If there are still any sheds standing, that you can turn into houses for the time, you can come back for your wives and families.

If not, they must remain here till you can get up shelter for them.

In this bitter cold weather, you could not think of rebuilding your houses regularly; nor would it be any use to do so, until we get to the end of these troubles.

But you can fell and saw wood, and erect cottages that will suffice for present use, and serve as sheds when better times return.
"The first thing to do is to attend to those who have fallen.

The dead must be removed and buried; but there must be many wounded, and these must be brought in and attended to.