The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-11-10
(Our War CorrespoEdence.)
From the Thirteenth Regiment.
CAMP VERMONT, NEAR ALEXANDRIA, Va, }
NJ. 1890

Nov. 5. 1862.
DEAR FREEMAN Since my first letter ic
you, We have learned to our hearts content, what
it means TO be in Casey's Reserve Corps for iEs
1efenct of Washington, with a standing order tC
be ready 10 move at any hour. Late in ;he eve
ming, just one week ago, We received orders tc
strike our tents the next morning a, O'Clock
and move across the Potomac, TO Camp Seward
on Arlington Heights. Our cooks were ordered
TO prepare one days rations, Immediately, and
the bays LAY down TO rest before the march. In
the morning, all was hustle and confusion. pre-
paHng to move. At the appointed hour, the
tents were siruck-anapSacks sUDg-and ina few
moments, we we're off The process Of striking
tents quite Interesting to one who heholds i, for
the first time. The men loo IN The pins al round
inc tents ard stand BY for the sisna-soon the
drums beat and the whole little village OF white
houses goes down in m instant. There were
some circumstances connected with this move
meH', which might seem little strange to d nov
ic", dut they are in accordance with many Of the
movements IN tins war, as it seems TO me. As |
ted you the l4)h am 18th were ordered across
The 1Ner, and Immediately ordered hacl. The
IAN, arrived Tuesday evening, the Ism, " sd-es
Gty IN rn0g, an>! "wednesday evening, re-
cS!'ed the order TO al, move across the river next
morning. The poor l5:h, began to think they
"ereio be made shntt.ecocks, to be thrown
o'ch ana forth across The river. We suppose it
vas all ri 5ht, but then We " don't quite see it,
Thursday morning clear and beautiful, and
as the Second Vernon, Brigade marched in
body through, and fled of across Long Bridge,
INTO Virginia, ~e ali felt proud of our little Green
Mountain Stale, that she could n few weeks,
raise such splendid body OF 5000 men, to marca
en- 'adssc through our countr1's Capitol, and to-
gether tread the "sacred soil, " 10 our onward
way TO Richmond |, was the largest body of
Vermont troops ever marched together. through
Washington, and We must have made a splendid
appearance as We moved steadily down Pennsy-
wanna Avenue at least, so said the crowd assem-.
Oh IN the .ire-ts to behold US, adding also, tina.
We were as tne body Of soldlers as they had ever
seen in the city. Had We not reason TO feel liz
| tie proud aud hold up our heads well? How |
WISHED could be upon the roof of one Of the
nous's' 10 look IN single < snce upon the whole
! little army OF Fermon,frs. Well, we marched
That day, soou. seven miles 10 our pIac. OF en-.
c'mpment. |, was warm in the middle OF the day
ana inc march was pretty severe trial Of the
boys endurance. Their knapEacks-or Uncle
cams ironks, as they call them, hung rather
heavily upon the shoulaers of some, and ,bere
were not a few sore feet.
men'. The soldiers turned out and greeted US
warmly, pleading Us with their curious expressions
one cCmlcal fellow thought Vermont must
have grown great deal larger since be looked at
the map, TO send such long line Of soldiers"
HAT nigh, We pitched our tents in Dxe-most
OF Us for The first lime. Oar situation was fine
one IN the edge of grove, ant tie next Iay we
made such arrangements az would make Us com
fottaoe during our stay. Friday evening" We re.
ceIved an order for Division Review next day.
Next morning we formed aoou; o'clock. and
were marching to the ground appointed where
We were ME! bya messenger with an order for the
l@.h and 18Th 10 return, pack up and suiie our
tents IN an hour, and start for Hunting Creek,
J st below Alexandra.
his We called short noti,p .. but of course We
had nothing to GO but OBEY and we did it, This |
time we marched about twelve miles, BY Fairfax
Seminary, through Alexandria, crossed the Creek
ana enCAmped. All the w4v We Jaw Indications
That he grand advance had at last begun. En- |
equipments were breaking up everywhere and |
thousands after thousands of soldiers were ,j:ess.
ing forward IN the grand move which sincerely |
believe VIII crush the Confederate army. Wei
soon found We were TO supply tic place Of Others
who Were ordered to strike their tents the moment
We came IN sight, proceed to the lrout They |
W. re old so,d.e:s belonging to Sclie>' brigade, |
Aad have been IN many battle Poor fellows.
thy saw more OF It soon enough,-next day they |
were at It again, and one OF theia was carried b,
our camp to Alexandria in an ambulance, |
wounQtd.
Mkt day Sunday, we moved little, aud pitched |
our tents upon ground selected byolr Colonel. |
llo" long we shat rem!in here, the past week |
teaches US IS uncertain. suppose ought not