Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-10-17
I0ur Army Correspondence.
FROM THE I2rH REGIMENT.
WAsHtSGr0y Oct. 10. lSC9

FROM THE I2rH REGIMENT.
wAsHISsros, Oct 10, 1862.
Dtar Free Pres,
The camp Of the Twelfth, al Brat
tleboro, presented busy appsara7ce last Tues
day morning The thousand operations prepara-
tory TO breaking up Of camp we're in active prog
ress. The quarters we're full Of friends Of the
saliiers, many Of them ladies, who re seated
here aad there and plying busy fingers in taking
the last stitches for their brothers and fri nos be-
fore bidding hem the ial good bye. The men
wsrs generally in good spirits. AMI anxious % b.
Of. By eleven O'Clock. every knapsack was
packed and tn. regiment in line, and a, aalf past
cleyen-the time set, to a minute-it marched
from Camp Lincoln
The day was v,ry hot one, and the sun blased
down, With midsummer power. The Thirteenth,
Col Randall. escorted the regiment to the depot.
Col. sioughton, the acting Brgadier General Of
the post, took command Of the column, and in
order probably to show the regiment TO some Of
his Brstt leboro friends, took them by circatous
route through the streets to the depot. Tae march
Of nearly two miles in the hot sun vas a pretty
hard one for the boys but as they passed the de-
pot, where I was stationed on special duty. 1 was
glad to see that Company marched as stoutly
as the stoutest, and that in the little party 4
stragglers. Cperhlps twenty or thirty in alp who
had fallen out on the way, and who brought up
the rear there was not OF the Howard
Guard. Through some unsssoun table neglect Of
the railroad com panIes, though the day and hour
Of our departure bad been set for nearly a week.
no cars were in READINGS. TO take the regiment,
aud we had 10 wait until they were brought IT N
below. The regiment was accordingly marched
halt II down the riv,r TO a shaded mea dow,
and alloEed to lie Of for the remainder Of the
day. A barrel Of good things sent from Burning
ton by Mr.. Beash, supplied cur company with ali
they could eat, and to spare 20 the rest, and
the afternoon passed comfortably ava :. At six
o'clock. a TT in of empty cars arrived, and the
work Of emb,rkation commenced at seven. The
cars were too few il number however. Some
freight cars had to be rugged with seats manuaetur
ed on the spot, q believe our officers considered
themselves fortunate 10 not having 10 wait until
cars and all we're manufactured for the occasion.)
and 1t was ten o'clock before We were fairly under
way. Before this, our kind friends had taken
their leave, BY the trains in each direction, and
the actual departure was as quiet as tina, Of any
train Of thirty loaded cars.
Let me mention here the kind Offices Of your
townsman, wm. Brinsmaid, who took up his
quarters with US on Monday, worked like bea-
yer in helping the boys pack up their things,
took charge OF big pile OF valises ami buudles
TO be taken home, and remained til the last man
n camp to pick up things and see that all Vss
If IN proper shape. It was valuable bit Of
service.
The delay in getting away was dsgrscefGl
one for the railroad Managers; but was fortu-
nate thing for the regiment. Had it been packed
away into the cars, as it came heated
from the marc, and been compelled
to ride all the remainder Of that hot
day, the men wou have suffered As it was,
they lay around in the shade during the afternoon.
- k the rail in the cool moonlight, ard had the
pleasure Of a daylight boat-ride through theSound
The night was splendid one, and the ride down
the beautiful valley Of the Connecticut, which
seemed doubly beautiful in the liquid moonlight,
was notable one for every man who had parti-
Gle Of sentiment in bis soul.
At Springfield (Which we reached about ! o'cloek)
we we're received with rousing salute Of 50 guns
Preparations had also been made on tie supposi-
ton that we should arrive about supper-time, to
supply refreshment to the troops; but the delay
upset the kind arrangement. We made little
stop there or any where, bu: swept on down tie
river. We reached New Haven a: o'clock, spent
exactly an hour in changing the mea and the tag
gage from the cars to the Large aud splendid
steamer" Continental, and were of for New York.
The boat barely touched at Peek Slip, and ,hef
went on to Jersey City, where We debarked about
noon. Col Howe had provided there dinner on
soup and bread, which was served promptly. and
we were of again BY rail for Washington.
can give little time aud space to the thousand
times told story Of the passage Of regiment from
New York to Washington. We had the customary
raviugs Of handkerchieis and hsgs, demOnstra-
lions of God-speed all along the way, the usual
and it is all the more noticeable and praiseworthy
because it Is usual-substantial veleoms in the
shape Of hot coffee, good bread and bu tier, and
meat, DC, served by the kind hands Of the ladies
aud &c ntlemen Of the Union Relief Association, in
Philadelphia; and the customary delays in getting
from Baltimore to Washington. Up 10 BaltimJre
We made steady and reasonably rspid progress,
reaching there at siI o'clock Thursday morning.
Then came q march of a mile and a half across the
city, six hours of tedious standing with stacked
arms near the Washington depot, varied By break
fast at the Relief Rooms, when were slowed
away in freight cars and started cut Of the
city. The train took COO other troops besides our
regiment, and numbered 81 heavily loaded cars.
the men covering the tops as well as filing the
iasides Of the cars. We made Glow progress,
waiting three or four hours al Annapolis Junction,
and reached Washington at o'clock Thursday
night. Supper was given US in the not very
swee, or savory halls Of the " Soldiers Rest" and
in the huge white washed barns attached thereto,
the boys finally laid themselves down to sleep as
best they might, on the hard floors, many prefer
ing to take their blAnketl and sleep on the ground
outside To-day we are to 80 into camp, sone
where about Washington, exactly where | cannot
,sy at this present writing.