Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1861-12-27
From the Thirl Regiment.
Your affect. brother,
+. II. ALLEN.

inform you how we al prosper down IN
Dixie Land. | wro.e to you in my last
letter that the heath of the Vermont I'd
was fast improving, and | can safely say
the same again Our company shows it
very plainly, and so likewise does the
regiment. When the company or regi-
ment 90 out on drill now there is vast
difference in the size of either comparing
| it with their size last September. There
are now a very large number of soldiers
in the regiment who are able to do mill
itary duty that were on the sick list then,
Taking into consideration the large
amount of sickness this regiment has
had-frst, a large portion had the mea-
sles at Camp Baxter, nexta much larger
portion has had here such diseases as
iauudice, levers, &c. and comparing the
number of deaths which have occurred
with those in almost any other regiment,
ask, does it not speak well for our sur
geon, DR., James? Although there are a
( few who are not exactly suited with him,
!, for one, feel disposed 10 speak very
highly in his favor. Although | have
suffered more or less from disease ever
since left Vermont, | do not feel dispos-
ed to change surgeons for any one | know
Sir, imagine yourself a surgeon oil a reg-
iment, and each morning for months in
succession, having a hundred men or
more nocling around you asking medical
aid, | ask would you not consider your
self lucky physician if you carried
them all through safe? The highest
praise is due him from the Sd Vermont
and all who care for them.
The weather for the past three weeks
has been the most beautiful Yermonters
ever saw at this season in the year,
Scarcely any rain, and part Of the time
warm enough so as not to freeze at all
nights. 1t has been the best time for
drilling the troops they have had since
we came to the lane Of secesh, and it has
been improved, too in company, battal-
lion, brigade, and division. Almost eve
ry afternoon we are drilled in brigade
by Brigsdier General Brooks (our Gen
eraD from | IL o'dock until nearly sun
down, which is Just what we volunteers
need to make US good and efficient sol
diers. / have brel in The army long
enough to be fully convinced that a sol
der cannot be too veil drilled. Not be-
ing we'll posted in military tactics, has
been the cause Of some Of the defeats
suffered by our troops, but there is in my
opinion a still greater cause, and that is
the sending out of 90 small forces. Of
ten they have met the enemy with force
of ten times their own number aud de-
feat was the result. We have lost some
of our best and bravest men in this way.
Thus persisted General Lyon. Thus
persisted Lieut.. CREDIBLE. Thus persisted
the lamented Col. Eaker, an officer whose
loss was deeply felt by the federal army.
Not only brave and noble officer, but
an excellent and patriotic statesman
Not only in the army is he missed, but in
the Senate of the United States. There
his seat is left vacant and Oregon cannot
3 furnish his equal to fill it with. | have
seen many officers here, many who are
good and efficient officers, but among them
l all have not seen one who had more
= brave and noble look than that of Col
= Baker. Alas he is gone, but he cal
L never be forgotten.
n If an advance is to be made upor
> Manassas this fall, hope there will b.
= force taken large enough to sweep al
+ before it. There are troops enougl
n here on the Potomac to take Manassa
T or any other place the rebels occupy, bu
y it would cost the lives of a great man,
: soldiers to take place SO strongly forti
II fed as that. But perhaps there is bet
n ter way than to attack such strongly for
e tilted places as Manassas, places wher
5 so large a force is kept. Let Uncle San
send a few more expeditions off on tn
: Southern coast, and those troops who ar
a between US and Ri richmond from tn
r Coast States to prevent our march OIL
y Richmond, will be called home to b
a beaten only by the expedition. We cal
1t then march on Richmond and the enem,
t. we should meet would be much less tha
2, were we to advance now.
e Ous tents arrived last night, accom-
d panied with nice little stove, The tent