Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-10-25
From another letter from the 4th Regiment
we take the following, which will be found
interesting

From another letter from the 4th Regiment
we take the following, which will be found
interesting
A little account Of my first experience on
picket guard, may be interesting.
The first intimation we had was, that $50 men
detailed from the 4th were ordered to start in 10
mip.. tes, and report at Gen Hancock's head-quar-
ters. AZ Vanderworken's house, some miles from
our camp. on he road to Falls Church. Ga arriv-
ing at this place. y. found some 500 men waiting
for us, and were inmsc ,.otely ordered to the ex-
treme front, having the h5qor IT, leading the col
umn. We were marched miles l.om 'ander-
worken's, to the right of Falls Church, where the
rebels then had their pickets, and halted. Gen.
Hancock and aid rode forward, and ordered us to
advance, which we did, accompanied by them some
miles beyond the main body to a point from
which the rebels had made an attack the day be-
fore We had every reason to believe that the
rebels were concealed in the bushes, not an eighth
OF a mile from US; but the boys pressed on, all
eager for fight, and hoping to have one. One
third Of our force was stationed here as a reserve
concealed in the bushes, wtilo the rest deployed
as skirmshers to the right and left. We lay here
about two hours seeing aud hearing nothing, but
all the time with the prospect of doing So keeping
our nerves strung up to the highest pitch.
Then a courier arrived with intelligence that
the rebel pickets had retired from their position
and we were dismissed and marched back to camp
in season for supper.
There is an excitement about this duty which
renders it attractive and all are anxious to so out
in it. Since coming to townsville, there is more
danger about it, the pickets are constantly fir
ing on each other.
Yesterday 1 rode over to Uptons Hill From
the observatory, with glass, the rebels were
plainly visible about three miles of, some
lounging under trees, others throwing up en-
trenchments, &c. Upton's house is perforated
with cannon balls, and the walls covered with in
seriptions in chalk, white and red, and pencil,
written while occupied by the rebels.
The country around IS a beautiful rolling coun-
try, magnifcently wooded. There must have
been many very beautiful residences, to Judge by
the ruins oac sees all that remains Of stately
mansions, mostly burned by the rebels, but some,
I regret to say, By our troops
Virginia will be tho gamer in thing the
troops are making excellent roads, and heretofore
they have been wretchedly poor.
We are s.ampclcd with great regularity every |
morning That is an alarm Is raised at about
a. m, the 'long roll' beat-which soldier
must not disregard, even If he knows it to be a /
hoax-and we turn out under arms, form in Inc
Of battle and remain till daylight
The health of our regiment Is excellent. The
men were made very happy yesterday by the
rival Of part of their oyercoats:-they were very
much needed, we hare really suffered for want Of
them. We have not yet received cur uniforms
from Brattlebo-o.
The days are delightfully."- warm here, like ours
in Vermont in August. We have green corn, to-
matoes AMI other summer vegetables in profusion
The whole country is covered with chestnut groves |
and the boys can get all the nuts they want by |
picking them up. We had ,he first frost night |
before last. don't know why the nights should |
seem to be so terribly Geld, when the thermometer
does not indicate the trC ezing point. but it GER
tanIy is an air, that when you are exposed to it
goes to the very marrow. Perhaps VIC feel it more
on accoun: Of the heat Of the day.