Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-11-28
Our Armp Correspondence,
FROM THE THIRTEENTH REGIMENT.
CANT VERMONT, Fairfax Co.,

AiTthuN dpnTletu OF our TtiitNat AANhA Nj 'fN'
Hill to Camp Seward, beyond Arlington
Heights, and it may be, Of our march to this
place subsequently.
notice by paragraph in the Journal which
received last night, that an officer in the
18th regiment has written home that we, in
connection with the 18th, received orders to
march a week ago last Saturday, that the
place of our destination was Hunting Creek,
some twenty miles into Virginia, and that we
we're going right in face of the enemy. Well,
perhaps that is about as near the truth as
correspondents get, generally, but it is not
within musket range, am sure. And hard
" see how there can be any excuse or apology
for any statement so wide of the truth. If
the correspondent defends and says he did
not know but that he was giving correct in
formation, he should be reminded that he
ought to write what he knows to be truth, or
write nothing at all. remember very well
that when was at home, citizen. used to
be most interested in the letters Of those
friends in the army who | knew would write
simple facts. and not lead their friends at
home off into bewidering labyrinth of opin-
ion or conjecture. | do not make these re-
marks particularly to apply to the letters above
alluded to, but to assure you that truth is
one thing Though rarely found in camp and
falsehood, Tumor, or speculation, quite an
other. Then again, some writer's like to give
a coloring to the facts love to tell little
more than the simple truth, for the sake Of
the beauty of the romance style and delight
to tell their friends truth and at the same
time hang little cloud Of my stery over it, to
leave them to dream of battles in which their
dear ones move, and, may be, die. Some 9TH
ers too like to tell the truth and then con-
strue It in some vein of forced and ,apid wit.
thereby discarding one OF the most essential
elements Of writing as Of character-sncerity
and leaving their dissatisfied readers with
no correct idea of their honest convictions or
real situation. However, every one has his
taste | suppose, army correspondence not ex-
cepted, and it is not for me to criticize. De
gusiibas non est dispuiandum. But do think
that when our friends at home wish to hear
from us,either through the columns of a news
paper or otherwise, they simply wish for the
truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the
truth. But see that | have made long
depression. hope you will pardon me, and
| will try to tell you what we have experience
ed since leaving Capitol Hill.
The day we left camp was warm and
pleasant-iust the right sort of day for as
fine an appearance Of as splendid looking
troops as ever marched through Washington !
cannot give you the exact order of the arrange
ment OF tine five regiments in the brigade, but
suffice it that the 10Th was on the right; the
18Th on the left, and the 18th, 9th and 10th
between. The brigade was marched in coll
umn by company or platoon, down through
Pennsylvania Avenue, with bands playing
that sweet ARA favorite with most of the
young men in the brigade" The S irl left
behind me- and the colors, both National
aud State, were floating in each regiment,
over the long line of glis,ening steel Large
crowds were attracted in the street, aud their
cheers, and the thousands of waving banker
chiefs at the windows, spoke the appreciation
in which the practced aud critical eve of our
nations capitol hailed us
Well, we marched across Long Bridge.
rested an hour and dined from our haver-
sacks and then wendell our long way up the
Heights, past the many and defiant forts, with
their heavy ornaments, through several pleas
ant encampments, until we reached what APP
peared to be the top, or summit if summit it
may be called where there is descent from
any one side, and here, in beautiful little
vale between two gentle bluffs, in front of a
pleasant wood, we pitched our camp. | was
told that we were within about a mile and a
half Of Balls Cross Roads. The encamp-
ment was so pleasant we hoped we might re-
main there some time, and had got things
nicely arranged for our comfort, when, as we
we're marching out for brigade review, on
the morning of Saturday, Nov. |, we were
suddenly ordered to about face, return to
camp, take two days rations in our haver-
sacks, prepare ourselves for long march
strike our tents, and start at the order. How
vain are all human ex pectations How fruit
less are soldiers hopes Our pleasant lit
tie home was broken up, and what was be-
fore us we didn't know. 1t is amusing, al
such times, to hear the various speculations
OF the men. Some are reasonable and many
unreasonable, but very few are ever correct
think fair sample was referred to in tn,
fore part of this letter.
Well, the order came, and we started
marched at quick time along the long ridge o
heights, in southerly direction, hating oc
casionally oy the way fer short rest, passe,
Fairfax Seminary Hospital, went down thto
Alexandria, obliqued to the right a little, an
something like mile this side of that plac
crossed Hunting Creek. on bridge, and en-
camped for the night This. then, was Hun
ting OyooL-not Twenty miles from Cam
Seward, nor any more than half that dis
lance, and not Tin face of the enemy" no
within twenty or thirty miles of him in an
considerable force. 1t will be remembers
that only the 18th was with us.
The next day our Colonel looked out a
eucampment for us, and in the afternoon W
moved up considerable rise of land in
southerly direction about two miles, and al
though the day was Sunday--the day of sacre
res,-we Immediately set ourselves abou
clearing the ground Of the oak and laure
shrubbery, and preparing it for our tents
We finished it the next day, established camp
and ever since have remained here, occupying
our time in drill and other duties The frs
is to 90 out about three miles to the south
ward, at stated times, with force of fou
companies, and do picket duty for two night
and days, on linz extending from the Poto
mac on the east, near Mount Vernon, to
railroad about six miles (as | am told) on tn
west The second duty is to furnish, at state
intervals, one or two companies to work
day on redoubt being constructed near Foi
Lyon, about three miles west Of our camp
The other regiments Of the brigade have arri'
ed and are encamped near US, and the ord,
has come for all to 60 into winter quarter
here, but at the same time to hold ourselvt
In readiness to march at any time The wof