Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1861-10-25
LETTERS FROM THE SEAT OF WAR.
CAMPED NEAR LEwINsvILLE,
Der. l3 1861. {

DEAR FRIFND 1t is with pleasure that
sit down 10 answer your kind letter of
last week, which came to hand on Thurs
day, would have answered it Immediately
if my position would have permitted it.
But we have been in such close proximity to
the rebel camp, that our time has been
closely occupied in watching the move
ments of the rascals, and protecting our
men, who are cutting down the timber
about here to make range for our guns, and
cannon.
My health continues good and although
| have slept in the open field part of the
time and held on guard. when it rained
l have not taken cold, and [ don't fret
abought anything, as consider that there
are responsible parties over us, who know
what they are about. Our Division I'M
der command of Gen. Smith left the camp
on Wednesday morning, and advanced
through Langly. in the direction of Lew
insville distance of nearly five miles
Our Artillery was placed on the SUBMITS,
of the highest hills, and the Infantry. and
Cavalry, were placedfn position to sup
port it, bnt the rebels instead of giving
us chance to try our new rifles retired
before our advance, but still they show
hating disposition when ever we stop
they do the same; and then turn to look
US over. When they do this it causes
temporary excitement in camp particular
y among ke newly arrived regiments,
our camp equipage followed us on Thurs
day, to the great qualification of all as it
rained that night and we all felt Thank
full to the officers for their promptness in
getting our tents along.
Our Picket lines are nearer the enemy
than ever before, at least they show them
selves more than usual. Considerable num-
bers of their cavalry were in sight Of the
outer posts of our Pickets, and | have
heard that they held the same position t.
lay. Our outer line is about half mile
{ ON Lewinsville and our picketts can
hear their drums every day, and nigh
ut so far nothing serious has taken place
nut squads of Cavalry ride out from both
ides, and sometimes squirmsh takes
olace, yesterday there was a little brush
,etween few of our cavalry, and some
'ebe cavalry. one Of the latter was shot
md our men brought his sword and some
IF his other equipments, into camp. This
is most splendid country mostly cleared
but on each farm, there is respectable
piece of woods mostly second growth ok.
md chestnut. The land is rich and well
cultivated. Crops seem to be excellent,
and everywhere the hand of labor is re-
paid wi h abundance weeds don't often
grow till the crops are harvested, then there
is weed called hogweed that springs up
over the wheat fields. the wheat is gener-
lily harvested in July. and bv the middle
of Sept there is a heavy crop of this hog
weed all over the fields which with Il
| thick growth of young clover makes the
land rich fol the next crop. There has been
no signs of frost here yet. and the leaves
Just begins to show the presence Of Oct.
Most of the inhabitants have left their
SPLENDID farms of Secesh proclivities have
sought more genial cline, while union
lists, seek refuge in the cities of George
town, or Washington. Mr.. Smoot on
whose farm we are now located. is good
Unionist, he has given up his large brick
house, to Gen. Smith and taken his fami-
ly, and some of his servants to George
town. A few were left to take care Of
the hogs. cattle &c. When | was on guard
at headquarters, saw quite squad of
them assisting some cooks of the same
stamp about cooking 1t CHANGED that a
stove had to be BET up, and you can guess
how 1T made me ache to see them perform,
and hear their various lectures on stove
planting" watched long time (being
posted at the door, at length asked a
soldier to take my gun and stand on my
post, and went in, and it was but a five
minutes job to get the stove in position.
You ought to have seen the darkeys smile
and show their teeth. They were very
thankful and gave me a bowl of hot cof-
feo