December 29, 1863

December 29, 1863

---In a new practice, several regiments from the Army of the Potomac (including the 7^th Wisconsin, 1^st Delaware, 5^th Michigan, and 93^rd New York) are given furloughs home, to get more recruits.  Most regiments in the Union army have expiring enlistments this winter and spring, and this is one measure the U.S. government is depending on to keep their armies from melting away in 1864.