Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-08-16
FRoM NE SECOND REoIMENr.


service, in grove not far distant. One can
hardly tell when sunday arrives, aud until
you reach the suffers department TO purchase.
pies or cakes, and find it closed, you will be
unaware what day it is. | believe. however,
they have permission TO open until a. m.
Day before yesterday we all were marched
down 20 witness the execution Of private in
the n Hampshire Second Regiment think.
who was found guilty Of killing woman in
the streets Of Alexandria, by shooting her
with his musket. lie was hung on gallows
built upon the walls Of Fort Ellsworth
He met his death bravely aud calmly, and
was not permitted to speak but the rope was
slipped over his head. his hands tied. a hand.
kerchef thrown over his eyes and he was
dropped into eternity.
Elisha Cass is very sick, and It is rumored
that he Is dangerously so. The rest OF the
company arc enjoying, generally speaking.
excellent health. Nathan Huniley of Co. ID.
Waterhury. died this morning OF diptheria, at
the regimental hospital. Measles do not rage
among the soldiers AS at first believe We
have not single case. Our encampment
will probably be changed soon as theie are
so many of Us living together. and dirt accu-
mulating fast, wasted food decaying, &c
it viii become unhealthy and during the
d" dog days we shall therefore become troub.
led by sickness Our ever clear-headed Cap
tain IF. v Randai) has several times visited
Col. Whiting in reference TO il. and he has
thought removal would be IA good idea
j it is decided to move, wc shall not go off
from the plantation.
Rev. Mr.. Stone. the patriotic chaplain Of
the First Vermont Regiment, Is here. having
had quite task to find US. lie delivered
quite an eloquent sermon to-day, and it was
gerry interesting. He has son in this rcgi-
ment
Private Harran, Of Company F. arrived in
Washington on Friday, and through the
strctness OF General Mcclellan he was not
atle 20 obtain pass at once. but arrived in
Camp this morning, bringing quite a number
of letters to us from home and friends. We
were glad TO welcome him.
noticed that Capt Randalls and my ac-
counts Of Lieut.. Phillips and Crossman's ac-
tions. &c. conflict Upon my arrival in
Washington enquired Of some Of the men Of
our company how our officers appeared upon
the field they said " they done nubly''; but
have since learned that Lieut.. Phillips stop
ped for some water and did not march on to
the field with the regiment. but from his own
lips and from others, / have learned that he
was in the fight and with the brigade.
have known Lieut.. Phillips and know him
we'll, and any Of his friends who are acquaint-
ed with him will youch for his bravery lie
is brave and courageous, and nothing could
have kept him from the field bat weakness OF
sickness although other accounts seem to
insinuate lack of courage, u IS not so.
1t IS rumored about camp and seems to be
considered true, that we all are going home
at the end of three months IL is claimed
that there in same flaw in our enlistmonts,
end also that we arc going to retake the
oath, &c 1t is rumOrcd that orders came 10
our Colonel that if we did not take the oath,
&c. we should be sent home Many say
that they will never take the oath under the
present Colonel. | am afraid those are little
cowardly. made so probably by our recent
defeat. But | hope they will aid us in re-
gaining and establishing what honor the
Green Mountain Boys have los, in the Bull
Run battle, by the bravery Of their CoioHe
and his superior officers. Hereafter | will
endeavor to give you an earlier report of al
fairs Of interest which may transpire.
J. b. l..
In private letter of later date tie writer
of the above saws that Elisha Cass is better
and able To- be in camp. He says also that
they have received four days rations, aud ex-
pected to move from their present position.
The following graphic description Of the part
which thc Second Vermont Regiment took m the
battle at Bull Run j. given in letter 10 the
burlington Times, evident, from the pen Of the
Major G.. II. Joyce, the gallant MAJOR Of the Re-
giment: --
CAsr or SECOND VT. RrGMENr,)
CLERMoNr, 6 ms, from Alexandria, Va.
August /, 1861.
Ep.r,pe rut, fTf,trs 4 am r fi,o ,vl hon
! left Burlington promised TO write you often in
regard TO all matters pertaining to the Vermont
Second, and | am equally aware that | have not
kept my promise; but when You reflect moment
upon my duties in camp and position in our rrgi-
ment you will, | know, forgive me- The history
of our triumphant route from Burlington to Wash
ington has, 10y this time, become exhausted and
shall pass over that aud take You TO the hill east
of the Capitol in the most terrible shower of rain
that was ever known, and there you may
boys, wet TO the skin, pitching our tents and pre-
pairing their supper on the afternoon of the 26ti
OF June OF our stay in the city it is enough to
Say that we had "a grand time, and enjoyed our
selves largely. But at last the order came To
" strike tents and packed up our g duds
and started for some point the exact location of
which were not informed but time, which
always brings out some where, brought Us, about
sun down. and in an awful thunder shower, out at
Commodore DE FORESTS estate about six miles
west OF Alexandria Here, wet through as rats,
We pitched into the mud and went 10 sleep. was
perfectly worn out by the labors of the day that
had not strength TO raise my tent, and by invita-
ton from Capt. Dillingham;, whose tent was up, L
turned into his mud-hole, and wrapped my over
coat around me aud laid down TO pleasant dreams
The next morning we arose under scorching
Virginia sun, which soon dried us OF, aud we
found ourselves in very pleasant location; and
here let me say that during all the rain, toll and
fatigue of the previous day not murinur or word
OF complaint heard from one OF our men.-
They bore themselves as they always have, like
heroes. We now learned that our Regiment was
the advance guard towards Manassas Junction,
and that we we're occupying post of danger as
well as honor. Here we commenced our first les
son in active field operations. We were imlncdi-
ately in the enemy's country, and our time was
pretty well occupied in guard and picket duty
OF all our adventures | have not time or space to
write. Others have given you the history OF them,
and | will only say that our boys always ON
hand aud ready to do their duty, however difficult
or dangerous.
About this time we were advised that we were
joined TO Col Howard's Brigade, which was COM
posed of three Maine Regiments and our OWL
We found Col. Howard 10 be one OF the finest of
men, and perfect gentleman in every sense OF
the vortl and W.. hnVn simon fn,tnb nut flat hp il