The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-07-17


by our paying for it, and we are sometimes
hard pushed. Were it not for our walters,
who are allowed to pass outside of the line,
don't know what would become OF US; and
the inhabitants at some places will not sell to
them but are mostly bitterly hostile to us, and
manifest it by unmistakable signs. We do not
feel as we should were we fighting in our own
State or on friendly ground. The most rigid
vigilance is required to keep our men within
limits, so as TO prevent their being picked oil.
Some will, however, take care OF themselves,
but there are plenty who heedleSsly stray
away. Several from other Regiments have
been killed or captured, which helps Us greatly
in keeping the men in.
There is tremendous force accommodating on
this line. We are farthest advanced toward
the enemy, and are just where we want to be.
The enemy retired from the Court House night
before last and yesterday, and it is now under
stood that We shall occupy it 10 night II so,
we shall be there until sufficient force Is ready
| to move upon Manassas junction, which will
/ be within d week, probably
| There is one feature about our position that
relieves us from the ordinary monotony OF
campo On ; we are constantly advancing, and
constantly meeting with adventures, on a small
scale, with the Immediate prospect of big
fight not many days ahead. The general health
Of our Company is pretty good. There are two,
Benedict and Cass, left in the hospitala at W ash
ington, whom have not heard from for four
days. There are three or four here excused
from duty, but are getting along we'll Several
have had colds, taken the night we arrived here.
We got here at night just at dark, and it raned
torrents, and everything was a perfect sop, and
we pitched our tents in moving field, where
the grass had not been cut. We all worked
hard to unload and set up tents, and some got
sweaty and had to lay down in wet blankets in
the wet grass, and very naturally took cold but
none are seriously bad off. We were again
obliged to sleep in the open air night be-
fore last, being detached on special duty, and
our Company feel pretty well worn out, but a
day OF two of rest will improve them. 1t is
raining here to-day and things look gloomy
l send this letter by my boy, Jimmy who has
concluded to 60 home. Quartermaster Pitkin's
boy goes also. Things look too rough here for
SO small boys, although the boys have been we'll,
and in spunk and pluck | think are just as
good as any of us. Jimmy is the bearer of Il
large number of letters, and | presume the
writers have described things here as they APP
pear to them. Some wifi call things pretty
good, others awful bad. The truth is that
we are comfortable, for camp life, but for Yer
mont citizens who live we'll at home, it is aw-
full. 1t is just this ; take a man, set him to
work all day, rain or shine, and give i'm moth
Ing to eat but scanty supply of such bread as
the sample send you, and when night comes
let him take his blanket and go out into the
wet grass, roll himselfup in his blanket and lay
down and sleep with no fire nor other conven-
fence, and you have our gloomy look. We,
however, watch for sunny day to dry our
selves and our clothes and warm up. We are,
however, often relieved by being called in the
night to perform some detached service.
10 give you a little idea of this | will state
my own experience of night or two ago. |
;, was sent two miles from our camp in the evening
on special duty and it was rainy, and dark as Il
pocket. We got where we were not quite GER
tain of our position, and we were warned to
look out for cavalry charge from the enemy
and had reason to expect it, if at all, at about
one o'clock night. On looking at my watch,
| found it was nearly that time, and yet we had
gained no favorable position to receive them
Our number was about fifty, and we fell back
to place where railroad embankment has
been made, extending nearly to the highway
and about fifteen feet high. The war has brok-
ell off the completion of this road, and it lies
in this unfinished state. On this embankment
we took our position, knowing that they could
only approach from one way, and that along the
top OF the ehDankment from the pit direction.
The men had, most of them, been out all the
night before, and it was hard for them keep
awake they were required, however, SO to do
until near break of day, when word was given
that they might sleep. In two minutes eight
rods of the embankment were covered with
sleepers, and they presented the appearance of
cross ties just laid. passed over them step
ping between, and not one appeared to be
awake. | passed few rods from them and laid
down on the ground in company with Major
Joyce who was with US, and tried to Sleep |
was SO tired | had no difficulty in so doing, but
think the Major did not sleep much. lie was
SO cold he could not | rallied the men in about
an hour, and they were all pretty cold and wet
Lieut.. Phillips took a severe cold, and is threat
ened with sore throat Orderly Sergeant
Worcester also has been quite unwell since. In
the morning we proceeded a couple of miles
towards the Court House, where a Union man
Invited the Major and myself to breakfast, and
we accepted the invitation, and this is the first
meal have eaten in doors since left Burlington
This man was from New Jersey, and owns
large plantation here. He gave us drink of
good whisky and warm breakfast, both of
which made US sigh for home. The men had
their rations sent them from camp about this
time, but not the whisky.
You would be surprised to see the desolatlon
of the country. had no idea of the effects of
war before. The Secessionists fly and leave all
behind. Fields Of grain, grass, and everything
are abandoned. The soldiers dispose Of the la
dies wardrobes, found ia their houses, by tear
ing up silk dresses and making pocket handker.
chiefs of them. This is mostly confined to the
Zouaves, our soldiers being very respectful to all
private rights.
Mr.. Blgelow, of Burlington, in whose care