Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-07-12
CAMP FAIRBAEks, }
WASHINGTON, DC.
June 27tb, 1851. }
DEAR FREE PBEs

June Ztth, lchl-
DEAR FREE TBEss
We passed on through New Jersey, whore We
saw the most enthusiastic crowds Of ladies you
ever imagined. Long lines Of them were beside
the track, waving haLdkerchiefs throwing fow-
ers, clapping hands and bidding Us God speed as
We passed. Ono lady / noticed was out with a
company Of ,nfantry, some thirty in number, al
under ten year. of age, each with little fag'
and most Of them with red, white and blue frocks
Our reception in Philadelphia was cordial, and
worthy the State Of William Penn. As We near
ed Baltimore, all things seemed changed. There
/ began to see that we were divided people.
Then 1 tnar that the institutions Of the two Sec
ions wc-c at eterz Il eHmhy Di,R one aro.iu. The
fields, 10 longer titled by freemen, were dreary
and desolate-pcor in fruit and flowers, rich in
rank weeds. The houses no longer looked clean
and neat, like our good old New England homes,
but, save lew stately mansions, they were i'll
shaped and dilap.jl.rd. As a sample, let me de
scribe the appearance Of one.
Standing back about twenty yards from the
road it stood, little whiteva.hed mansion,
with an enormous riazza attached, which looked
like the advanced guard Of lumber yard.
No pies ant groves threw their Charms around Il ,
but The rot sun beat upon i viii searching heat.
The shingles were hanging this way a1l that
each N is own single nail, independent as the
own-r; the chimney had been gulwod by TIC
teeth Of time, until OILY shape less mass re-
manned: the negro Luts were grim dots OF
mere appropriately grease sp3.s' ; the fields
showed the marks Of clumsy farmer, and yet
this vas the home Of great slave holdeT-o ne
worth his Thousands, a fair sam PIE Of the Mary
lard slave owners.
baltimore was quiet, but seemed more like a
mu1zlei bulldog than any thing else. l heard
frequently words from the police, telling men to
be still that our guns were loaded with buck shot,
that each 1nan had concealed revolver, &c. N0u
my be sure Of one thing that Is, they did not cIer
TO entertain Us with coffee and crackers One Of
my boys was handed pie for your captain
but for some reason or other, threw It into the
fellows face All we're on the look ont for poison,
and with good reason.
Notwithstanding the fatigue and scorching IN
our boys were all as happy as possible They
sang Dixie, &c, much to the wonderment Of
hose who had done no rt7HiHg Up a1d d0tra The
,and hills Of Burlington. We came into camp
with one man sick, Howard q Wcztford, who is
nov IN the hospital.
Cur camp is pleasantly situated about three
fyurths Of a mile las, Of the Capital. on a hill.
The y. Y. 18th is shout quarter Of a mile fgr-
Their "a.
Washington IL fast filing " vi;h troop On
every hill the tents OF regiment dot the ground.
There Is no doubt expressed hero as 90 the events
oI the next ten dsys-4U e'pea, s7me ilrd fighting.
i is erilcrt sorslug is going on, for the utmost
vigilance is kept aud ali ave commanded to be
ready to march at a moments warning.
You must not be surprised TO hear that va have
been sent into Virginia in few days. " 81
l7rr,o.
Your truly, y / J..