Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1861-11-29
Army CorrespOndcncc.
d Reg. VI. Volunteers.

Htll heB, VI. oiunteers,
CAMP GRIFFIN, Va, Nov. Is, 1861.
DEAR TINES Ever since leaving the
Green Hills of Vermont, have had it 10
mind 10 write you. Many have been the
incidents an account of which ! thought
would be acceptable to you, and interesting
to your many readers; and, as they oc-
CURED, nothing has prevented my making
iateiy The scaat of time. To tell you truly,
if ever mortal man worked and studied,
have done that same thing since step
ping foot upon the sacred soil of Vir-
ginia. To be taken from the civil walks of
life, and suddenly and une xpectedly placed
in an arduous and responsible military po-
sition, at an advanced post, in the face of
the enemy, leaves one no alternative. Con-
slant labor and untiring industry alone
could ensure success. Having been blessed
with general good health, strong constitu-
ton, great powers of physical endurance,
and a heart devoted TO the work, | am
justified in assuming success beyond my
own expectation. But enough of this.
You are aware of our location, to wit,
within about ! miles and in sight of Lew
insville, and in the pleasantest locality in
this vicinity. We are about 2 miles from
Washington, 4 from Falls Church, and 5
from Vienna.
The health Of our regiment is bad. The
consolidated morning report of this morn
ing shows 33l officers and men on the sick
list,C That number in regiment of
1000 men is great number. And what
makes it the more discouraging is, that the
number of sick is increasing rather than
decreasing. Ten poor fellows have died.
As they all were from the west side of the
mountain, but few Of your readers would
know their names. The first one was John
La Mounsain of Orw ell, cousin of the cell
ebrated @renout. The inquiry will natu-
rally be made, Why are so many sick I?
There are various causes. The measles
have extensively prevailed. At one time,
one company had ~ sick with the measles
They leave men unfit for duty, and more
subject to disease. The change of climate,
water, mode of living, and all generally
understood by the word accIimating," is
one cause. But the great cause, and worst
OF all, fear, is the severe exposure to
which the men have been subjected. For
a long time we we're without overcoats, and
many of the men without any coars--with
nothing but their blouses made of poor
army flannel TO wear in the stead of coats.
1t will be remembered that vests are not
furnished 10 soldiers. During our short
stay at Meridian Hill, near Washington.
the two or three weeks we we're at Camp
Advance, and for considerable time after
we came here, our men had no overcoats.
and a large portion of them had no apollo
gy for coats except these blouses. We
have had some quite cold weather. and The
nights and mornings particularly, are very
chilly and damp. When we first made the
advance here, We slept on our arms upon
the ground, with no covering but light
WOODEN blanket, and for some time thereaf-
ter the men were called out an hour be-
fore daybreak, aud required to stand under
arms until half an hour after daybreak.
This TO men so thiuly and poorly clad was
TT, ing indeed Every morning a damp
chill fog seemed to creep over us, and the
constant and continued cough along the
whole line, sounded to me terrible aud more
solemn than single death knell. Men
we're also obliged to start at ) o'clock in
the morning and stand on piqnet guard >
until daylight The following morning, with
out fires, and with no overcoats. At length
the oveeoats and the balance of the dress
coats came, but not until the seeds Of dis
ease and death had been sown in the con-
siitation Of too many brave lad. And
now, as pass through the camp at night.
AMI even While ! sit writing this, ! can hear