Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1861-12-20
LETTERS FROM THE SEAT OF WAR.
Letter From Captain Benton.
CAMP GRIrFIy, Va, Dec. 10, L

CAMP GRIFFIs, Va, Dec. 10, 1861.
MR. HOWARD: Allow me to acknowledge In
your paper the receipt of box Of supplies for
the Hyde Park boys in the Brigade, from their
friends in Hyde Park. The articles sent are Of
excellent quality. and what will do most service
of anything that could have been sent. Allow
me also to say that from what have seen Of the
Hyde Park boys. in the service, and | think
have seen as much of them as any one, those who
sured that their kindness was not bestowed on
unworthy objects. Hyde Park boys have given
u good account Of themselves so far. H ....
Iregret to state that Corporal Franklin Staples,
Of my company, died last night Of Diptheria
He was noble hearted. good soldier, and an ex-
cellent officer. His loss will be very keenly felt
by both officers and men of his company.
81 Our company has suffered severely. Four have
died since we came to this camp. Julien Scott,
franklin Bailey and John N. Pelch. all of VOL
colt. have died Of typhoid fever We had from
soto 40 on the Sick list for month or these, l
should think there were as many as 20 cases OF ty-
phoid fever, and as many more of measles. Dis
would have done. This regiment has lost 2I,
which is more than double the loss of the Sd Reg
and considerably more than that of the I'd, includ-
ing Bull Run and all their other losses. Six Of
our company Burns of Troy Butler, of Nor
ristown; Davis and l.eBarron, of Cambridge
Garvin, of johnson, and Dixie of Morristown
are at the General Hospitals, at Washington, and
n l IL 4 -
do not hear often. OF the Others no one is dan.
gerously sick except Luce, who has the typhoid
fever.
For the last fortnight we have been gaining fast
and unless the diptheria makes an inroad the
prospect is very favorable. Although the deaths
have been numerous, they have been few CON-
pared with the number Of cases Of sickness.
have been thus minute in giving the sanitary
condition of the company, because know there
are many friends anxious to hear from us.
The men are feeling very well, and are happy,
and generally contented, / am certainly sur.
prsed at the ardor with which they turn out when
there Is any prospect of fight. had supposed
courage of many would fail ; but nothing will
bring out so many men, and so quickly, as to tell
them there is show for fight. This is not boy
ish inconsderateness, either. Though we have
not exchanged shots with the enemy, we have
been in many places of danger. 1t is severe
trial Of mans nerve, to be put on the outposts
on a line Of sentries, with woods and thickets
within easy gunshot AID hear them firing, first on
one side and then the other, but our men have
been there, and do not finch have passed
along the lines at all hours of night. and have
heard alarms and firing but never have seen a
Lamoille County man finch. In fact not single
Vermont soldier ha. ever retreated from his post,
or given single false alarm though must say
have seen some look as though they would be
glad to do SO. l. l
cannot give you any news. That is chiefly
manufactured in Washington, and you get it in
the papers. 5.t
Our first half of December has been the fin
est autumnal weather ever saw. The thcrmom-
eter has repeatedly been at $50 in the shade,
and this half month has been as warm and pleas.
ant as | ever saw the last half of October in
Vermont. The enemy have shown signs of being
very reckless within the last week. They have
moved out their line of pickets very near ours
and they have been continually prcwling around
our lines, trying either to get information or
pick off our guards. No one of our Brigade
has been killed or wounded by them, although
one occupying the same ground we do was woun.
ded Thursday night. The rebels are evidently
very uncomfortable, and very anxious to have
us do what so many brave generals who stay at
home and write newspaper articles, are clamoring
for us to do, attack them in their strong holds.
If we remain as We are, | do not think it pos
sible for them to keep their army together
through the winter 1t il the opinion Of good
military men that they will be freed to come
ont OF their holes and give us fight, in order to
keep their army together. II they do so it will
the war will be very short. M .tHp.liA
Our men are comfortable and since they have
got stoves in their tents do not suffer at all
from the season, and will not except when on
guard duty. We have been very generously sup
piled with all kinds of necessaries and not few
Injuries. Our men live better than they would
average at home and are much better clothed,
Notwithstanding reports to the contrary that have
gone home. / think they like the service Sick
ness and death have made things at times look
hard, but they are passing by.
4 Yours truly,
.-.s r. C. BENTON.
FRONTIER DEFENcEs. -The report is
current and said to be well founded, that