The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-11-01
From the Vermont Regiments.


are necessity in our army in winter cam
paign. This agrees with information that VI
have received from men who have been il
the army-that shoes are not suitable for tn,
wet season in Virginia. This officer alst
says (what we intimated last week. that ,h'
soldiers would be glad to buy these article
at fair prices if they were where they coult
be procured. We think it is the testimony
of both officers and men of the ID ana Sc
Vermont regiments that they are in immedi
ate need Of clothing. Such is certainly The
testimony of all the letters that we have seer
from them, as we'll as that of individuals wht
have visited and camped with them. y:
Quarter master General Davis was sent OF
BY our legislature with full Instructions to
furnish clothing for these regiments, We think
he made a sad mistake in not doing so; ant
we believe he particularly blundered in send
ing back a despatch that these regiment:
were mot suffering for clothing as represen
ted"
/ We mentioned last week that as the legis
lature had taken the matter in hand of sup
plying these regiments with clothing, VT
thought that, with the contributions from
friends, there was no doubt but they would
be well supplied. From the despatch which
we give elsewhere f,om the agent sent by the
! legislature to do this business. we think there
is little prospect of the state doing much foi
the boys.
Since the above was in type we have see.
private letter from a Lieutenant in the Sd
regiment to his brother-in-law in this place
! dated October %, Che very day of Gen Dl-
vis's despatch y in which he says, among 9TH
er things: I'VE had hard frost last night
and water troze as thick as window glass;
The men coMd not steep it was so cold. They
must have more blankets this winter or they
will suffer immensely"
We have said more about the condition
and wants of the Vt. Sd regiment than We
wanted to. Every one must know that il.
the herculean task of equippins and bring
ing such an immense army into the field as
our government has, everything cannot be
done that ought to be. or that those in au-
thority would wish to have done: in shor.
many viii suffer. not necessarily for the de-
reelection of any particular person, but from
! the nature of the case and the magnitude OF
the work
As WE have heretofore eXpre>>ly stated
the only object We have had in bringing these
facts before the public. was that the friends
at home hight do something for the soldiers
which the government at present canAot ID
namely: supply them with blankets. feelings
mittens. and other things that will promote
their comfort and prolong their lives. Mos
willingly and most noby have the patriot
hearts left behind responded to this cali
In business letter to this office from az.
intelligent officer Of the Vt Sd. received las
evening, the following paragraph was inci-
dentally written; and though not intend, 4
for publication. we trust it is no breach O.
confidence to give il publicity:
"ln your issue of recent date YOU ex-
pressed more truly the situl,on and sent
mentS and wants of the Third Regiment than
ever expected to see in print. We ha>,
done hard work ard endured exposure t"
such an unmerc!.u amount that there is bur
a remnant left for duty. ! am certain scarce
~ six hundred could be called into line wer,
We attacked this minute. am half discour
aged on account Of this fact. for it has beer
SO a long time The men seem worn ou,
and move about as if bent down with age
| trust they are TO receive more kindly con
Sderaton at the hands Of Gen. Brooks. and
as cold weather advances will improve il
health and spirits. Give them new and sub
Stantlal tents, and some good clothes, and
less picket duty and think they would soon
renew their youth. Gen Brooks. in looking
over the regiment day or two since, rcmar-
ked, Your regiment has been worked to
death This is the truth of the whole mat
ter. With an even chance the regimen,
would not be that sickly and crippled bod.
that it now appears. Tell all inquirnY
friends that We are doing the best We can
TIlE VERMONT BRIGADE.-Gen. Smith has
been commissioned Major General, and Lieu
tenant Col. W. +. II. Brooks, of Gea Nc
Clean's staff, takes command of the Yer
mont brigade 1t is understood that the
boys do not object to the change Lieut..
Haviland, of Co. c, Sd regiment. has resign
ed On account of i'll health and Lieut. Moves
of the same Company has been promoted
and is now acting Assistant Adjutant Gencr-
al to Gen. Brooks.
The DEATH OF Col BAKER.-It will be no
ticed that there is quite a discrepancy in the
accounts of the death of this brave officer
One account says he was on foot, cheering
on his men, when rebel rode up and shot
him with 4 revolver. Another represents
that whole company of rifemen made him
their target, and that he fell from his horse