Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1862-12-16
From the 1874 Vermont.
CAMr VEhNoNT, w. Dec. 9, l6l

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Journey to Union Mills, where we were stationed
fora week doing picket duty, and eating hard
tack" We left there on Friday, the oth, in a
storm of rain and anow, took the cars for Alexan-
dria, and arrived near oar old camp grosnd on the
afternoon OF the same day in SNOW storm, and
marched to camp, or rather TO where the old
camp was. When we arrived there what should
meet our eyes but snow and mad, and we were
left to find home in some vast wilderness, for our
tents had not arrived, and we were houselea and
homeless. Some took to the woods and en-
deavored to build 6rss, that would not burn; some
had bed in barns while Others who were for
iunsis enough TO have friends in ether regiments,
found home there and good fare. Your humble
servant was one Of the latter, and shall ever be
grateful to Co. A, 10th Regt for past hvors,
thankfully received. Now the tug OF war il over,
and We are hard at j. building our log cabins for
our winter quarteu-prsviding We don't visit
Union Mills again suddenly. While there party
Of 80 men sndsr Lieut.. Slayton, Co. II, paid a
visit to the memorable and hardly contested BATHS
field of Bull Run. We saw there all The evil
dencss Of q severely contested battle. Many
bodies still lilo exposed in part to the gaze Of the
visitor, and servs to fill his mind with thoughts o.
the horrible realities Of war Numerous kinds 81
bullets were found, also swords, guns, grape-shot
and all the implements Of war. Many trees arc
to be seen bearing the marks Of cannon and other
shot, The stone house where McDowell's head
quarters were, still remains, and two captains Of
the N y. 22d regiment are buried near there
also one soldier from the / th Georgia, there
YOU find friend and foe lying side by side, IN tie
seep that knows no waking.
We have been afflicted of late il losing mem
Der Of Go. G, Orange Lack.y, from Montgomery,
Vt. He died Of fever after being sick bu, few
days. On Sunday, in the afternoon, ssrvic" were
held by The ehsplain, and after hi, remark, con-
,oling the friends Of the deceased, and urging
those present to be prepared for death, we gave
him soldier, burial, and be now lies in soldier,
grave, an honor alike to bis friends and his coun.
try. With drums mufled, and arms rev,ned
slowly We followed his remains to their last resting
place on earth. learn that Capt. White OF the
same Co. is on the sick list. In fact that conpa-
ny has been afflicted more than any other, thus
far having lost 8 by death. From this let me
turn TO something less solemn.
/ :.
might be called. allude to the Pipe and Ring
fever. 1t has gained many victims, and but few
remain who have rot been more or less affected
with il.
The Laurel Root which grows spontaneously
near by affords full scope for the Yankee TO in
dulgs in bis lavorts propensity of whiting, and
jack-knives are in great demand, as they in a
great measure sonducs to the final accomplish
meni of the objects in view, that ia, finishing the
Pipes and Rings TO disgrace the mouth and grace
the fingers of the lucky ones whome in posses
sion Of them.
The weather here has been quite cold, and we
had saow storm on the 9Th inst, the snow falling
some Tour lnches oeep.
The other day two ,shits eonirdbands were
brought into camp and shown ts the Colonel. Il
appears they violated one Of our camp rules b!
firing their guns near our quarters. They how
ever plead ignorance, as they were from the tow
of Alexandria, cannot call it city. They wer
out hunting and accidentally came upon our camp
( However, our Colonel, with his usual good ma
! turs, discharged them with slight rePrimand
and they went on their way rejoicing.
; There is a secesh living near our camp, by III
name of Johnson believe. He owned lsrg
stack OF straw and refused to sell or give it ava,
a Accordingly some en,srprising genius of Var
kee set it on fire, and one night on retiring to be
tho 18th were alarmed by the cry of fire. W
soon found i, to DO seceshs straw and we all sal
"Amen" and returned to our beds.
/, We have some good hunters in Co. II, as We
/. as soldiers. Yesterday ORR Lyford and Thsodol
Slay.on went in pursuit of the 'possums whic
live in this vicinity in large numbers. The sno
being SEINE three inches deep they easily usck'
, them, and were successful enough to capture f,
y which they skinned, aud of the flesh made an e
10 cellent dish ct for the stomach Of the most pa
% ,icular epicure. Wild turkeys also abound, b
he the boys have not as yet succeeded in gsttir
N any.
A. Our Quartermaster, Aldrich, has been qui
y sick, bu, is now improving. Geo. Nichols, Of Z
a. II, is sick in the hospital at Alexandria, of few,
Timothy Webber has also been quite sick, but
ce now conyalescsnt
y Yours Truly,
e. Sergl. II. g., Co. II, 18th VI. Vols.
IL