Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-12-20
BY r. P, WALTON
FROM WASHINGTON.

A'iN ehiS, uVuOtieba, you nave received the L
report of the Secretary Of the Treasury.
However startling may be the formidable fig (
ures, the candor and thorough honesty of the
Secretary will command your admiration. BY
these qualities, with his great ability Secre- /
tary Chase has won the confidence and CO.
operation Of capitalists and thus the task
which to most other men would have been
impossible, has in hishands been easy. Does
anybody shudder at the blunt statement that
in seven months more the national debt will |
exceed five hundred millions and that if the .
war continues for another year, the debt will .
reach nine hundred millions on the LIST Of Ju- .
ly, 1868 Lot him consider this fact at
Richmond, Virginia, the rebel capital, while /
the paper Of rebel banks is at thirty-fve per
cent discount, the demand notes Of the United
States are at par Be comforted, o ye North |
ern men tf little faith. Southern rebels
think that Uncle Sam is good. And lie is.
With property valued at eleven thousand
millions in the loyal States, and surplus earn
ings Of three hundred millions, he can afford
TO run in debt a thousand millions, or thrice
that if need be- Still trust that it will not
be necessary
The Army of he Potomac.
There was little furry in town yesterday,
on a reported advance Of the rebels from Lees
burgh toward our line. l learn that two d.
visions, including the ermont brigade, were
called out in battle array, but nothing came
oft. Two reconnotering parties and balloon
inspection by LaMouutain detected no import
ant movements Of the enemy.
Slavery
has occupied a great deal Of the attention
Of members, inside and outside Of Congress
Las, night Republican caucus agreed unan-
imously upon the policy Of condscatng all
property Of rebels The caucus was not full
about sixty present.
DECEMBER Is, 1861.
The Vermont Brigade again.
Again | visited the Vermont brigade yes
terday. and at once have to report more
favorably Of the sick. The men have been
successful in improving their quarters, by
erecting log cabins, well plastered with the
sacred soil Of Virginia and the soil afore-
said has, it not an odor Of sanctity. very
remarkable sticking quality. Perhaps in
creased comfort will give increased health, OF
at least diminish the colds coughs. and rheu-
matte aches, which come from cold and wet
quarters. The hospitals also are becoming
larger and more comfortable; and | was
cured that these are really better quarters for
the sick than the pent up rooms Of private
houses When say that hospital consists
OF house Of canvass, or in some cases Of
logs, with the cots ranged down each side,
having barely room to pass between them to
the walls and also through alley running
the length Of the building between the cots
at the 1907 OF v~-'. in short. just like rail-
road passenger eat, supoosing the ssats 10 be
--------saa- vue-quIvs Ink that THE il not
But the hospital is quiet, ordinarily, -.l,e~ao
fciently warm, and open doors in fine wealth
or at each end quickly ventilats the entire
apartment. There are no cellars, closets, or
attics. to hold the poisoned air and il the
air outside could be purified Of its miasmatic
qualities, should be hopeful Of very good
reports from the hospitals met in camp
Mr.. j. b. Langdon, just recovering from fe-
yer, and looking at east twenty years older
for the attack but think he will soon look
as many years younger. He was visitor to
the camp, you are aware. His son has also
been down, but is now looking all the better
for the attack. Joseph Sanders, another
Montpelier boy, has been down a week Of
the fever and when he recognized Mrs W
aud myself at his bedside in the hospital, be
sobbed out 1t makes me feel bad to
you e. and burst into tears. The yoor fellow
was reminded Of home. Captain Randall
gave good report Of Sanders, and hope he
will soon recover. Here let me say that the
result Of the trial OF Capt Randall and Lieut..
Phillips has long been before Gen. Mcclellan
for approval, and that they detained from
duty only by the delay in reaching the case.
Nobody doubts favorable result, aud Col.
Whiting Justly complains that the thing is
so long delayed. A court martial is still in
session in the brigade, and has been for some
weeks and it has somewhat interiered with
the regular drills Of the brigade There was
drill, however, yesterday; and taking posi-
terry (Shermans at Bull Rum | saw at
glance three brigades on the field, two bat .
teries of artillery, and squadrons of cavalry,
of which two regiments are camped in the
immediate neghborhood. With full ranks,
there would have been twenty thousand men,
bat suppose there were not more than half
that number. The Vermont brigade was es-
timated at one-half of its full number. The
other half consisted of men on picket duty, .
excused from service, and sick Had the
enemy attacked our picket line, which was in
sight beyond Townsville, | think that at
least four-fnhs Of our brigade would have
been found ready and anxious TOR duty. Col. I
smalley is now with his regiment, having
been long detained by sickness. The Sixth
regiment (Col. Lord's) comes into the work
we'll