The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-05-16

WHOLE NO. 1904,
cruit them. Then the regiment will be in
fair condition for the engagement which is
daily expected with Jackson.
Of much which has been said concerning
the people of secesh, some is true and some
is untrue. That there is any reliable Union
feeling in the valley l think is a mistake: at
least have been unable to find any. But
that there is strong and bitter feeling of
hatred toward the northern people is true.
l have not yet been able to find Union man
either from choice or principle. 1t is hard to
get them to say that they would like to be
Union, even if they could interpret the con-
stitution as they chose. And most of them
openly declare that they have no allegiance
to the United States, nor do they wish any.
They simply ask to be let alone, but when
you assure them that they will not be let
alone until they lay down their arms, go qui-
etly to their homes and submissively obey
the teachings of the constitution, they retort
by saying that We shall be obliged to let them
alone ere long, for their army will oblige US
to. They place much confidence in their
army yet. They believe, although they cam
not tell how, that their army is yet to save
them. They yet cling TO the southern con-
federacy with great tenacity. think, how
ever, when they see their army completely
driven from the field and know that there is
no hope for them in an armed force, that
they will gradually lose their love for Jeff's
idol, be detached from the confederacy and
be reunited to the Union. A great per-
versity of mind now holds the people. They
believe the most inconsistent, glaring lies
concerning the success and strength of their
troops, while they will disbelieve the most
palpable facts about our army, the victories
which We have recently achieved, and the
policy Of the government. 1t cannot be long
though, before such delusions will disappear,
and they will see the light once more. They
certainly ought to feel thanful that our army
is in their midst, for until the federal army
came into the valley they had little, or no
coffee, sugar, salt, and many other important
articles, which before the war they received
from northern cities, but since the war they
have been unable to obtain them. The
blockade has kept such articles from being
imported, and they could not receive them
from the North, consequently they have been
without. The foregoing shows that Lincoln's
blockade has done something. Salt, which
before the war was sold for one dollar bush
el, has for the past year been sold for fifteen
dollars bushel-sugar, coffee, rice, and all
kinds of spices in the same proportion. Such
the people state as fact, and still they will
fight and declare a readiness to die for the
southern confederacy. 1t is evident that the
people have been deceived-been sadly cheat
ed, and nothing will raise from their eyes the
veil of delusion but defeating their last hope
and dependence, which is the rebel armv.-
And confidence must gradually return when
they learn that it is not a war of conquest or
subjugatiOn, but for the enforcement of the
laws, and the dispersion of an armed force in
rebellion against the best government ever
established. When the wicked, heaven-pro-
voking, hell-born rebellion is put down. ali
will be right again, peace and prosperity will
return.
One incident has arisen from the conduct
of the Vermont cavalry, which do not feel
at liberty to pass without mentioning. Cor
poral Chase of Co. ID, Dansille,l few davs
since was mortally wounded. He was with
squad which charged upon some vandals in
the act Of firing bridge. They were driven
back ard the bridge again saved. This cor
poral after receiving his death wound, siezed
and took one man prisoner. This same cor
porai in another charge took lieutenant of
Ashby's rebel cavalry, making two men that
he actually took prisoners of war. But in
his last effort he received his death-wound.
He lived but a short time after the action
The general, after hearing of his prowess and
success, called upon him and remarked, as he
was in great pain: "You noble sufferer, YOU
have been an honor to your state He was
a Christian young man. of excellent habits,
and unusually careful with the use Of his Ian
guage, and having trust in God he was brave
and valiant, even more so than many of his
companions in arms.
Yours. sincerely, I.G,JR.
Letter from Kentucky.