Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-07-12
-FOUR Army Correspondence
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q FROM THE FIRST REGIMENT.
CAMP BUTLER, Va, June "a, 1851.

instant action and to remain upon the company
grounds. Tho Massachusetts, 4th regiment,
(Which had received orders to be packed up and
ready to start at 10 o'clock, in the morning) re-
manned here and steamer Immediately started
for the Fort. Col. Washburn came around and
told our officers that we should undoubtedly be
attacked in the afternoon and that our regim ent
would probably stand the first fire and the bru Mt
of the action. He said he hoped we should keep
it pretty hot in our vicinity. The were on the
"g,a urUs' all day but hardly dared to hope tbot
they would give US q chance to return the CON-
pliment which they paid us about three weeks
ago. Our guards were instructed not TO come In
until the rebels were within seventy-fyc yards of
them. Three companies Of Col. Hawkins. regi-
ment ofZouaves were Immediately thrown out as
picket guard and SO remained all day. We had a
very quiet afternoon, most of US having eaten
quite hearty dinner in expectation ola fight, and
hada very comfortable little snooze just after noon
We were cautioned at retreat, TO be careful that
our arms were in perfect readiness in case th
darkness of night should cover their attack. The
in front. They can be trained so that the shell
will strike within so yards Of the breastworks Il
is rather the opinion Of some in the camp, that
should six or even ten thousand undertake to re-
duce Us, they would want to "ie, fis JOB our be-
fore they had it completed.
But de not see what object they can have
in attacking, or taking this place, that viii pay
the cost, because Gen. Butler of course will never
allow them to hold il SO long as lie Ia forces
enough 10 reiake it.
Unless they intend TO take the Fortress itself
tie place would seem to he Of comparatively it'll.
Importance to them. For these reasons ard
Others l hardly think that We shall have any
more sctive service, during stay at tbs pl-ce
Our boys desire above all things for one chance tc
wipe cut forever tic to-mins disgrace oil
the Great Bethel affair though We have
great confleuce, that when the full his
tory Of that Battle shall be written, The fault
fti.re any, viii be placed where it rightfully
belongs and that our regiment will then have the
credit at least Of having o5eyed all commando
and spiTitedly too.
We have mounted s. pound rifca Cannon
here, using SaWyer's projeetile. II Is q mag.
nifcent piece, and viii probably d execution ct
d distance Of four miles. We are aching fo- d
chance 70 point it at some Of these steam tug,
that the rebels keep plying back and forth or tn,
other side Of TIE river. under the protection o.
their Batteries.
The steamer Mount Vernon, Capt. 0. 5. Glis
son, IS OF our Camp every other day. The Day
light runs down to the Fort one day, and the Mt
Vernon the next; they carry three or four gun
each.
Dr.. ". Il. Henry is acting Surgeon on bosT'
be Mt. Vernon, and l understand is vev
muoh liked by al under his charge.
The country between Us and the Scc.ssiouis
Ko5eIs, is constantly secured by parties from each
Army, some from cur Camp having severa
times driven in their pickets ard heard the Ion:
roll from their camp. Our Zouayes took tw'
more Louisiana Zouayes yesterday Saturday
afternoon, about eight miles or more out. Thel
al claim TO be northern men impressed into th,
service Of the Rebels, and very glad to get away
Thy sag that many more viii desert as soon a
an opportunity shall offer.
On Thursday night party from Scots Lii.
Guards stayed all night at a house about FIVE mile
from Camp; on Friday night the house WAS occu
pied by about 500 secessionist cavalry. BY thi
You VIII see there Is some chance for f1n on slct
parties have been out three or four times bu
have never Yet been favored with a glimpse a
one Of the rascas.
On the same day CFriisy) PARTY Of zJuave
and Mass. men went in another direction, am
drove in a picket guard. aud took from them
''se1sl7 Flag. II WIS q snutty looking thing,vi,i
nine stars On square black ground With ecb
or nine blue stripes a white back ground. i
vss our first trophy, and the boys were # cour-s
somewhat proud Of it.
An order from Head Quarters wa read TIL.
morning prohibiting anything being written fol
any paper handful, in praise or consure Of any
officer in the service until after the war, nor re-
Fealing anything Of Importance going n here o.
within the Fort. If 10 one knows more about
what is going on than pTivstes, our revelations
viii never either help or hurt ou- cause.
past P. NJ, Sunday
G "A. Butler and s.aF hare been hare this dcr-
uo5n, and have been trying tie rihed ealnon.-
The fTst shot struck on the opposite shore. Tie
scoord time the direction was changed to tie
mouth Of stream which empties in at that point
that and the next shot struck in the water. but
Dear the shore. 90 that We can undoubtedly CON-
mand the stream from this shore. After thu ex-
pertinent the General and STAT returned 70 the
Fort.
Tie Toys aIe generally veil. althoagh there a.,
stir 7aie eases Of the measles; all or thsss be-
lieYo are doing wei.
The funeral Of sergeant Bennett Of the Mid
oiehury Company was attended at the Fort (where
ho was, in the HospitaD BY the Chaplain and the
company in body. he va. very much respected
by his acquaintance in tie regiment. His body
was sent home, and has undoubtedly reached
there ere this. His loss viii b very much felt IL