Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1862-02-28
LETTERS FROM THE SEAT OF WAR.
CAMP GRIFFIN, Feb. 9, 1862.

DEAR fRIEND:-lne Jay before yeSter-
day. the Cameron Dragons which are at
tached to this brigade, made reconnois-
sance in the direction of Fairfax Court
House. They succeeded in bringing in
fourteen or fifteen rebels. 1 saw six of
them five were dressed in uniform, and
one that | took for an Irishman was in
citizens Dress Three Of them looked to
be strong, healthy, and desperate; the
other three, including the citizen, looked
thin, pale, and chilly. All were poorly
clothed, none having ovcrcoats. I pitied
one young fellow very much. He appear
ed to be about sixteen years old, and was
a picture of despair, as he was with his
unfortunate associates in treason, placed
in the Denison guard housc, guarded by
Federal bayonets, and gazed at by an in
quisitive soldiery. l was much pleased
with the generosity of one of the guards,
who pulled off his overcoat and gave it to
that young unfortunate, whose appearance
so much excited my pity.
We have had new Captain and Lieu
tenant appointed over us. Lieutenant
johnson of Co. B is our Captain, and
Sergeant Clarke of Co. F is our Lieuten-
ant; we like their appearance much. To
start with, Lieut. johnson is good CON-
mander; this we know, as he has been in
command of our Company when our Capt.
was sick, and Lieut.. gone to Vt. He is
a fne,. soldier-like appearing fellow ;
stands six feet three in his stockings, and
can swing sword in good shape.
Last night when we were all going to
bed quietly, our first Sergeant came into
our tent. and just intimated to us that we
had better improve the hours between
then and one o'clock, as our nights rest
would be likely to terminate at that hour.
So we turned in with the consoling thought
that perhaps the morrow might bring us
few additional prisoners of war. Thus
we went to sleep, without asking many
questions One o'clock soon came, and
the Sergeant true to his intimation, cried
:" fall out and get some coffee" and in
three minutes all hands were up and
dressed bnt not more than half the boys
had drank their coffee, when we heard the
Sergeant calling to us to " fall into line. >
When we got into line we found that We
were going to accompany Co. A to the
Leesburg Turnpike, a distance of fou'
miles from camp, and two miles outside
our picket lines. We were to take &
strong position, to protect our line from ;
surprise in case the rebels might take i
into their heads to retaliate for the actor
of our cavalry. The road was abomin
able, and the mud was nearly knee-deel
in some places. We got to the place o
our destination about an hour and hal
before daylight. About dozen of III
went out and relieved the advance guard
and stood till after sunrise, when no reb
els appeared and we returned to camp, {
little tired and good deal hungry.
feel strong aud hearty, and can drinl
either pint or quart Of coffee, as tn
case may require.
There is an officer according to report,
coming into our brigade to recruit for tn
regular army He will be likely to &c
quite lot to join. He has enlisted, it
said, large number of the Pennsylvania
reserves. He gives 800 bounty ant
sixty days furlough.
Thursday, Feb, goth.
There are no sick in camp now, as al
who were not good for three-days marc
have been sent to Washington.
King mud still impedes drill, or ad
vance. Some of our boys are so carrie
away by the late war news. that they ar
confident that we will be permitted to re
turn to our homes within year from th
time we were mustered into service.
| saw Col. and Mrs. Hyde the nigh
before last, they were we'll, and told m
to send their kindest wishes to you.
Yours as ever,
FRANK.
CAMP GRIFPIN, Va.
D