Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1861-08-16
From the Vermont Third.

From the Vermont Third.
Correspondence of the Bellows Falls Times.
CAMP LYON, GEORGETOWN HEIGHTs, !
d. c., AUG. A, 1861.
Dear Times We are prospecting "dread-
fully" down here in this southern climate.
The Vermont Sd are rapidly learning what
hot weather is. 1t was hot when we came,
and is hot yet-and terribly hot too; and |
suspect it will continue SO for month or
two yet But we enlisted for everything,
and all we have to say is, let everything
come. If we live through it we shall be
the better and wiser, if we do not-no mat
ter. l suppose you have heard about our
trip here from Vermont. 1t would be
strange if you did not get some account of
our journey. never saw nor heard of
anything like it. We received ovatons
everywhere on the route, even in Baltimore.
After our good time at Bellows Falls-and
we shall remember it long-we were next
treated at Brattleboro, and generously too
Everything was furnished that we could re-
ceive or the people give. | doubt if we
passed house on the entire line of railroad
without receiving some encouraging cheer
We took in our haversacks one days rations
at St. Johnsbury, and when we arrived in
Washington | think most of US had two
days instead OF one in our sacks. / don't
remember all the places we stopped at, but
wherever we did stop we had all we want
ed to eat and drink. AT Hartford, CT, the
sons of Vermont presented Lieut.. Col.
Hyde, for the regiment, beautiful silk
guide flag. The colonel responded TO the
presentation speech in a very neat style.-
We did not arrive at this place till eve, yet
there was an immense crowd present. We
took the boat at New Haven about midnight
for Jersey City. The trip up the harbor
the next morning was new to most of us,
and pleasant to all. At New York we re-
ceived telegram from Lieut.. Grain at Bal
timore, that our regiment was ordered to
Washington, instead of Baltimore. This
Of course pleased US. The same afternoon
we took the cars, and really had delight
ful ride through New Jersey and Pennsyl-
vania. Although thousands upon thousands
of troops had passed over the same route,
yet we were cheered with an enthusiasm
equal TO that of our own New England
At Philadelphia we had a free collation..
They have raised large fund there to
victual all troops that pass through that
city. The ride was long and tedious from
this city TO Baltimore. On the way we
met several three months regiments return
ing home, looking hard enough, but most of
them avering that they should enlist again.
At Baltimore, as before intimated, we
were cheered all along our march through
the city, but it was a hard march. We
were very tired from our long ride and ev-
cry man was loaded down with his heavy
knapsack, and the heat was as great as |
ever experienced. Some of the men actu-
ally fell beneath their loads; but a good
supply of coffee and ham provided by Lieut..
Grain, soon revived us. The celebrated
Fletcher Webster regiment was there on
the same day, on its way to Harpers Fer
ry. We left Baltimore The same evening.
and arrived in Washington the next morn
ing, Saturday, about o'clock. We we're
not long in dropping asleep when we got
into barracks that morning. After light
the boys got glimpse at the 'lions," before
we started for our present encampment.-
We came out here in the afternoon, and
pitched our tents after dark. The 9th of
Maine. a battery and company of drag
oons, regulars, make up with us the guard
of this post, called chain bridge. This
bridge crosses the Potomoc, and is about 8
miles from Fairfax Court House.
Our pickets extend over the Virginia
side sometimes two or three miles. The
first night we were here our boys became
quite excited, at hearing our pickets and
those Of the enemy crack at each other, but
we don't notice it much now. We are TO
have two more regiments here soon. l
think they are needed, for it seems TO me
that in our present state, this is the most
inviting approach on Washington. The
river IS fordable in two places near this
point. We do not apprehend an attack, not
on account Of our own strength, but on ac-
count of lie large number of federal forces
near by. We are especially fortunate in
our colonel. There is no discount upon him
at all.
Gen. Mcclellan was here the other day.
and made Col. Smith eommandant of all