Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1862-07-04
From the Third Regiment.
CAMP 80 MILES FROM RICHMOND }
V. limo % 1850
H. CLAY FLINT

that home | have not sen for long
months, and seems doubly dear now that
am among strangers snd dangers more
, than ordinary, as you ire perhaps aware.
| am with the arm Of the Potomac,
under Mcclellan, AID have endured the
long marches made by that army in its
pursuit of the rebe forces from Fortress
Monroe to this pont. We have fought
and marched distance of about eighty
miles, and trust the remainder OF our
, march will be as successful as that al
ready made. That we shall reach the
proud capital Of the chiyarc southern
confederacy without bloody and terrible
battle none can think but the grand re-
suit can no; be doubted. The mighty in
tellect of little Mac. comprehends the
whole and as his cause is just and
smiled on of Providence, such word as
fail, or defeat, can not for a moment be
tolerated in our vocabulary. You may
mourn deeply the loss of Vermonters, Of
the blood of Green Mountain Boys
poured out like water in the cause of
their country, yet it can never alter the
final result. "Secession stock is going
down aud the old flag shall wave to the
Rio Grandc." Smiths division has been
in the advance, and when we are hunting
tie wiley foe through swamps and ravines
covered with thick growth of pine and
underbrusb, it is but natural that we
should occasionally fall into ambushes
and traps, and many brave Vermont
soldier lies now sleeping his last sleep in
the sacred soil of Virginia, killed by a
concealed assassin foe, and when we
fall upon them in force we must fight
them. You may Lave read of the mag
nifcent charge of Hancock s Brigade,
thai it is Smith division. You may have
heard perhaps Of charge made by the
3rd Vermont across Warwick, "isd by
Lieut.. Whittenl0re Of the charge of
the Vermont 4th and 9Th, they all belong
to Smiths division. 1t may be we shall
be hurled headlong upon the one hundred
and seyenty-fve thousand men and two
hundred pieces of artillery at Bottom
Bridge, and with two or three hundred
men attempt to drive the whole at the
point of the bayonet from their works.
It may be policy, but can not see it in
that light.
have been somewha! amused as |
have read the papers from the north de-
failing the miRu:ia Of tue charge Of the
forlorn hope, of the gaIIantry of its
leader, Lieutenant Whittemore, of the
heroic deeds of many officers there, but
my humble name was never mentioned.
| thought it would work itself clear, and
| see by your paper that at last the truth
is known that your humble | had COM
mand of that little band who had the
honor of Vermont in its hands, and that
{ they tell us) sustained it. l can hardly
agree with you in your praises, but GER
tainly claim the honor, if honor there be
in it, Of commanding one side in the
bIoodiest fight that has yet occurred in
the war.
As you will see we are now within ten
miles of Richmond on the banks of the
famous Chickahominy, with an immense
army in our front driven to the last ditch
they have so often threatened to die in.
We are all of US well satisfied that they
will make desperate stand, and that
our victory or defeat will decide the ex-
istence of the (now) bogus southern con-
federacy. Richmond is full of women
and children, the wives and little ones of
those in their front, and hard must be the |
struggle that will drive them back. The
rebels are no towards. They have hardly
the enduring qualities of the well trained
northern soldier, and they are vastly de-
ficient in army and the machinery of
war They are desperate for they are at
last holed and their only hope is to con-
qner or die. Should jeff Davis determine
to evacuate Virginia, but a few of the
soldiers of that State will follow bis for
tune farther, and l am of the opinion
that one half of his available force 10 our
front is composed of Virginians. We
are really in want of news, getting
scarcely any papers, and when got of so
long ago, there is not much to interest.
Whether Halleck has fought and won or
lost we know not, nor do we hear any Of
the current news until about the time
they receive the same in Europe, and
more We are often .nxiou. IN hear fror,