Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-10-17

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Yours, g.
CANT OF E. CAPITOL HILL,
WAS .iSGIoS, Oct. y, 1861.
Dssr Free Press;
The Twelfth had taken up it's temporary
quarters, when wrote last, at the Soldiers Rest,
near the CIpitol, in tai city. On Friday, at II
O'Clock came the order to move, and We fled out
upon the Eastern road, TO our present camp, some
thing over a mile Eas. Of the Capitol. Il is upon
the wide. high, Level plain called Cspitol Hill.
Around us are the camps of numerous reg
iments. To the South Of U.s. bnt hidden from our
sight, runs the Eastern Branch OF the Potomac,
and across it are the Virginia heights With four or
ave forts in plain sight orownins the more promi-
lent elevations. The grouad N which we are en-
camped, has but two or three trees in a square
mile, and having been the site Of numerous
camps, is not ov0stoekcd with grass. some Of
the men looked q little blank as they saw the bare
cherries surface Of Virginia clay, on which they
we're to pi ch their tents. and some blalker yet
when they took in the length and bresdth Of
the little strips OF canvas, which were TO be our
only shelter from aud storm. These " shelter
tents, made OF a cuuf le Of strips light colt
duck, about i've feet long AMI tour feet wide,
which button together az the top or riigepole Of
the concern, are pitched by straiains over the
muzzles OF a couple Of muskets set upright, and
70 form a little tent, with both ends open, unit.
C osed at one, by hanging over j. blanket, under
which two men may huiils aud sleep at night. \
shirt man can be covered by them when extended at
full length; a man Of ordinary height must draw
up" his feet or LET them stick outside. We got our
ground laii out aai tents pitched by d TX. aud
# cers and men were by that time hungry enough
to enjoy their supper Of three Crackers apiece here
va. 10 fuel to cook anything With, and cur cooked
ratious hal spoilsi "a the jlurtet,) and tired
enough to drop cI qu ck!y TO sleep, with but a
| blanket between them and the ground Most u
US however, were walked a; midnight by the rain
| driving int. our li,s,c t4teraaces. My conrade
turned cut, and hung our rubber blankets so as to
keep out the most % B, fsr US. ami We dropped to
..eep as4iu, to sleep soaudly ttll morning.
T1ese are mere II es Of soldier every day lie
but they are VIA. many OF your readers, ~ ho vi,h
to know JUST how ueir boys are living while
away. wish to know atou', and go l pat them on
paper.
Next DAY our Colonel and calrielmaster cot
the strings Of red tape. which bsus around the va
rtous departments Of supply, thoroughly pulled,
All by two Gel OK. tram ,f o. dozen amy aas-
ous came fling into camp with fuel, rad5as Of
20 .I read, beef. PORK and potatoes, forage, and
last tut TOT least. f.,'s IT. cared far u- b. much
exer,ion, BY Col. LIht. These were quickly
made TO take tie Il4s- OF the o.lers, AID yer,
viewed with intense sl,i faction by che men. They
are not the biggest things ia the wo.ll-are j.
fact the simplest form ot feat proper. weis'
shaped and holding FIX men apiece lying closely
SIDE by side, bat they ore irsr,-.an be close,
a,liust tie weather and ~i.l answer well our turn
.bue here. When We take the Geld, We aus
ta4e the Others again.
Weshili now brsiE TIE work Of active dill
AID will soon, trust and believe, be iu fighting
rider.
We have already been visited by many OF ou
frieuds OF ether Ieeiusats-u5 QluteIm4ste
Dewey, CAPT. EralrIt Sergeant Morse, E Walk
er and others, Of the Cavalry. vtose camp &
across the river; by several from the nth VI.
winch is in camp ab Iut four miles out on TN
side; by Lieut.. Carey, Of ;le 1851 Mass who's
6ue regiment Of 100 men has nov 70J 10 hos
pital, sick and WOUNDED. ami is reduced oy loose
Tin tat,l. mainly to l9l mem by Lieut.. Wilh
Root, Of the 22d CONF, which was 10 camp clos
By Us yesterday, but to-day has struck tents al
moved away TO Chain Br.d,,; AMI others, who's
brown and hearty fees it vas pleasant to see.
We begin TO realize that we are pa
Of the big army o. the Eeupblic-
and tuat single regiment is but hHI
part Of it, Camps surround US oa every side
six thousand men, they say, came Into Wash
J ington the day VIC did, aal some come ever
day. They eome.eusamp, AMI disappear, the res
know not whittier. Our thousand is but one Of
hundred thousand, and IT'S best blood,-which wi
be given as freely as water, if need be-sil
but drop in the red tide which the demon
Rebellion causes 20 fW.
What can be done for any regiment, our Colon,
will DO FOR this. Cool, sp.r.ted Industrious, COT
sidera, ly experienced. feeling oteply bis respor
sibility, me vho fear. God aud regards uan vhe
worthy his regard who appreciates the cha acte
o. the men VIII are under hun, who is stern vie
necessary, ard yet hind by nature and practice
BE- has the qualities unless 1 am greatly mistl
ken. which will make him a model Colonel Th
men already feel attached 20 hiu-and the sent
nent will strengthen greatly, think, as the
know more Of him. lie will be we'll seconded b.
bis staT-and if the Twelfth does no service
will not be the fault Of is Beers, as believe
We are to be temporarily brisadei in our presen
cam, with the 22j aud 27ta New jersey. On
or tao # our Company have had slight ailments
but there has been 10 serious illness among them
IS yet.
You're G.