The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-06-24
(Our War Correspondence.)
From the Second Vermont Regiment.
A Soldiers Letter--No. NJ.


search for something to read, and meeting ev-
erywhere the same inevitable negative, | have
concluded, as a dernitr resort to kill time, to
put your patience to the rack once more by at
tempting to manufacture another rambling
epistle. So piling up all the knapsacks | can
beg or borrow for seat aud writing desk under
our excellent shelter tent, Tor sunshadc as they
should be called for being elevated u number OF
! feet from the base 10 admit the cool air ON all
sides, while at the same time protecting our
heads from the burning rays OF the sun, they
seem, by virtue OF Office, to merit that tItle,) [
have taken up my position and VIII endeayOr,
under the potent inspiration Of innumerable
voices talking all manner OF selse and non
sense - camp-talk, to present, If possible,
a rough outline idea OF how we live, and move
and have our being, here close up under the
rebel s noses. TO add to the pecla felicity of
my position, find it by no means nvulnerable
against the powerful caioric batteries of the
sun, notwithstanding We have constructed quite
an abattls of boughs, freshly imported from the
woods, and an extra arm0r of blankets over the
tent. Indeed, consider IG Il mid expression 10
say that it is hotter here than IN that place
where we presume the rebels are booked 70 20
as soon as we shoot them.
lssst Tuesday cold, drizzling rainy day,
but ever since then it has been growing hotter
and hotter, each day being about seven times
hotter than the one preceding. That day and the
night previous the old Second was on picket
part OF US. In this place the TWO lines Of
pIckets ours and the - rebs. are close to- ether,
only an oat-ield about Sixty rous wide separating
them. We are now encamped On what appears
to me rather WORKOUT farm, though OF rcspec-
table dimensions, owned, OF course, by loyal
secessonist. 1t Is enclosed on all sides, as
nearly all the alms here are, by woods, While
on the North side flows the far famed Chcka-
honlny. West Of US there Is sort of ravne,
the opposite side rising abruptly, and Is covered
with timber. Here we have our picket reserve.
At the top OF this bluff the table land stretches
of to the W est, covered with as handsome
crop of oats as | ever saw wave before passing
breeze. Just beyond this oatfeld, are woods
again, in the edge of which are the rebel pick
cts, while we are stationed behind stumps and
trees on this side. The rebels took occasion to
fire at US whenever they fancied they saw good
opportunity, but we were not allowed to return
the compliment. This prohibition rather
crossed the grain OF some OF the boys who
ached to teach them better manners but no
silent, not apparent To Us.
opened on us from battery OF more formidable
begerent power, and threw shot and shell
pretty freely through the woods where part of
the line wae stationed, but proyidentlally no
one was hit, nor did any Of the boys sked~ddle
just after shutdown and while those on the re-
serve were frying to get little sleep, prepara-
tory to going on post, the rebels saluted again
with their internal shells. which seemed TO burst
almost in our ears but doing no damage. The
boys were all suddenly inspired with desire to
change their position, il not but few feet,
though it would be difficult to tell in what re-
spect one place was more secure than another.
Tho rebs have fired over into our camp seve-
raj times, and in more than one instance with
fatal effect. For a few days past they have
been remarkably quiet, and the story goes that
our sharp shooters have such command OF their
battery tina, they cannot work it. How true 1t
is, do not know, but know that the men are
ever ready to give prompt. reasons for occurren-
ces which Generals are often at loss to account
for.
During the night the rebels coolly advanced
their line Of pickots into the oat-feld, so near
that we could hear them cough, and even whis-
per,-thsy did not seem to think it prudent to
talk aloud much Some of the boys declare
they heard them speak of their dangerous prox-
unity to the permonters, who, they seemed 10
have discovered, occupied the line in their front.
They commented upon our personal proves in
way quito fatterlng to us, coming as it did,
from such source. They thought men of such
gigantic proportions, carrying such long ranged
rifles as we do, were opponents that would give
them trouble to cope with.
One night We were aroused by sharp firing
among the pickets. We hustled out of our
tents, and in an incredible brief space of time,
were in line Of battle, ready to meet the enemy
if attacked. The buried order - fall in, -
wake up, boys,-wake up-quick, fall in,
and the sharp crack, crack Of musketry, with
an occasional crash as part OF volley was fired,
at that hour OF the night, and ioreboding, as it
did, bloody, desperate consequences, had the
effect TO render the camp scene unusually ami
mated and exciting. The firing gradually ceased
and after remaining in line short time with
out any alarm being given, we broke ranks and
returned to our tents. AS u compensation for
this intrusion upon our SAUNDERS, we had the
privilege OF seeing the moon completely yelled
In the earth 5 shadow, for at that particular
time the moon 8 eclipse was total.
Large details are made every day for fatigue
duty. Bridges and roads are being built across
the creek with all possible dispatch. Cutting
pine logs for corduroy roads and bridges Is very
pleasant business for an exchange, but some
portions OF the work in making tins incorrigi-
bic swamp and stream passable, is far from be-
ing agreeable.
Since commencing this letter, we have been
visited by heavy thunder shower, and he in
dicati0ns now are, that we shall have more rain
and less heat. Thus We live
ANTI-REREI