Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-08-16
FIRST. VT. REGIMENT.

FIRST. VT. REGIMENT.
The / rst Regiment Vermont Volunteers
| whose term of enlistment expired on tn
! II INST, left Fortress Monroe AIonda,
morning, August 5th, and arrived at Brat
tleb1ro Tuesday night few minutes afte
twelve clock, haying made the passage i!
about forty hours. As the time Of the ar
rival OF this regiment was matter of un
certainty to all our citizens until a latt
hour Tuesday afternoon, and the hour wa
so unreasonable. the preparation for the re-
| ceptlon OF the soldiers was less ample than
| lt would otherwise have been. As IL was
some OF our most active and energetic citi
zens upon this short notice filled the Town
Hall with suitable accommodations for the
| reireShmenC OF the troops. Provisions,
| coffee, and ice water were prepared in
/ abundance, and mattresses sufficient tor the
ehtire regiment were spread. The engine
cum Panies came out in tOrchlight procession
us an GscorI; and carriages were provided for
| 'he SICK, Due, contrary to the expectation
ana ueslres Oh cur citizens, the troOns were
ordered t. encamp in the cars. 4 ouard
. was detailed and none were allowed to leave
Thus these preparations were of no avail
save to few soldiers who happened to get
away unobserved before the guard was set.
During its three months service the reci-
| ment, as most of our readers are aware, has
been stationed at Newport News, the furthest
point IN Virginia occupied by federal troops
About half the regiment were at the Big
Bethel fight, where, under the lead of Lieut.
Col. Washburn, they achieved whatever of
glory there was in that ill starred affair.
Not ono of them have been killed in battle,
and but four have been wounded, all of
whom have recovered. We understand that
full one-hali OF the regiment are prepared
to re-enlist during the war. They have
been long enough in the service to under
stand its duties, know its bardships, and
appreciate the sacrifices necessary to be
made In serving their country in the tented
field. Under these circumstances, they will
prove valuable accession to our future
regiments.
The regiment is now under command OF
Lieut.. Col. p. I. Washburn, who has done
the chief duties OF commanding officer dur
ing the last two months, in consequence OF
the selection of Col. Phelps as the command,
ing officer OF the Brigade at Newport News
As Col. Phelps has been, or will in few
days be, promoted to the rank of Brig. Gen
eral, he rema aimed at Fortress Monroe in the
discharge o. his duties, but we are sure all
our citizens will be pleased to learn rs we
do, that he will be here before the regiment
is mustered out of service.
The officers and men of this regiment arc
generally in good condition. There are but
about 20 ON the sick list These are chiefly
cases of ague, arising from the climate where
troops have been located, and prostration
following from measles. There have been
as yet been but four deaths in the regiment
Sergeant Bennett of the Middlebury COM
pany, Privates Underwood and Lougee of
the Bradford Company, and Quartermaster
Sergeant Dana III. Whitney of Woodstock,
who was recently shot by the rebels while he
was out on a t0ragIng expedition. Private |
Carlin, OF the Woodstock company, iell out
OF a window while at Fortress Monroe few
DAYS since and fractured his skull. H1 was
left at the Fortress alive but 30 hopes are
entertained OF his recovery. The men lr0k
hardy IRON exposure and exercise. but their
uniforms are decidedly the worse for wear.
IL is very evident even 10 the most unprac-
tsed observer that these soldiers have b.v1
on no holiday excursion. They look and
act the soldier, and their movements and
evOlutiOns eyince the careful drill and dscip-
line to which they have been subjected.
The regiment is encamped on the Fair
Ground abou one mile scuth Of the village.
The field is very level, the grounds are ample
for any regimental evolutions, and the soil is
drv and sandy yet covered with a beautiful
turf Water IN sufficient quantities has
been carried on the gTOu2d. The soldiers
express themselves much pleased with their
location and accommodations. The regiment
\ J. - IN
seven days before they will De mustered out
of the service of the United States. The
mastering officer has not yet arrived nor is
1t now known when he will be here. As
none of the soldiers have been paid anything
as vet SINCE tbey were mustered IN, their pay |
roll will be quite ample, and the process OF
payment somewhat prolonged.
Ample arrangements have been made for
furnishing the troops with an abundant sup
ply of fresh provisions which the poor fellows,
heretofore chiefly confined to salt junk and
hard bread, will enjoy with keen relish.
The Bradford company are In possession
of bright and intelligent specimen OF the
.'contraband" who managed to escape from
Fortress Monroe against the orders and IN
spite of the vigilance of the officers, by Sc
creting himself in box with the Captains
baggage lie is a full blood darkey about l9
years of age, and fourIshes the name OF
''Pompey Lee" he having been the property
of Richard Lee of the Virginia cavalry, who
lived few miles from Big Bethel. lie is
delighted with his escape, but thinks his
late master made "bad 50" in not taking
the $500 offered for him few months
since. He has two brothers who are now
"contraband'' one of whom is with the
lst New York Regiment and the other with
tho HAWKINS Z1uaves.-Ve Vermont PhOen'r.