to suffer somewhat from reaction.

Besides, the winter deepened.

There was more snow, more icy rain, and more hovering of the temperature near the zero mark.

The vast sea of mud increased, and the swollen Rappahannock, deep at any time, flowed between the two armies.

Pickets often faced one another across the stream, sometimes firing, but oftener exchanging the news, when the river was not too wide for the shouted voice to reach.
Harry, despite his belief that the North would hold out, heard now that the hostile section had sunk into deep depression.