Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-01-02
From the she.rp-shooters.
Camp of instruction, Co. Z, J
I'd Reg't Berdan's U. S. S S. {
Washington, Dec. %. 1861.

Washington, Dec. %, 1861.
EDITOR OF TIRE HERALD:-I am a
member of the I'd 60. Vt. Sharp Shoot
ers, and as Rutland County has a large
representation in this company | thought
ii would net be unwelcome to our friends
to hear from us through your Daily col
umns.
The different companies from the States
now number sixteen or seventeen, and are
divided into three Regiments, neither of
which are full. for reasons best known to
the field officers. The first and second
have each seven companys, eight being
the number intended to fill regiment
1t is not settled as yet in what manner we
are to be sent to active service, or where
we 60 from here. 1t is not likely we shall
leave here for some months. We were
told at dress parade this evening that we
were to have the breooh loading rife
made at Hartford, and they could not be
ready for us before March, and in the
mean time we were TO be armed with the
Harper's Ferry gun for drill. We are
encamped about three miles north of the
Capitol (head of 7th ST. on the high
lands. We are in full view of the city,
and being on a small hill composed of sand
and gravel we do not suffer from mud as
much as some others on the low clayey
soils. | think we are enjoying life huge
ly, at least | am. never felt better or
lived better in my life.
Company i has the small A tent which
will hold about four or five men. | do
not think it is as good as some other kinds
but is much better than none. Most of
us have stove in the tent, and those that
have no stove build fire places of brick.
OF which there are plenty for the moving.
We have to furnish our own stoves, or at
least we do. At the present time there
is a large number Oh the sick list, 40 in
the regiment, and 20 in Company E.
The measles and pneumonia are the pre-
vailing diseases at present. One Of the
N. Fl. I'd Co. died Friday, and was buried
yesterday in the soldiers home grave yard
with military honors, nearly all the regi-
ment being out
If we have escaped the mud on the hill
we are not escaping the wind. am ex-
pecting every moment when our tents will
be blown over. | have been out holding
on. 1t has rained and showed all day,
and this evening has cleared off, and such
wind as is seldom known in Vermont is
at this moment blowing, but this is moth
ing to what we must expect and so | take
il cool and continue to write. IF it blows
down our house We can put it up again, |
but would rather not TO night as it il |
freezing hard. Tents are much more |
comfortable than one would suppose.
have not suffered in the least and never |
slept better In my life than | do here
Our camping ground is on the farm of |
the man tha was shot while trying 10 put |
arsenic in tie water where the soldiers
drank. It was splendid place. Col
Berdan nov occupies the house for his
headquarters, and the grave where the
owner is buried is on our parade ground,
and the men do not hold it in any to great
reverence. ......
FL. A. " Post is the Col. of the I'd
regiment, and our worthy friend VIM. Y.
w. Ripley Is Lieut. Col. of the LIST regi
ment, splendid regiment and an officer
well worthy Of his command. | would
like to be one of his men, but can find
no fault with the officers we have. We
drill about six hours per day, there is no
drill rainy days or Sundays, so we have
had two easy days past. The men have
got one suit of clothes except caps, so
that they are comfortable, much better
than expected. 1t is what Col. Berdan
calls a superior organization and he in
tends to have them treated as such, and
as far as | can see we are, and as soon as
i think we are not treated well Vermont
will know it. The soldiers friend will
write now and then if agreeable.
IT. M HALL