The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-11-14
From the Vermont Cavalry.

CAMP NEAR FORT Sco1r, Va, Nov. >.
Mr.. EDITOR 1t seems rather dull to US
who have been marching almost necessarily
up and down the valley of Virginia during |
the spring and summer,to remain here quiet (
ly in camp. For two months We have been
lying here with only an occasional scout to
break the monotony of our lives. On these
scouts only small part Of our regiment go
out for want of horses. We can mount now
not over two hundred men. lncessant
marching for two months was enough to
exhaust the energies of both man and
beast. On our arriving here large number
of our horses were turned over as unser-
viceable, land of late among those left foo, rot
has prevailed quite extensively, rendering
many others unfit for service. 1t. COL Pres
ton is now in Vermont procuring horses for
the regiment, and we hope in few weeks to
be again mounted and ready for service.
Until we receive these horses think we shall
not be ordered hence, as dismounted cavalry
could be of but little use in the field.
When we advanced on Culpepper in July |
found copy of a Richmond paperpubllshed
about the time of Banks retreat. The pa
er stated that jackson had captured one
regiment of Vermont Cavalry. The regiment
had lately received from Vermont eight hun
dred horses of pure Morgan blood. 1t was
hoped that Jackson had also captured the
horses as they were greatly in need OF such
animals When we get these horses, if the
redels want them we'll give them fair chance
and they will be welcome to all they can catch.
The men, as | said before, were worn out
by long and continual marches. Many of
them had rode day after day when they felt
not able to sit in the saddle, but anything
was preferabl, to capture by the rebels and
they nerved themselves for another effort and
reached the camp in slfety. Excitement, too,
sustained many for while who otherwise
would have yielded before to disease. On
our arrival here exhausted nature could hold
out no longer and our sick list began to swell
day by day until it reached the large number
of one hundred and sixty. We have had
many cases of intermittent and of remittent
fever, Of typhoma!arial or camp fever,several
cases Of typhoid fever, and of chronic diarr-
hpa not few. Six deaths have occurred
since our coming here viz, Nathan J.. Rob
inson, Co. G of Typhoid Fever c. l.. Field
Co. b, of Diarrhea; Squire Shield, Go. b. OF
Chronic Diarrhea Samuel Blair, Go. h, OF
Typhoid Fever; A. 6. Harmon, Co. \, Alb
scess upon the Brain; y. l.. Davis, Go. C.
Typho- malaria. Fever died in General Hospl-
tai at Alexandria The health OF the regi-
ment is 70. slowly improving day by day.
Some over two weeks ago the available
force Of our regiment were ordered to the
front, and have been employed ever since
scouting and on picket. One day last week
some fifty of our men under Capt. Flint wert
suddenly attacked 10y a whole regiment o.
rebels. Our boys Of COURSE took horse-les
bail for security. Seventeen OF them wert
taken before they could escape. ] have moi
learned their names.
There are about as as many rUmors afioa1
{ as ever. One is that We are to 60 upon an
expedition to redeem from rebel rule the
!. Lone Star of Texas. OF course We take nc
stock in such rumors, but very many woulo
ike to embark upon such an enterprise.
Everything about here yesterday and TO-
day indicate general move oftroops. Very
: many regiments encampeG near here, nclu
ding the 10Th and i3tl. Vt, marched yester
day in the direction of Centervie. Father
: Young came with his ambulance from Cen
tervlle this afternoon. He says that som,
r skirmshing had already commenced. Or
r the way here he met brigade after brigade
r going to Centerville. All were expecting
| big thing" right away. Report says tina
2 Mcclellan is also fighting to-day. But VI
d. shall know more of these things here after.
r We have had few cold and disagreeab
z days with chilly nights. For few day
= past the weather has been warm and pleasant
. HALUS.