Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1861-10-18
The Third Regiment---Its Condition and its
Nan

relates to the comfort of those who have
gone from our midst to the seat of war,
and especially are We interested in any
thing relating to the Sd, and 9TH Rcgi-
ments, in which are so many Lam ollie
County boys-in which so many have a
husband, q son or brother Let us not
forget that cold weather is coming, and
that it will pinch them, even in the "Old
Dominion" for though winter is not as
severe there as here, there are many weeks
when the warmest of clothing will be
necessary to comfort. The following from
the Caledonian we commend to the at
tention of our readers. Let us Of Lamoille
County not be behind those of other Sec
tions in providing for the comfort of our
friends in the army
1--WE have had the pleasure, within a
few days, of meeting several persons who
have been at Camp Advance and remained
there several days, and whose opportu-
mites of seeing the boys and knowing
their condition, both physically and moral
ly, have been most ample From these
gentlemen we learn, that the Vermont
Sd is model regiment so far as disci-
pline and correct department is concerned /;
that they have earned and haze the repu-
tation Of being the best regiment of vol
untecrs in the field, and that they have
received the highest concentrations from
their officers and from brigadier Gen.
Smith. As an instance in point which
shows the esteem in which our boys are
held, it is said that at that unfortunate
affair at Falls Church when the federal
troops were firing into each other and
when whole regiments were breaking ranks
and retreating to camp in semi-panic,
Gen. Smith came riding up and made an
inquiry to which the officer in command,
misunderstanding, replied, pointing to
our boys who stood as firm and composed
as if upon parade, Here, sir, is the Ver-
mont 3d. The Vermont Sd ? Numbered
the General, 4 alaoays kno,c phere to. find
THAR
1.-THE fact, however, of the value and
reliability of the Sd has operated some
what against the boys. They have been
almost literally worked to death. They
have built forts, cut down forests, con-
structcd roads and bridges, gone on Skin
mishing expeditions, and fought the rebels
generally, until there are at the present
time but five hundred men in the whole
regiment capable of bearing arms, and
those five hundred are sorry lot Of SOL
diers. We do not mean that they re-
greet that they have taken up arms to de-
fend their country, but that they have
been so overworked and abused that they
have lost all their former elasticity, and
nearly all their ambition. Yet we are
told that there remains the same willing
spirit that actuated them from the first.
They 60 to their task with determination
| almost DESPERATION that seems to say, If
needs be can do this work, though hard /;
| can expose my life on picket-guard or in
the death-damp of my tent, with but a
single blanket to cover me, if my country
demands the sacrifice.
But docs the country demand such a
sacrifice? We doubt it. But this brings
us to the wants of the Sd. First, thcy
want General who will realize that SOL
diers have a mortal body, Next in i'm
portance they each want another good
blanket. The nights are already very
damp and cold--what will they be in six
weeks hence Z The fogs OF the Potomac
arc killing more of Smiths brigade than
the rebels are. Still there have becn but
few deaths as yet, but the seeds of death
are there, as the hollow cough and thin
faces fully demonstrate; and in three six
and twelve months will come the harvest
Besides blankets, the soldiers want ed
quilts feelings, undershirts, drawers
handkerchiefs, towels, and many Other
things which the government cannot o,
will not furnish at present, but which
must come, if at all, from the friends a,
home