Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1861-12-06
From the Third Regiment.
CAMP GRIFFIN, Nov. 81, 1861

reference to our own company, 1t being
composed mainly of men from your i'm
mediate vicinity.
We are stationed some five or six miles
from Chain Bridge, near Townsville,
where, from present appearances, we shall
be very likely to go into winter quarters.
! infer this from several circumstances
which have come under my notice within
the last two or three days, such AS
the building of permanent ovens, sta
bles for the horses, &c &c. Every
thing is quiet here at present, as it has
been for four or five weeks past. Moth
ing is doing except our regular routine of
picket and guard duty, our ordinary drills
and daily camp duties with now and then
a review. Yesterday there was re-
view Of our brigade with others, at Balls
Cross Roads, before Gen. Mcclellan and
staff, accompanied by the President and
Secretaries Seward and Cameron. The
review took place on large open field
between Munson's Hill and Bailey,
Cross Roads. The probability is that
never before in this country has there
been assembled together such an i'm
mense number of armed men as were
reviewed yesterday by Gen. Mcclellan
on the sacred soil of Virginia. The d.
visions reviewed were those of Generals
Mccall, Mcdowell, Heintzleman, T. j.
Porter, Franklin, and Smith, comprising
in all ninety regiments of infantry, TWEEN
ty batteries of artillery numbering over
one hundred guns, and nine regiments of
cavalry, forming an aggregate OF 10000
troops. From the summit of Munson's
Hill, on one side can be distinctly seen
the city of Washington, on the other,
we're it not for one distinct hill, might be
seen the far famed Manassas. The dis
lance from our camp is about five miles
which gave our boys the benefit OF ten
miles march, yet all fell repaid Tor the
fatigue.
Our regiment now seems to be in very
good spirits. We have the very best
of officers, including field, staff, and com.
pany. We have good clothing, good
arms aud equipments, plenty Of good and
substantial food al d very good health in
comparison with what we had few
weeks ago, There is only one fault la
our equlppage which is Of any particular
consequence, that is our tents. They are
small thin, leaky, miserable thng.,
scarcely fit wien new for warm weather,
totally unfit since cold and wet weather
has come upon US. With thes-, except
for our Yankee genius for invention, we
should suffer; but we remedy this to a
great extent by digging trenches in the
ground in the bottom Of our tents thro'
to beyond the outside, covering over with
stone and dirt except a small place inside
the tent where we build fires, allowing
the smoke TO escape through the trench,
over the outer end Of which we set a bar.
rel with both heads out, and line with
Virginia mud, which when baked an
swers very well for chimney. With
this arrangement we can keep ourselves
very comfortable in dry weather, but our
tents are so thin and small that our ar
rangement is of little account when it
rains.
The men in our company are very
much more healthy than they were few
weeks ago, None are dangerously sick
at present. Three are in the general
hospital, viz, Charles Garvne, William
Wiley, and John Ellsworth. -Four are
in Iegmental hospital, viz, j. ?. Gage,
Henry Moulton, B. B. Cleveland, and
II. G. Beaman. In addition 10 the above
several were excused from drill this NOR
ming, although with few exceptions they
could be rallied at a moments notice if it
were understood there was rebel in sight
who needed killing. There are a few of
this number who, no doubt, will be dis.
charged soon on account of disability, as
they are not able to endure the fatigue
which we are called upon to undergo ev-
cry few days. We shall be very sorry
to lose them from our ranks, as they
number among our most patriotic and
loyal men, and except for constitutional
defect would rank among our best duty
men. Among the number we are about
to lose is Sergeant T. Abel Chase, from
Jay, man of true patriotism, one who
would not he deprived for any price
whatever Of the privilege of battling
against the foe of his country, one who
has ever faithfully performed every duty
assigned him and constantly urged others
to the necessity Of doing the same, yet
he has remained until prudence and profit
to himself and the government both for
bid his longer stay. He has been suffer