The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-12-26

not oFer pound apiec", large piece of sail
pork, five table spoons full of coffee and as
much sugar, with the beans mentioned before
make their dishes. cooking utensils and ra-
tons for the day. have omitted ha if can
die which is to give them light for two highs
On the ground is little hay, this tent being
little more fortunate than the lest. some
one among the mess happening 10 +, fortu-
nate in having experience in forasiny.'
In the opposite end of the ,cnt,Iie piled their
blankets, ovcrcoats and knapsacks.
Now for u description o. the men who are
about eating their breakfast. Now if some
! anxious mother, sister or sweet heart thinks
they will recognize son.lro,her Or lover,
would jus, say, | should very much doubt #
three oat Of the five would De recognized by
those dear friends conld they see them with
their mortal eyes. Tom Il shall use fictitious
names) sits fiat on the ground,knlfe in hand.
frying h!.n piece Of pork in his novel frying
pan. Look a, him and see if you think that
man will relish his breakfast. He looks al
most like skeletons his eyes are sunk deep
in his head; his hair is long, has not shaved
for many weeks and as you hear that hollow
cough, your mind is made up at once that he
will soon be in the ,dier's grave. But look
at his clothes. On his hea is an old slouch-
ed hat picked up perhaps out of the gutter
an old blouse is his coat ; a cotton shirt which
! once was white. but after eight weeks wear.
with the havoc which the ve,mn have m ade
and with which the tent is full makes 1t al,
least doubtful color. His pants are quite
good for he drew a pair two days ago flom
the government for which it is sweet to Gi-
Ills drawers are woolen-strange that they
should be-but like his sh rt have not been
washed for at least two months. Shoes
well, they are government shoes with tn.
sol.s coming off; socks, heels out. toes out
good FIR nothins---never were washed. Tni,
man, my kind friends, has represented one Of
your towns at the legislature.
Well. there is J,e sitting on his knapsack
big piece of bread in one hand and sIic~
of maat in the other he has lent his k afe
his less f,rtunate c,mrads. H. is one Of III,
> fine specimens of men MT with everywher,
among the green hiils->tout, athletic and 81,
feet in height. Tie ever wears an honest ans
cheerful look. His clothes look q ute c!esn
although rather ragged if he h.l an over
coat be says he should be quite con;en,ed
although he has no cnange of under clothing
He has strength, and warm days goes nil,
t, the bro *. takes off his shirt, puts IN hi
blouse, ai!d washes :. With the excep;iu4
OF wnand received al the battle of Ante
tam, he wolid be fl Cor duty.
john is half lying down trying % wssi
down his dry bread with poor coffee dranl
=, from black cup that has been throu h III
Peninsula campaign. 1t goes hard with him
has told on q once strong constitution. IL
j too is sight to look upon death Will soo'
claim him for his victim. Poor, enaci,lpd
t feeble and all broken to pieces; that one
I noble man is victim o:-wl.at! Red :ap
v ard upstart officers E,en placed in powe
3 and called qorcrnment His clothes io"
L quite tidy. tor You Can see at oLce that h
. has mother that has taught him habits q
II nea,L-ss. He happens to have a little mont
) the only one in the ten:-and has hired hi
l. washing done still his shirIs-he happen
II 20 have two are nothing hu, cotton he ii.
Is an overcoa, bu, no blanket; his comrade
', are kind. however, and what one has The; q
K share alike.
2 Bill and Jim are lite we'll, apparently.b
e Bill has disease that will preSe.l. him fr /
e ever doing duty. He walks with AN
c. although be suffers severe pain al times.
jo.ial, fall OF fun and is the life OF tue ltt
v tent. He too ha, sad tale to tell of NJ
treatment by government officials. He wa
n sent from hospital not hundred miles tro'
'r Washington, but in sight OF the Capitol. II
le had lost everything in the retrrat from Rict
i mond and when he left the hospital his sh!r
" and drawers belon. .ed to the ho>pltal.so the
, tod him. ald he must ta<e them uE {; So
;e friend lends him cotton shirt, and the
f. sitnout blanket, oyercoat. or dress )at he
e sent to the C)nvalescen, Camp to recruit h
4, health preparatory to being sent to his reg
ee ment. Bill still wears his borrowed shirt ar
8, feels proud in showing it to Members
.. Congress who visit Us aim ,st daily.
lie Jim need say bat little about; a!thous
lie he is not SO strong as he orce " is, yet he
!; we'll enough. 50 he says he shall 20 to h
at regiment the fist opportunity.
l One word about the c,nvenlrnces for was
q, ny at Post Hospital. Tne agent of the Sa
it uary Comnit,ee-a iady--Aas here the otis
'y lay and seeing large pile OF dirty cl,
y M rot,ins on the ground. hired me 0
tx t, PICK them up, 10 ided TWO wagons, eiyhte
s hundred pieces in all, hal them carried
Us Was .ngt"n and wasned THIS fact l n
3D. rom ner own lips, aid as she .rld it she
u the officers X aox what sn, Thought in pre-.
"a pi,ln lang sla,e. So. gave it 20 red ,'pe I:
he "nIy d &c rs" right aod ietl. iearIng no o
'he and caring as little.
A' 10 the People of Vermont, as they 81,
h taeir cheerful f,-s Or nr-ss their dos,