Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-12-20
gaatrbmam & statr 9uurnal.
BYE P. WALTON.
MoNTPELIER. pECEMBER 90. 1851
FROM WASHINGTON.
DECEMBER ., 1861.

!
The Vermont delegation spent Saturday last
in visiting the Vermont brigade, examining
the camp and hospitals, and inquiring into the
condition and wants Of the men. The region
occupied by the brigade is very beautiful to
the eye, though bearing the marks of war; not
a fence is to be seen, and the trees are rapid
/, ly disappearing under the blows Of the axe
n men. Every hill is occupied by camps, and
every house is used for quarters or as a hos
!, pital Generally the camps are pitched upon
/ the tops of the hills to secure drainage, and
: the ground is stripped Of herbage, thoroughly
r trodden down, and swept as clean as a floor
: of clay can be. In dry and pleasant wealth
err camp life is very agreeable, but in rain and
wind and sleet. such will prevail through
much of the winter, the camp must be exceed
ingly uncomfortable and unhealthy. In stat
ing heretofore that eleven hundred men of the
brigade were on the sick list" | was lit
tle inaccurate, though gave the statement as
| received it. 1t is true that the number
excused from duty" is as large as that
Many Of these. however. are but slightly in I
disposed. II is true, however, that the list
of sick is large, and that some of the diseases
are of a bad character, such as typhoid fever |
and pneumonia. Gov. Holbrook very pro-
perly sent DIR. Phelps Of Windsor to make a
thorough examination of the camps, and to
advise such measures as are required for the
safety and comfort Of the men. The Doctor
gave a week to this service, and to-day he
goes home to report. His report has the un-
animous approval of the delegation. and it
will doubtless result in an enlarged medical
force and various necessary improvements in
hospital arrangements and supplies of medi-
cine. The condition of the brigade demands
these, and the Governor will have ample ius
tifeation for any responsibility he may as
sume,-while | say this ought also to say
that it is not true that the Vermont brigade
is the worst in point of sickness. A Maine re-
giment in the same neighborhood is suffering
even worse than any one OF our regiments
and the army of the Potomac generally,
think, must have about the same experience
as tnat of the Vermont brigade. There are
differences Of location, but generally the ar
my is on a retentive soil, and at this season of
the year is peculiarly exposed to typhoid few
ers, bilious complaints, and diseases of the
throat and lungs. These are the natural dis
eases Of the region. An advance to gravel
ly or sandy region would bring an improve ,
ment but ,
VIZ The army adgance?
The men are anxious to advance the Off
GERS are prudent. Nobody knows, The i'm
prossion prevails to some extent that the army !
Of the Potomac will hold its present position G
for the defence of the capital, /
and be used n reserve from which troops =
will be detached as wanted on the southern , !
coast. The men are preparing somewhat for .
quarters. Many log cabins are. ,
going up in our brigade to take the place of
tents, and some of them are very neat, as
well as much more commodious and comfort !
able than The tents. or the tents, too, must A.,
say that some Of them are past service, and
others were never fit for winter service at all. /
These things we hope will be speedily reme- !;
lied though there can be no speed unless
he Governor shall take the task. Uncle Sam
las to make large orders, and of course moves 4
,lowly. :,
The Ladies. :,
One word Of thanks TO the ladies Of Yer d
mont Their supply of blankets for hospital !
ise is ample for the present. The ladies of II
he North have done voluntarily what tho y y
Government never would, and probably never n
,ould, have accomplished. Let not the new a,
egiments be forgotten, bat 20 fully prepared al
rom the start. II may be that ia the exgen- o.
les of the winter still more may be needed n
erc but II SO, the soldiers are sure that |
heir mothers and sisters at home will prompt
y supply their wants,
Congress. II
give no speculations as to congressional b
iatters The future is too, indistinct and =
q any event perhaps silence will be the great ~ y,
st wisdom. 1t is kind OF wisdom for which "a
congress never was distinguished and yet nj
think II never needed il more than now fu
n Congress and in the army we need more W
oing and less taiking-more ,Oork and less NJ
lay. ii