The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-06-19
Jour War Correspondence.|
From the Second Vermont Regiment,
A Soldiers Letter--NO. N.


behind our knapsacks as per order few days
previous. Neither did we cross in front of our
temporary encampment, as We had anticipated,
but we marched down the stream and crossed
Oh another bridge from that We had been en-.
gagged In building near the battlefield of Satur-
day and Sunday. For twelve days we had been
encamped ID the woods on The opposite side OF
the hill from the creek and about tea miles above
the railroad bridge. FROM the brow Of this not
very high hill could be seen the emlnence beyond
which separated us from Richmond, SAID to be
provided with powerful means for defensive war
fare, while between lay the valley of the Chick
ahuniny. Although the rebels are doubtless as
thick US Egyptian frogs in the woods opposite,
they manage to keep pretty well out OF sight.
DULY now and then stray horseman could be
seen riding rapidly hither and thIther, and al
ways quickly disappearing from view in the
woods, where probably they have their forces
concealed.
While here we had but little to do but picket
and build bridges. This creek which is fast
becoming famous, is the most unpromislng
stream | ever saw to bridge. Like "a city, lis
suburbs extend far back into the country ON
each side, and the whole valley, Or plain is one
endless swamp, in laces overlooking with sew
eral feet of water, and generally covered with
dense forest for the trees here seem to have no
objection to growing, even if their roots, and
considerable portion of the trunk, are buried I'M
der water. 1t can readily be conceived that 20
build passabe road across place like this is
more than ordinarily difficult especially when
there is hostile army on the opposite side
wariy watching every movement We make.
Will not attempt to d, scribe the modus operaadi
of building these unique and slngularly con-
Cd |
other correspondents here who 6nOo h0W All
| can say about it is, the pioneers and others
who are detailed for this purpose take their
axes and wade in to the handiest trees and, al
ter cutting them the right length, noaC them 10
where they are wanted, when other men take
them and give to each log its proper position IN
the forthcoming bridge. An extra regiment
goes with the workmen 20 protect them. Bat
terles. too, are stationed at every available
point to command the bridge Once, while our
regiment was acting as guard, and when We
were quietly passing away the time, as uncon-
scious of danger and MS unmindtu OF the pres
ence of an enemy as if We had been playing
with the kitten under the p4rcntal root III old
Vermont, we were suddenly startled into the
lveliest activity by ID wel-di,ected cannon ball
which passed Just over our heads and planted
itself IN the ground u short distance from US,
followed by the second aid third sho! in almost
the same place. There was "a lively busting
amons the boys ust then. Ihe thread OF many
an animated discussion was suddenly broken
papers were thrown aside by those lucky enough
to possess them cards were rejected without
the leastragari for their loss for j, is quite no.
tlceable that card players, gamblers especially.
have an instructive dread, superestitlous fear
OF cards IN moments OF alarm and peril, all
were quickly on their feet ready 10 run, or dodge,
or look out for themselves the best way they
could. Soldiers, when they are not IN the ranks
armed and equipped and under the influence
OF discipline, and not directly under the control
OF leader, feel just as other people are supposed
to in times OF danger, and when one shot has
barely missed them, and they have reason to be-
lIeve another is about to be fired, with no chance
| on their part to return it, or for concerted sc-
ton 10 resist the toe, it 10 the most natural thing
IN the world tor even soldiers to feel inclined to
| run, and to any one who would attribute this
| inclination to cowardice, | would say it is a
great pity, the Army of the Potomac should be
| deprived of Their services However, ther. was
no running Of any consequence here ; many Of
the boys never 80 much AZ stirred out of their
tracks. Our batteries promptly accepted the
rebel challenge and silenced their saucy demon
straLions in short metre. The workmen KEEP:
right on with their work, without scarcely
deigning to notice anything but their own legit-
innate business In due time, when all these
bridges are finished, We expect the whole army
to march across and either get terribly whipped
or force our way into Richmond.
A, said, we had but little to do, but idle
ness is by no means the parent Of contentment.
If ones mind 10 unoccupied 1t will prey upon it.
self, or seek qualification in whatever comes in
Its way, no matter how unworthy hence the
tendency 10 evil in camp life. But, excepting a
few grumblers, the boys have been in good spir
its and have enjoyed themselves comparatively
well, confident OF being soon led on to victory
by our almost idolzed General Hard crackers
and meat are the sum total Of our living, he Wis
its of suffers being almost as rare as those of an
gels. There Is but little TEN ptalion to surfelt
to the detriment of health or comfort, on such
fodder, and all attempts to modify the flavor OIL
our plain fare-as, tor instance, to warm oveI
our meat in spider and fry our crackers in the
surplus fats promptly trowned down by tho
authorities that be. Doubtless these restriction
are made out OF wholesome solicitude for ou
physical welfare, SO while we are all prohibited
from making our rations more palatsble-and
submit to you if the desire is not lsudable on,
| under the clrcumsances--no doubt many of tn,
moro imprudent are prohibited from enjoying
the luxury OF u sick headache quite too often t(
make it profitable for Uncle Sam The boyI
found place a short distance outside of tn,
camp, 1T u certain mill, where they could occa
sionally buy cup of -four or meal at Il pric
which would render common crop on All ordl
nary farm worth fortune to its pussessor, ant
out of this manufacture buildings or hapjackS il
a style of SIMPLICITY such AS ouly soldiers woul,