The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-12-12
four War Correspondence
From the Fifth Vermont Regiment.
CAMP GRIFFIN, Dec. 5th, 1861

Mr.. EDILoR Il am now, in company with
several other line officers of the Brigade, wait
ing in tent attached to Gen. Smiths head
quarters, for the purpose, when called on, OF
giving in my testimony before Court Martial,
one of our captains being placed in arrest charged
with giving an order while on picket to ''march.'
when he was not in command. Tired, very tired
waiting my turn, l might as we'll employ myself
by commencing another letter to you upon pick
ct matters, as the letter if written as | now have
it arranged will be somewhat lengthy. Long
letters from correspondents, and on war matters,
are bore, but perhaps these long winter eve
nings your readers can manage, by putting this
and that together, a long letter, and one OF your
spicy squibs, like the one on the g Review " tor
instance, 10 convince themselves that they are
getting the long and short of the matter, and SO
be c0ntented.
have already told you much about our pick
ct affairs, but as you certainly cannot expect any
very solid information about the war from this
Division OF the Grand Army, have thought
! that you might endure little more.
PICKET DETAILS.
| Most correspondents have faculty of giving
u sort of metropolitan newspaper twang to their
communications. Such things are all we'll
enough perhaps, but the Freeman is not the
equally intelligent are not as we'll satisfied with
the Theses of these talented correspondents"
as with scattering shot of details, fixing their
attention upon a variety OF army matters at one
aud the same time. Ii this is not true, your
correspondent must 90 back to the very elements
Of human nature, and commence his studies
! anew.
Well, patience covereth u multitude of sins,
but ! fear that you will be obliged TO increase
its efficiency if you publish many more letters
from your 8 own army correspondent This
picket duty is very remarkable in more ways
than ore. Ii has its ups and downs with the
soldiers. Al times it is very pleasant and they
likeit. Again it is very severe, very hazardous,
and they don't like it, However, there is one
thing certain ii docs more towards converting
| these raw troops into an army of soldiers than
any other duty imposed upon US. At least such
has been my Own experience. Since have had
an opportunity to do this duty, have acquired
information not only military, but about the
geography and topography of this sacred soil -
soldier than all else have learned. And il
have my health, and are fortunate enough to
escape such courts as am now waiting upon,
hope to acquire more.
On the morning of the 4th inst, was again
on picket, being posted upon the extreme right
Of our Division, connecting with the LETT OF Nc
Calls Division. have never yet had a more
! pleasant post, my reserve being at the house Of
II Mr.. Ball, now q captain in the rebel army.
| relieved Il lieutenant from the 9TH Maine, his
instructions being very full and explicit, viz -
" to remain there until he was relieved. and
keep good look out" Well | calculated to
do that, but the " instructions :" didn' t suit me
exactly, so prepared code for myself, that
thought wonld keep rebels aud everybody else
al respectful distance from my sentinels. All
this done | returned to my reserve the house.
The boys, Of course, were eating for whenever
a soldier has chance to sit down. he will cat
till he is ordered to i" fall in,' If it is twenty
four hours.
DEsOLATED REBEL PLANTATION.
| think | have alluded to this house before,
though imperfecuy. Having an hour or two
for inspection as well as watchllness and o',ser-
vation, amused myself gathering up evidence
upon war and its effects upon such happy homes
as this once was. Here was the plantation of a
Southern gentleman. A fine, costly mansion,
with Its garden, vineyard, arbors, walks, groves,
and every comfort and luxury associated with
that enchanting word--hOme. Now, all was a
wreck War had been there, or what is worse,
though the same thing perhaps, an army Of
loyal soldiers had been there, with mostof whom
vengeancaand revenge was evidently their watch.
word. The grounds ana all the outside adonr-
ments of that proud Preside were ravaged and
wasted, the plantation itself might IS well have
been desert, while the house, the roof that
once sheltered this home Of father, mother, and
their prattling children, was defaced and sifted
OF every adornment or comfort. The rich case
ments of lis hearthstones were marred and brok-
en-, its finished walls, once us white as the driven
snow, were defaced and pictured over with the
grand and foul emblazonry of the soldier-artist
Through its halls, around its yerandahs, and
! along its dooryard- walks we're strewn the frag
ments OF broken mirrors, porcelain and china,
the toys of children, the little "gaiter boots"
bird cages, velvet and satin slippers, demolished
statuary, and many, many household relics of
the parlor, the nursery and the chamber. Eve.
rything was ruin and desolation. And this was
'oar. SURPRISING every feeling, every emotion
that could possibly encroach upon my patriotism,
or my duty, viewed this homework as some.
thing wrong and wicked.
bad other feelings. 1t might be but min.
iature picture of my own humble but sacred
home, far, far way, among the most cruel and
desperate representatives of treason that the
rebellion has begotten- Missouri traitors. No
home is sacred to men, who to treason, murder,
arson and robbery, have added the savage cru
elites of an Indian ally, with his tomahawk
ard scalping knife But no more.
That your readers may form some idea OF the
taste and genius of our soldiers who had used
these stucco walls rs a canvas for representing
their sentiments in Crayon Sketches, herewith
furnish you vita a copy of some of their do
signs-not the Crayons themselves, but simple
description.