The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-08-02
From Western Virginia.

private letter from Ceredo, published III the
Worcester Spy gives the following picture OF
the condition of things in that vicinity,
Ce2edo, Va, July l, 1861, Western Vlr-
ginia Cor New Virginia. is emphatically great
battle field. might say, think in truth
every man is soldier, every house fort No
man who has arms lays down at night with
his family without having them where he can
put his hand ON them at moments warning
ianG even then he may be too lato,) or travels
through the country without being armed to the
teeth las it is often expressed,) or even to his
fields, in safety. Many are afraid to be out lal
enough from home 10 take care of their crops. as
secession spies or scouts are constantly lurking
about in the woods and fields, like Indians, and
wherever they can find a Union man alone, or a
boy large enough to carry o gun, he is pressed
INFO the service or they will string him up to
the nearest tree or shoot him through.
You speak of camp and the excitement which
prevails there. but think it must be only the
shadow we have the substance. The rebels are
generally badly armed; report says some Of
their gun locks arc tied on with strings, the
stocks whitfield ont of hickory and the barrels
tied in, and their bowe-knives made from pieces
of old scythes or files, extremely unfinished.
will now tell you something about what is
being enacted near home, or at home. We
have a camp here within twenty rods of our
house, but not like yours. which is only Il re-
cruiting camp where men are prepared for SER
wee, but camp for defense, and no man at
night can 90 or come without pass. aud no
stranger at any time.
You eau Judge from the tone of this what
our position is. Excitement prevails and war;
war is all We hear. We feel much safer since
the camp is here than we did BEFORE though we
are not yet cut OF danger. One secessionist
was shot night before last IN trying to approach
the town. lie refused to answer the guard and
was shot. One who was with him took him
off, and it is supposed more were in the rear
who carried him away. Rebel scouts are seen
in the woods on the hill (from the town) every
day. We think il unsafe to 90 to the farm to
work. and fear we shall lose our crops. Two
good Union men were taken by the Rebels a
little above here, yesterday Or day before, and
carried off have not learned their fate, but
presume it will be death to one at least, as he
was a deserter from the Rebel army and took
the oath here at our camp this week.
1t is unsafe for the children to pick the berries
even, as the rebel. have sworn to kill every man,
woman and child, 50 that they will not leave
single sprout tor an " abolitionist to grow
from, More than MALT the houses in town are
empty. their occupants having left for the free
States, but ain determined to stay until am
forced to leave at the point Of the blyonct, 90
who will.
Several Of the rebels who have rot joined the
secession army have found it best to fee, and
have left their homes and families. They have
been active men 10 the rebellion and will fare
hard il they fall into the hands Of Union men,"