Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1861-07-18
ARMY CORRESPONDENCE.
Letter from a member Of the I'd W. Regiment

Washington, ID. c., July 10, 1861.
EDITOR, RUTLAND HERALD Il at last
find myself in Washington, the Capital of the
United States still, in spite of Southern trail
tors. l know of nothing that happened while
en- route hither that would be of particular
interest to your readers. While in New
York, some of the DO strolled into the Trib-
une office, to see the workings Of that estab-
lishmeht. The clerk saw the green sprig in
our caps, and ran up stairs and told the
senior editor that there were some Vermont
ers below. The knight of the white hat -
and flag of truce elbows came down stairs
on double quick, gave us a hearty
shake ftbe hand and spent about one hour
conversing on war matters, agriculture, &c.
When we left, he hid us God speed and
gave each one copy of his incendiary docu-
ment to take to the warmer latitudes. Ihad
said good many h ard things about Horace
Greeley in political campaigns, but now |
became convinced that he was a man that
meant to do what was right in his own mind.
Having a desire to see the Sickles brigade,
went to Camp SCOTT for that purpose.
examined the men and found some good ones
among them, but they have not that general
look OF intelligence about them which charac-
terzes the New England regiments. When
| started for York, i found that / could not
get by the guards without pass. | went to
the officer of the da and told ..him l was
visitor, and wanted to be passed out. He
| looked as though he had seen service in
| Tammany caucus, or the succeeding election
He said that he had had that trick played
/ on him before by the boys passing themselves
| off for visitors, and get over to York for a
tunb," and thou ght 1 could not trick him
! this time | saw j was of no use to say more
/ to him, so putting on bold cheek, went to
the Generals tent. who ordered the Adiutant
to write me furlough while the man of Key
notoriety, stood and doubted my veracity.
found it to be of great service to me, for was
challenged at the wharf and at every corner
by an officer, who in connection with the
whole police force, managed to keep the
brigade within bounds.
When / arrived at the Depot. met the
Chaplain of the regiment, who informed me
that Stoddard, of the Waterbury company,
died Monday morning at ! o'clock of putrid
sore throat. He was respected and loved by
/ his comrades. and they deeply mourn his loss.
| hear the cause of his disease was this Il
cannot youch for the truth of it for | was not
presently Some or all of the company got
permission to 90 IN bathing, and did not re-
turn within the time specified into ten or fif-
teen minutes. As punishment for this, they
were compelled to drill two hours, and some
of the time in one Of the hardest rain storms
that was ever known in this region. Young
/ Stoddard told the Colonel an hour before his
death, that he was dying and that was the
cause His father, Judge Stoddard, came
after him to-day. Yesterday our regiment
was ordered to pack their knapsacks and
make ready to proceed into Virginia, cross
ing the rivor by steamer. In a very few
minutes the tents were all struck, and every
thing all ready, when the order was reversed
because baggage wagons could not be got.
The order came again this morning, and the
boys are all in a hustle, while am lifted into
a wagon with six others, and started for the
general hospital The driver tells me that
we make the sixth load. There are about
so underline Surgeons care and many more
that are not fit for duty. A good many have
the measles but find that Diarrhpa is very
prevalent The boys are we'll cared for by
the Surgeon and Assistant. who are every
way fitted for their position, and have a good
deal of sympathy for suffering humanity.
arrived at the hospital on Second street. which
is a splendid building, and has nice flower
garden in front. Everything Is neat and
comfortable. It is owned and conducted by
the Sisters of Charity, who are all their names
indicate to the sick and dying soldiers On
the left OF my bed is fireman Zouave, who
was shot in both heels. One of his feet had
to be amputated, and the other one. tn ough
badly mutilated, they are trying to save. At
the foot Of my bed is member of one of the
New York regiments, who was shot in the
middle third of the thigh
While am writing now, there is a hustle
in the opposite room. l learn the cause A
soldier who was wounded while on picket
duty Sunday night is dying. A comrade
holds him in his arms while he breathes
his life out sweetly there"
We hear ofnothing but the expected bat
Ties which must soon take place. The Yer
mont boys were highly elated on acc cunt o.
being ordered on to face the music. l must