Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-11-08
For the Journal
FROM THE FIFTH REGIMENT.

Mn. EDIToR There is one redeeming
trait about soldiers letters and that is they
are not apt to be frequent As you have been
informed by your correspondent p, we have
moved our camp and have gone further into
the enemy's country since last wrote you
Since we came here we have not had much
that was exciting, except the false alarm that
some of the New York pickots took at the
beating of calf, and the wonderful story of
the battery in place that was to blow us all
to those undiscovered countries we so much
dread, about which F. has informed you
We, after a very short experience in camp,
become so accustomed to these false alarms
as to take them as a matter of course. only
cursing the stupidity of those who needlesslv
wake us out of our sleep.
Since we have been here our camp has sew
eral times been visited by Gen. Mcclellan.
On one of these visits he was accompanied by
the Prince de Joinvile and several other
Princes besides Prncesses. They were en-
tertsined with artillery practice on the hill
Just above and within stones throw of our
camp, when they were diverted with some Of
/ the most wretched artillery practice they over
saw. As near as | can Judge the shells var
led from 40 rods to a mile of their mark. II
1 is but Justice however to say the fault was in
]
iments Capt. Ayers, of the battery near us,
has shown that he can shoot ciost as some
Yankees would say. We could not have a
more pleasant neighbor than he is, and we
consider ourselves fortunate in having him
near us.
We have had Brigade Review and Divis-
ion Review. Our division Review last Sat-
urday was grand scene You will doubt
less have it described to you by more dorid
writer's than am, and understand our Yer
mont artist Mead was there taking a sketch
: There were some fifteen Regiments on the
ground and the sight was worth seeing. One
thing is noticeable, and that is the entire lack
of tinselry and bright colored trappngs SC
} common in military displays in time of peace
Our uniform, and those Of most of the Other
Regiments are blue, and look substantial and
comfortable, except when the faded dirty
looking coats of the Second and Third thrust
themselves into sight.
TO day we have bad Brigade drill under
Gen. Brooks, when the whole of the Vermont
Regiments were brought out. We were tc
have had Review of the Division tomorrow
by Gen. Mcclellan, but the order has been
I countermanded.
Two of our men died in the Hospital las
! night-private Anderson of the Burlington
company and LaMountain of the Brandon
company. Anderson died of congestion o.
the lungs, and LaMountain OF some disease
that followed the measles, | hardly know
what it was. There is some considerable
sickness in our camp The measles are TAX
idg their course, and the usual amount o
, colds, etc. The cold weather is putting
stop to the dysentery, but the cold night
and heavy guard services bring on cough
and colds This day has been the most dis
astrous of any since we have been organized
i in fact more than all others. Lieut. Simond'
of the Richmond company received a pisto
o charge which went through his foot, occa
e stoned by the accidental discharge of his owl
p; pistol.
r Our men are for the most part in gooC
8 spirits. The grumbers from the sam,
class in which we always find them thos,
{ who are least valuable and have least oaus,
to complain. Our men are worked prett,
hard, or rather taking into account tn,
change Of habits, diet and climate. their worl
drags on them severely, but we find nothing
more than we should have counted on belor'
we left home. The severest trial our mel
experience is in being on the grand guard o.
picket, as they are termed in which the mel
are obliged to remain out these cold nighti
without FIRE or shelter, and keep awake a
that. Our pickets go out at l-2 O'Clock II
!, the morning and come in at about & O'Clock
9 Of the next morning making the whole o
0 one night and large share OF another with
c out sleep, and so hours continuous outdoor
e exposure without free. The men of thu
= second regiment, who are mostly withou
e oyercoats, suffer severely in this duty.
1 Within a few days we have had severa
c Vermonters in our eneampment. / notic
n Judge Poland, A. l.. Paige, f. f. Smith an,
, others of your place; Is. B. smslley. Eco. o
, Burlington, Mr.. Ward of Htnesburgh an,
. several others. The most welcome visitor