Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1862-06-24
QDIctu @i(t. freeman
(Our War Correspondcnce.)
From the Fifth Vermont Regiment.
MONTPELIER VT.
uesdoy Morning, june "a, 1862.


Mn. WILLARD II haze been down on my
blankets enjoying a good smoke, -enjJyug
what a word that is for such dirty, hungry, rag
gcd, sore, Tired, and if 1t was only raining as IT
docs most d. the time, and as il viii before
night, should add, mean ugIy, saucy, and
cross creatures as we arc,-but have been
smoking. any and ujug to Jaia& Of some.
thing 10 Write }ou Ben1 more modest tbiu
the DER, don want q hero, bat 90 want
some au1lec. or subjects that " our army cor
respondents have not worn threadbare by their
much writing and more sensation OF course
1t cannot be blood or thunder, and as " Little
Mac is get M very particular about what we
soldiers write, dare not say anything about
movements. We have crossed the Cnicka-
hominy, anyhow, and mo boys VIII fight like
tigers before they ever re-cr0ss e 81 of us 49,
! mean TIC brigadc,-haye had an opportunity
to see that stream, aud the swamp, hills aud
woods beyond, or IA l.cnt Of where It Was sup.
posed W were to cross, and We have never seen
anything hat looked very inviting. GA the
contrary | think every soldier in The brigade
will indors3 my remark, when tel! you that we
M have had a sort Of silent dread Of that opera
non. W. built cur own bridges, ami tae en-
envy IN large force saw from day to Ga, every
working force engaged thereon, and every night
mad bis pickles within forty RODS Of the stream.
Sui, they did not modest Us, ana this was enough
10 satisfy every one Of US that they were pre-
pared to have Us cross n any force. Bat yes
terday smith IS division made circuit and
crossed about four miles below, on Gen. Sum
ner grape vine bridge, and we are all glad Of
1t. Now that IS not much, but it is all that
consider prudent to tell you about our move
meuts
dc notremember Of ever seeing any romance
III army letters, connected with the historic
grounds OF our campaign, and as Ivy ever ready
character, Uncle Ira, kindly furnished me with
bit just before leaving our last camp, may
AS well let - our readers have it. II is not
much-.short and swcet-and like all romance,
wants yarnish and trimming, much more thana
novice at story telling can give. Here it is
In good old colony times, when the Smith
family had 10 advantage Of the Browns in the
way Of Johns or Marys, and when everything
in the way Of adventure gave character, rank
and consideration to family Uames, one John
Smith, the historic character Of the times, with
whose career every school child Is familiar, one
day by chance wOye his name into the pages Of
history, besides making the acquaintance, and
for time wiuning the affections Of most
charming Indian girl. She WAS gentle maid
p and pretty, considering her chances. But no
intelligent reader wishes to be burdened with
particulars about the beauty and charms of a
girl like Pocahontas. She is about the only In
dian, male Or female, tLat Las place in tie
hearts and affections OF the early colonlss and
their d scendants. 1t is saying considerable
but we learn her story in childhood, and we
never learn another that keeps SO fresh IN our
memories or that tells us more of the mob e.
ness and heroic virtues Of the human heart.
Well, as The story of this gallant and udven-
lurous Captain Smith thckens up into the inca
sure and dignity Of the historic page, we are
told that, not content with the compass, comforts
and surroundings Of his a-grt home, that with
light canoe aud iealhered oar be made trip W
the valley of the York River, in search of Other
and better lands, and for other purposes thai
we DO not now remember. Day by day b,
looked the country Der lord Of all he suryeyed
But unfortunately, like many other pilgrims o
later days. he fell into mishaps, and instead o
finding farm, he soon found himself prise
ner among the wigwans of the Pamunkoy In
dams, fierce and hostile tribe OF savages-
What to do with their distinguished visitor, wa
the subject of much meditation and pipe smo
king discussion around the council fires of tn
most sage and more congressional looking repre-
sentatiyes of savage life. The council fnall
adjourned, and We are all familiar with the IT
suit of their deliberations. Captain Smith wa
to die,-he was to be beheaded The day
execution arrived, and the block was prepared
when Pocahontas, throwing herself between I'll
victim and his savage exocuhoner, stayed I'll
bloody tragedy
All this being the prelude 10 Uncle lra's +,
nance, he concluded by remarklng in his DR.,
grave and solemn manner, " Now boys, upc
this very ground where you behold the Te
GAhi OF your venerable Uncle, is the very sp,
where the aforesaid Capt. Smith was saved ro
an untimoly death by that lovely Indian Gil
Pocahootas i" Yes, boys, and that state
pine that for weeks has protected US from
much Summer sun and showers, and bonea
whose shade we have whilod away idle houl
and luscious ratlons of the camp, is the vel
pine where morning and evening this charmir
maid, this dashing forest belle, did lounge al
lean and lol, while engaged in the ever lashio
able friyolty of doing up her back hair.
So saying he gazed and grinned for momen
when leaning over and scraping from the dyu
embers of the camp fire a light for his hall-fll
pipe ne quietly Withdrew 10 cohJure up som
thing still more novel Tor your special army co
respondent. 1t would be very convenient
there was little love, jealousy, or elopeme
10 weave in us a finale to our hasty little narr
tive, but there is not nothing in the world
head a moral, or adorn tale, but" back hair
While in the story vein we may as well ia
this opportunity to check Oft from our not
book such other incidents as we find noted
When the last batch OF recruits arrived fro
Vermont they were parceled out among the Sc
eral regiments and Tor some days were not u
der much restraint. They dG some very exte
slve loa6ng, and in that way acquired consid,
able information about camp life, and the raj
of officers as shown by the shoulder-straps
stripes Now one of these recruits more obser