The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-04-25
From the Vermont Brigade.

There is not very good feeling between the
Vermont troops and Gen Brooks. They
think him overbearing, tyrannical, and noto-
riously coarse and prolane. He has given
new cause Of complaint at Yorktown. A cor
respondent of the Freeman tells the story,
which We have heard before from private
sources:
eve were short of rations, and the boys
had been living from hand to mouth for sew
eral days, and they were really hungry. So,
watching their chances, they "stole awhile a.
way" into the fields, pastures and premises of
the inhabitants, and by midday came in load
ed down with commissary stores in the shape
of fresh meat, hogs, pigs, turkeys, cattle, and
in one instance a horse and saddle. 1t was
not long however, before Gen Brooks got wind
of what was going on,and what had gone on.
He at once issued an order to the colonel of
every regiment in the bri gade, to have every
thing that had been "plundered," together
with the "plunderers," sent to his quarters.
In about an hour the grounds about his tent
looked like wholesale huckster's stand in
the Fulton market. And then the general
appeared to take an inventory. After care
full inspection, he ascertained that - regi-
ment were the biggest thieves in the brigade
though some others were probably more
shrewd. He accordingly addressed himself
to the above regiment. Il want you to un-
derstand this is no Cornstalk Militia, (he
speaks very fast,) and that you can't pilfel
the substance Of widows and orphans You
Vermont soldiers send oat school-teach
ers, tracts, and missionaries all over the
world, and come down here and rob a poor
widow woman of everything she has. from 8
sucking pig up to horse and saddle! Horse
thief soldiers! should think you were rails
ed in state prison. And your officers pre-
tend that they knew nothing about it. You
are worse than horse-thieves, and the Who'll.
brigade is no better, and, ii restitution is no,
made for this plumber before tomorrow morn
ing, I'll send you back behind the brigade in
disgrace! | drill soldiers, | do not drill
horse-thieves and robbers" The boys have
lived on Uncle Sans rations since hearing
the above harangue, and presume they vii
the rest of the campaign"
The same correspondent speaks of the bat
tie ground, and the obstacles to be overcome
before successful siege can be carried
on:
"This whole army is in swamp opposite
the detences of the enemy. Sink hole any
where, on the most elevated ground arount
here, two feet deep, and You can get a wei
Of water-and such is the water We have t
use. In addition to this, the swamp lands
are covered with heavy timber and mos
entangling network of underground. In al
New England tract of land of equal extern
could not be found, with more natural obsta
cles for the advance of an attacking army
In front OF these swampS, timber and briars
is deep stream, the elevated banks of which
on the opposite side are liDed with tortifca
tons. four or five miles in extent, the ram
parts OF which are swarming with rebel sold
lers, their cleaning bayonets and rifed ord
nance.
10 give battle to an enemy, equal if no
superior to ourselves in numbers, in such ,
position, will require much preparation, anl
1t will certainly be days, if not weeks, befor.
tHc olIaCh Is tIdue. Ill the meantime pul
generals are at work day and night, and i
woult! astonish YOU to see the fatigue dut,
that is done By our men,-felling timber
building roads, bridging swamps, and. in fact
building or creating battle ground for oul
artillery and infantry. Roads are to be Gu
and built i'll every direction for the direct ane
flank movements of our forces, and man, of
iheSc roads have to be constructed under thu
fire of the enemy. But the work goes brave
y on, and already miles of good road are fin
lshed. Field guns, siege pieces, and mortars
are to be moved over these roads into posi-
ton and masked. and when this is done
the great battle will be fought.
/ In the meantime the rebels amu>e them
selves throwing shells into our camps and a
long our line Of pickets, while our boys hav,
heir own sport hunting for shot at live re
bel and if a record of mortality is properly
kept in the rebel camps it will show tina
some good shots have been made, and ric
c6rSd'