The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-11-09
Letter from Capt stearns, Company l. 4th
Regiment.

Letter from Capt. stearnS, Company l. 4th
Regiment.
A f.iend furnishes us with the following
extract of letter from the seat of war:
CAMP GRIFFIN, Va,
Oct 2Sth, 1861.
DEAR Sir Since last wrote YOU, the
Vermont brigade has removed from its for
mcr encampment at Chain Bridge, to our
present situation near LewinsviIlc, which is
i'll many respects far superior to that occupied
by US at Camp Advance, possessing all the
advantages with none Of the disadvantages OF
our former rough and luddled cncamp,nent
on the banks OF the muddy Potomac. Our
first oucampment in Virginia was such as to
give us not very exalted opinion Of the for
mer prosperity OF the Old Dominion, being in
a country thinly and apparently poorly set
tled striking contras, to our present stu
alton, which once must have been one Of the
most pleasant, in the most pleasant OF coun
tries. But now, alas! at every step we meet
the ruinous effects of this most horrld war;
Magnificent buildings, broad, fertile and well
cultivated aids, showing the wealth and
prosperity Of their former owners now de-
serted. They are now used as quarters and
parade grounds OF Ito them) Il foreign SOL
dicry. Large fields OF grain waving in Vir-
ginia, just ready for the husbandnlan, is trod
into the ground by the regardless trooper ;
fences removed, fruit trees dug up and an
cient forests leveled to give place to fortified
encampments; and yet with all these uupleas-
antries it is still pleasant place. What,
then, must it have been when peace and unity, T.,
hand in hand. were the predominant clements
in every part OF this now unfortunate aud un-
happy couutry. Down with the traitors who
have forced this mad war upon US war to
the hiIt, until those traitors and that wither-
ing blighling curse which is the root Of the
war, are forever eItermlnated. May God
hast the day.
There is HOW going Oh before my eyes one
OF the grandest Sights which we unsophlstlca-
ted Ncrmontcrs often see. a grand review
OF Major General Smiths division moving
by, column after column, with that precision
and regularity which ever attends the move.
ment OF the soldier upon a grand review
As | see filing past those thousands OF strong,
brave men, with naughty defiance and cou-
scious strength in every movement equipped
and accompanied by the most destructive en-
gines of modern warfare, can but think Of
the day when they shall meet the foe upon the
field of battle. If they fly before theul al
right, but if not dare not thinN OF the con-
sequences.
The health of the regiment is generally
good, their courage increasing with their dis.
cipline, which has reached sucn a state OF per
fection even at this early day that we would
not, without a struggle, yield the palm to reg
iments which have been in the field months to
our weeks. We have lately heard that an
attempt was being made by the Legislature
to give US cur uniforms. The news was
cheering indeed to US, reminding us that We
were still thought Of and cared for by friends a
home. We await the result with much anx
iety. We have thus far been quite comfor
table, but as the weather grows colder we art
gently reminded that we have no Vernon
: sores to make purchases of warm woolle
flannel and socks. Hoping to hear from yor
at the close of the session, it not before,
remain truly yours,
Il. AS