The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-11-29
GREEN MOUNTAIN FREEMAN, NOV. 20, 1861.

can, ill their havcrsacks with hard bread and
raw pork, and find or steal wood enough to
make coiite Tor our canteens. All Of which ne
did, and ut half past four 0 clock 26O men out
of this Regiment were on the march Tor the out
posts. | have but little to say abou; the duty
us it is now performed [ consider it anything
but right. From six to twelve [ .sas on q re.
serve about one-halt mile north of Lewlnsvile.
This is another deserted village, that looks lar
more desoiate even than Falls Church, though
once 1t was d iioursiing place, the abode OF
Northern as well as Southern families. There
, arc about forty buildings | should judge, large
and small, tar and near, and as | marched
through there on Friday night about eight
clock, with my little squad of twenty men, there
was no lighted windows to be seen, not sound
to oe heard, and save the tramp Of a mounted
orderly, or tie measured tread of some passing
!" relief" Townsville at night is a solitude.
About twelve O'Clock | was posted with
twenty men, two Corporals and Sergeant, in
. small and beautiful grove of second growth
pines The post was SO situated that we could
readily keep "a small fire without being observed.
l Immediately posted ten men to relieve Others
who were then patroIing over an cminence near
by The only orders received were, GO to keep
a good lookout and let no soldier or citizen
pass Very well, with these instructions l
posted my men. About two clock | sat down
IN the grove to eat my dinner, after which |
visited my sentinals and learned that three
mounted officers had been up, dressed in Federal
uniforms, received u salute from the seu.inels
and passed in and back again outside the lines.
" Did you challenge .hclu|' asked. Why,
no, they were our own men, H. Z. officers"
t. ii0w do you Know th;.t = asked. "Ihey said
they were, and knew ono q rhcm.' " Very
well hat Eay ell be 80. | have 70 doubt but
WET thy were OK inca, hn. suppose u rebel
0.ccr, dressed il sL2 Same UNIFORM had ap-
preached yon, you would have saiu!ed him and
les him pass, would y0a H0,{' ~ guess |
should, bat didn't think Of that | then
tool: the responsibility to Instruc: my e4nt;ue!s
10 halE cci1y5oay, officer Or no officer aud if lie
or they had no written Oass u Ggi toa0c Ug den.
slty % arrest them. could sec ID other way
TO Go, though | was actiog without instructions,
bHG II ottcE ecntineIs had 10 different orders
lhah those giYen TO me and my men, vii sol4,-
QUO inform me Wt.aJ shero is to prevent even
Jt H. Al'ascA from crossing our pickcts ny GUy-
|9ht, ans seeing all i!o chooses 10 see, and be-
s4t4t@l int" tic bargain 'i'ho instructions
such rs we did oot, wcro, SO to speak, second
Haa1ea, telnG gwen my mon Dy the sentincis
" i%4S"oF0 @NEtifE:t none Wil!tGi2r !iQG TIE
i }id->iicor. Ike did nos even visit my post
mention these things Of course, noJ to ere /
ate any difficulty CT prsjadi2e, bat simply as {.
&1Atem9n: 1t .ac:s, aaG 20 show, at least in part |
ho" u IS that r.beIs kno" ali our plans Let !
mo or yoa be rc1e OF the deepest dye, rive
us the Uniform Of y Vernon. o. New York Col !
one! or General, and q go>l hose, and any day
we cin pass cur picket Inc, and rep4ss twenty
times # rsc. ssory. wiz! plans ard Specification
CT all that this array is dJint. What is to
froyentl But if ever / am On pict1t aeain, |
will take the chances Of being placed on arrest |
but what will stop even Mcclellan himself,
ard maze him prore who and what be is Re
member that say this can be done, provided,
'tDtiEt!s are Eot instructed 4 Gerent!y from
!" lAt mine were, and have no reason to think
they arc. Yet, hope they are SO much lor
PICK is, i2emamber also that it is Of daylighl
I.at am speaking, u. light it is not so, no one
,ogid pass then, except ia balloon
have no" given You all the details tina. oc.
.Rr to me that think would interest you, and
. long letter have made Of it. have ever
RED to be Il close observer not only of men, but
.ainSs, and all this ~ simply the result of my
observation. am glad to hear that more YER
mont troops are coming, --we will siyo them
soldier i welcome, and believe that is Simply
IN opportunity to worl. all the time and crowl
when they have IA chance.
Yours Sc
SEE SEE Ess.