The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-10-25
Suttprings OF our Soldiers.

" HE cur soldiers around W ish!hS'oh are
generally well provided for, those IN west
ern Virginia. who have done nearly all the
successful fighting so far, have been shame
fully neglected, and have suffered terribly
We have had hints of their condition in Sew
eral private letters, and the facts are now
coming out more publicly. At public
r,eeting in Cincinnati, last Wednesday. Mr.
Miller, who had Just returned from visit to
western Virginia, related what he had seen
here, and drew picture of the Sixth Ohio
regiment and others tina: was anything but
bright. He stated that more han two hum
dred of the Guthrie Grays were in pitiable
condition for the want OF clothing. and many
Of this number had hardly enough to conceal
their nakedness. The men did not complain
much-he supposed for the reason that all
were so badly off. He also gave discrip-
oar troops in that quarter, which exhibits a
degree Of rascality on the part of contractors,
Of inspectors, that need the immediate atten
ton of the proper authorities. The shoes
flrn he'd the Fifth Ohio regiment looked
well at first, but the Soles were mainly of
wood. The outside sole was OF thin leather
and another thin leather sole was next the
foot. bat the filing between was entirely of
wood When the shoes became wet, the out
SIDE soles soon rubbed of. the wood fell out.
and then they were worthless. Col Ford
next addressed the meeting at some length
and with great earnestness. He had been
called before them very unexpectedly, and
had no object in stating anything but the
truth He fully endorsed all that had been
stated by Mr. Miller. but said he had not told
half the truth. The condition of some of the
regiments in western Virginia could not be
imagined, much less described. 81 was
through the Mexican war" said the colonel,
with both divisions of the army, and thought
that had there been made familiar with hu-
man suffering in all its forms: but tell you
canddlv, | have seen more suffering on Cheat
Mountain. within the past five weeks, than |
lid in all the Mexican campaign" He sad
L. had seen it rain on the mountain incessant-
AMI that the men had done duty when the
horses around them died from exposure.
1t is gratifying to observe that the most
1ergetlc measures have been adopted in
Cincinnati for the relief Of the suffering sold
- just returned % that city from western
VIRGINIA. HE c.tizr:> lave taken hold OF
tha mater III II right spirit.
The retreat of Gen Eo,n ais, Withou,
giving battle to Gen Lee, was doubtless made
necessary by :he restitution and suffering OF
his troops. The facts bring disgrace on the
Wal department and on the country.
Miscellaneous War Items.
Pref LaNiountain made balloon recon
uas>uncr SATURDAY afternoon. the wind car
rl.rs Inn some six miles OVER the rebel camp,
% Fairfax station and Court House, anC
landed a Blenkers headquarters. He saw
their eilcampments at Manassas, but no re
b.. force WAS seen this side Of Fairfax Cour
House, at which place were only few com
lanes with appearances Of a recent evacua
TON There was large force at Fairfax sta
ton. Other valuable information was ob
tanned, which is in TIE possession Of thu
government. When landing our German
troops fred on him several times, thinkin:
he was a rebel. Several bullets perforated
his balloon.
Mr. Ely of Rochester, who is a prisoner il
the hands OF the rebels at Richmond, ha
sent intelligence Of the death at that place c
Nr Calvin IIuson, who was taken prlSone
the day after the battle of Bull Run. NJ
Huson had been ailing for some time. IL
was a student Of law in the office Of Hon "
H. Seward, whose niece he subsequent
married had graduated at Geneva college
NV York. ana was engaged IN the practc
o.! the law fer the las. fourteen years.