Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1861-06-07
From the Free Press.
From the Vermont Regiment.
Fortress Monroe, May 20, 1851

MEssRs. EDITORS Since my last our
Re siment has removed its quarters outside
of the Fort and Battery, to the Hygeia
Hotel where we are all at present quart
cred, and are exceedingly comfortable,
probably more SO than any Regiment in
the service at this time; as you see by
the plan, we are about 60 rods from the
Fort.
Most of the men sleep on the floor, but
by the kindness of the landlord, Mr.. G. G.
Willard who by the way is Vermonter,
and brother to the Willards of Wash
ington, we all have in our rooms stand,
several chairs, looking glass, and a
wash -bowl and pitcher, which he very
generously loans to us free of charge.
And such as are disposed can have mat
trasses by purchasing them of him at less
than their cost. Our cooking department
is out of doors just across the road from
the Hotel, and we are obliged to eat there.
Each company has nine rooms so that
there has to be 9 or 10 in each room.
The only drawback to our comfort and
the feeling of the men is our poor rations.
Until within a few days we have not had
enough of anything, and it was very poor
at that. Salt pork and mess beef poorly
cooked, and but little Of it, for men wh'
have just left a New England home is
rather poor living. l do not think how
ever, that there would have been any COM
planning at all if there had been any APP
parent necessity for it. We have for
three or four days past had more, and
much better care, and our rations, such as
thew were, are full. We hope soon to
have part of the vegetables allowed us by
the army regulations, and when we do,
do not think there will be any disposition
to grumblc.
There is a great deal of complaint
among the soldiers of the way in which
they are treated by the Surgeon. think
he must have oe'y happy faculty of
making himself generally disagreeable, to
gain the dislike of nearly the whole regi-
ment in so short space of time
Wed'sesdtw-Our Company is on guard
to-day, and am writing this in our tents
on duty. Gen. Butler arrived with some
troops, | have not learned how many.
Many more are expected soon. 1t is said
on good authority that he stated to one of
our staff officers that unless our Regiment
enlisted for three years, we should be sent
home Immediately. There is no doubt as
to the statement being made by him; of
his authority for so stating, we of course
can say nothing. I think, however, that
the prospect of your seeing any of us be-
fore the expiration of the three months is
very small, and possibly of some of us at
that time.
Our picket guard discovered several
men, with muskets, about so rods from
them in pine grove this forenoon; they
were about a mile and half from the
Fort. Col, Dimmick came down immedi-
ately and enquired about. the matter, and
sent two companies of Massachusetts boys
out on a scouting expedition. But they
returned in about three hours, without
having seen anything. Our men we're all
kept awake, and kept a very strict watch
all night am
7hursday.--Our Company were off duty
to-day after 8 o'clock, until P. M.
About half-past 2 this afternoon the drum
beat, and we were called to be ready, and
fall in in fifteen minutes, to 90 over to
Hampton (about IL miles, and drive
off or take an encampment of secessionists,
said to be there. After we had formed,
the Adjutant (Stevens passed along the
line and said that Gen. Butler had said
he would give the Vermont Boys q
chance to be in the first fight.
The entire regiment went, except the
Rutland Company, and they being on
guard could not 60, much to their disap.
pointment can assure you. Capt. Rip.
ley, however, volunteered to 60 and act
as aid--and did 60.
The march, although somewhat dusty
still was very pleasant, through mos
beautiful country, and if it was not fol
the curse upon it, would seem to be tn,
Garden ofthe Union. an