The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-09-21
Our War Correspondents.
From the Third Vermont Regiment,
CAMP ADVANCE, Va, }
Sept. Is, 1861. {

From the Third Vermont Regiment.
CAMP ADVANCE, Va,
Sept. IS, 1861. I
EDITOR FREEMAN 1t is sometime since
spoiled a sheet of paper for the benefit OF your
readers, no doubt to your and their pleasure,
but have been so situated that it was lmpossl-
BILE. On the third day of this month we re-
ceived orders to cross Chain Bridge and advance
into Virginia. In accordance with these or
ders, Smiths Brigade, Of which the Vermont
Third forms an unworthy fraction, with others
to the number of ---- would tell you if
might-pushed on, occupying two commanding
hills, and commenced heaving up the "sacred
soil" into forts Ethan Allen and Marcy. and
then came the tug of war. We worked all
day, chopplng digging, shovellng, grubbing,
hoeing, picking, and otherwise laborlng for the
good of our ancient Uncle, during the day, and
forming line and waiting for the Rebels to adj
vance at night After a fortnight of extreme
fatigue, guard, picket and scout duty, amid
our heads save j." the dew distilling sky" we f.
shirt, and various little matters of comfort, if
not of necessity. 1t is much more comfortable
to sleep in tent, on a temporary bed, rolled
in your blanket, than in the rain in the open
air, especially when your place in line happens
to be a hollow, and when you lie down, are
sure to wake with three inches of water CUR
Cling around you. Yet. with the pleasures |
am enjoying, can but feel q melancholy inter-
est in a certain bcl-fellow of mine during my
sleeping in the great tent that is over us all
can even now remember each angle of the un-
couth figure. We met, twas in a storm, dark
as Erebus and when morning dawned saw my
bed-fellow, that had used for pillow during
the night of storm and darkness, fine specimen
Of granite boulder. The right wing Of our
Regiment occupes Fort Marcy the left, hill
slightly back of it, our little Colonel occupying
with US the fort.
Have you heard of our two fights? Twas in
both, the one on Tuesday at Lewinsville, in
which we saw two flying cavalry, about a mile
off, and heard several guns, less than that dis
lance In this battle, hardly need say, none
of US were slightly killed or very badly fright
ened On Wednesday we again marched to
Lewinsvie remained two or three hours, and
when returning run into the line of fire of a
Rebel battery Of four pieces of cannon, one of
them rihed.
They opened fire upon us g right smart"
as our neghbors the Virginians would say, and
for one hour the Third Vermont marched through
that CALLING fire Of shot and shell from we'll
manned and we'll managed battery at only 1900
yards distance, throwing, by actual count, over
100 shells and shot at our devoted heads. Du-
ring that time not q man left the ranks, though
many Of the missiles blew off the caps of the
men, knocked off one bayonet, made kindling
wood Of The rails and posts Of the fences on each
side of us, throwing sand in the soldiers eyes,
and many other enormities then and there
%loAx q 4
fin and Motifs batteries, in the meantime, had
opened fire, and in short time silenced them.
We lost two men killed, two mortally wounded,
enemy lost nineteen surely killed, among whom
was mounted officer, and many wounded Gen.
Smith joined US very soon after the action COM
menced, and challenged the enemy to fight.
but he declined; and when we returned, Gen.
Mcclellan took our gallant little Colonel by the
hand, and shaking 1t warmly, praised his and
his regiments courage and steadiness in no
measured terms. There is q peculiar music in
the singing of cannon shot, especially from
rlt1ed gun but must admit that distance lends
enchantment to the sound and when their gun
merry was particularly excellent, we acknowl-
edged it by very low bows-t was but show
ing due appreciation of their kindness
Captain Griffin says that our army endured
no such amount of fire for tho same length of
time at the Bull run fight, as that at Townsville.
He knows, for he was at both places. don't,
for was only at one at any rate they were
not at all bashfu or delicate in the matter.
though kindly, for the first thirty minutes,
throwing most Of their presents entirely over
our heads.
A melancholy occurrence happened this morn
ing A member of Captain Nelson's Company
was found with his throat cut from ear to ear,
making six deaths in our regiment since its Or
ganizalion-two killed in battle at Lewinsvile,
one at st. Johnsbury, two died in the hospital
and one by suicide, as above,
The Sd Vermont begins to look seody. Many
a knee is like genius, making It's way through;
our caps are either shrunk, or there are many
and remarkable cases of sweled heads our
uniforms are faded to most unmistakable dirt
color, and with only one exception, are the dir
test, shabbicst and most faded specimen of