Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1862-01-10
From the Cavalry Regiment.
ANNAPOLIS, Mp Dee. 81. 1861. J
CAMP HARRIS.

tAMP HARRIS.
FRIEND EARLE: 1t is With the great.
est pleasure that address letter to you
tor publication, for by doing so shall not
only comply with the wishes Of yourself
but numerous other friends in my native
county. There were many things wor-
thy of note in our journey from YER
mont TO Washington yet must say
nothing of it, save that the men and hor-
ses were greatly fatisued when they ar
rived in Washington on Thursday morn
ing, and with but little food worked the
entire day pitching tents" and getting
ready to keep house in an old grave
yard
We remained there until Christmas
day, when we took up our line Of march
for the antique looking city Of Annapolis.
Our short stay in Washington proved
conclusiyely, that it was folly to think Of
picketing our horses there through the
winter months so long as it is dry wealth
er they will do well, but three hours rain
will soften the ground where they stand,
so they will have a mud hole half foot
deep under them, filed with clay and
water, making an excellent plaster for
some objects but not for horses. We had
but one storm while there, and it proved
destructive to the health Of many Of tho
horses; and having She promise Of bar
racks for our horses here, we were graft
fed by the change.
The march occupied two full days; the
FIRST night we halted at Marlboro, turned
into al open clean oak woods for tho
night, and as our baggage train failed 10
come up with our tents, we were COM
PEELED to gather the dry oak leaves for "A
bed, and form a circle around blazing
fire with our saddles, and lay down upon
a damp chilling Mary land soil Tor rect
and sleep.
To my surprise We arose refreshed and
strengthened for the march of another
day, which was cheeriully performed.
We arrived at cur camping ground about
bali past seven, and were ordered to fast
IN our horses 10 fence, u Ire could find
it, and us our baggage train was ago'n
Ledind, with teuis aud provisions We had
again to seek tie tar,h Tor btd--shcl-
tered from The damp air and rain by the
open heavens. IL seems that here had
aren no preparations made to sup'y tho
m,n with ration, for the night, couse-
qurntly tie men did rot destroy their
sleep by overlooking lLeir sjomach-.-
" Experience is the bes, icacher." OR
, Qaar,,rms ser thinks Be will never be
caught in the same condition again
lie should have preceded Us nrd made
prep araiious for the regiment. We are
under the greatest obligations to the j,h
New York cavalry, ercamped near by,
tor their generous treatment Of this rrgj-
ment. They cordially invited the sick
into their tents supplying them with the
best they had, and furnished hot coffee in
the morning to the whole regiment
Most certainly i! was q God send to ~,
ard hope We shall not be unnindfu Of
it. Our camp is about two mi les from
the city, upon a large tobacco field, the
soil of which is the best have seen in
the state for an encampment. Our tents
came on to the ground a little past noon,
and in surprisingly short time there was
quite a town, layed out with military
precision, in existence. The horse bar
acks Of each company is to be in its
street, which is almost the only thing
needful to make its condition enviable by
any cavalry regiment have yet seen.
The health Of my company has not been
as good as usual for the past ten days.
Change of climate, diet, and too free
use of the water Of this section has pro-
duced considerable sickness in the regi-
mept, but there has been decided i'm.
proyement since we came into this camp.
There is but one of the Otleans boys in
the hospital Ira S. Drew is sick with
mumps-is doing well, and will soon re-
port for duty.
Tie road over which we passed from
Marlboro to this place runs through the
richest par; of the state, and with one
exception the entire white population
maintained a sulen silence us we passed.
Should the rebel army triumph on the
Potomac, it would better test The loyalty
of Mary land. Though there may be
majority of Union men, there is large
amount of wealth on the side of treason.
The slaves are intelligent and fully IN
derstaud the cause of this war, nor are
they ignorant Of Efforts being made to
tr,e them from bondage.
II