Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-12-26
Our Arup Correspondence
FROM THE ELEVENTH REGIMENT
FoRr SLocuN, NEAR wAsHINGroS, y. c.,
November p 1862 (

FORT oLoCuA, NEAR w AsHfNGTOE, D. C., .
November p. 1862
DEAR JOURNAL The mania so prevalent
among members of other Vermont Regiments,
namely, that of writing letters to the local
newspapers, has at last made its appearance
in the eleventh" And your humble ser
want" it seems, has como TO be one of its
rapidly, increasing number Of victims and
perhaps | might add, not an unwilling one
for visitor in this far Of land whose arri-
val excites much commouon, and whose
presence creates in the hearts of our little
band such degree of pleasure and satisiac-
ton as does the journal, truly merits the
kindly notice of even feeble hand. Our
boys would bear to be deprived Of a portion
of their rations, but for OF ce out off unneces-
sarily their supply of Vermont papers, and
you would soon learn the amount of real grit
genuine Green Mountain boy possesses
when his rights are infringed upon. If per-
son wishes to contrast the truly happy and
the hopelessly disappointed countenance, he
has only - obtain good view Of Camp
Distributing Office at mail time.
After much useless expectation our regi-
ment has at last gone into, or more properly,
perhaps, "setied doign" into t0inter quarters,
for l know Of no better definition than this
for attempting to pitch tents and fix up quar-
tiers in genuine Maryland mud, three or four
inches deep during long, driving Southern
rain storm.
Instead of the seven forts previously occu-
pied by the regiment, they now occupy but
three, Forts Totten, Slocum and Maassachu-
sets, situated on the west end of this line of
defence, commanding the country as far to
the westward as Rock Creek.
see, by the Journal to-day, that a descrip-
ton has already been given of the repairs
now going on in the forts. and will omit that
until their completion furnishes an opportuni-
ty for some further notice
The general health of the regiment is very
good, with the exception Of the jaundice,
which difficulty is so exceedingly prevalent
that many fifteen or twenty in a single
company have, at one time, been more OF less
tinged with the "yeiiow hue" But as yet
have heard OF no cases Of serious nature
Some attribute the cause of the difficulty to
the water they use here, and some to other
causes However, presume it will prove to
be nothing very lasting.
The removal Of General Mcclellan pruduc-
es the same feeling among Vermont soldiers
at least, that it does among the people at
home, far as | am able to judge of ''home
sentiment" 1t is indeed true that they had
at last come to feel that the time had fully
arrived when some change must soon be made.
But they cared little tghdt that change might
be, so that it produced the desired result
namely, the entire and speedy blotting out of
the rebellion, and the complete restoration Of
the Union. A hope to this effect is again
thoroughly revived among them,-I trust not
to be disappointed. They are now prepared
to lsok to Gen. Burnside with the same con-
fdeuce that they have in past times reposed
in Gen. Mcclellan, and, if need be, are fully
prepared to place their lives in his keeping
1t has been painful indeed, as well as sur
prising, to note the rapidly increasing want
of confidence, and the distrust that has seem
ed to possess the minds of the soldiers in the
last few weeks previous to the late change of
commanders. The enthusiasm that seemed
to fill the heart OF almost every man in the
regiment. upon our arrival here, had taken
unto itself wings and flown, and, unfortunate
ly, its place had become filled with dscour-
agement and doubt. aud spirit of general
Inconsistencies seemed to peryade the camp.
They all claim to have come out here for a
purpose" And only ask that they may be
allowed the privilege OF last earnest effort
to accomplish their object. No word now
sounds so dismal and cheerless to them as
that heretofore fatal word "indciion." On
and buoyant spirit in the ranks as the news
of "stirring movements in the front"
Most gladly would the Eleventh join her
gallant sister regiments in the field, if she
could be allowed the privilege, but at present
such seems not likely to be her fate. Yet
the hearts and hopes of every member of the
regiment are with the "nO,0" not only grand
but ONWARD army of the brave Burnside or
] may safely say, as well, that they are as
fully with any other army for the Union, lead
by General that fights to conquer.
In consideration Of the some hat downcast
feeling which has seemed lately to have af-
fected many of the soldiers, | trust | may be
allowed few expressions directed more par
ticularly to readers as their fathers, mothers,
brothers and sisters, and finally to all their
near friends. | would not have what would
say considered as applying to any consider
able number of the army, yet to far too many
that the subject should be passed by unno-
ticed. And if / fail to do them good in this
way, cannot possibly do them harm. The
sentences that have been framed, modelled
and remodeled, telling you of the eagerness
with which the soldier grasps the letters COM
ing from dear friends, have long ago grown
stale with repetition.
But that smile Of bold and manly determi
nation, OF resignation, and even OF content
ment, that lights the soldiers countenance
upon receiving real patriotic and cheering
letter from a dear father, mother, brother
sister, or wife, will bear thousand repeti.
tions-nay, in a struggle like the present, il
cannot be too on repeated. This duty for
such deem it--of creating and sustaining
that feeling in the heart and mind of that
soldier, where it does not already exist, pa.
rents, friends, devolves upon you, and you
alone can perform it. | would not speak tC
you as having neglected US, for we know toe
we'll the depth Of your interest in our welfare
and that OF our common country, TO hsrboI