Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-01-02
From the Fifth Regiment.
9th VT Reg't, Camp Griffin, Va,
Dec. goth, 1861.

their friends in Virginia, l herewith sub.
join the following items concerning camp
life.
Days and weeks have rolled away since
we came to this place, and there are nc
more signs ola battle to-day, than there
were the day we came here, which was on
the 9Th of October We have many times
been drawn up in line of battle, expecting
OF course that the enemy was upon US.
But none came. Finally after while,
this became an old story, and instead of
falling out" and forming into line of
battle at every alarm given, it was first
ascertained whether the enemy were
marching upon us, or whether our pickets
had fired upon a harmless secesh pig.
For time the various bipeds suffered Sc
verely, but after while their imagination
abated somewhat, and the peaceful foe be-
came less troublesome.
have said that there were no signs of
a battle. Yet we are preparing for one.
Scarcely day passes over our heads but
that we have one or two company drills
In the forenoon, and battalion or division
drill In the afternoon, which continues from
about one o'clock until sun set. Yester-
day on picket-no sleep through the night
to-day, on division drill, and ere night
comes, our wearied limbs fail to execute
gracefully the many maneuvers we are
compelled to go through with: "to form
square by rapid Vancouver Right
and left face " Forward march" The
square being formed, the next order is,
Reduce, Square p The square being
reduced, we are then prepared to execute
further orders. These things being ac-
complished, then comes dress parade,
which ends the programme, the day being
gone. The next day the same drill is re-
sumed. need say no more, but win give
portion of Senator Lanes speech on the
subject: ...
"Ours is an army of volunteers. who
must not be judged by the rule: applied
to regulars. You cannot drill it into that
mere machine Martinets considers the
perfection of efficacy. 'Che citizen SOL
der is an individual no amount of disci-
pline can destroy his individuality. Four
months OF industrious drill is ample time
to prepare such troops for effective SER
vice. The prospect of action must be
ever present as an incentive. Tnaction is
the bane Of the volunteer. These opin-
ions l express with confidence, for I have
had large personal experience in the
management of volunteer soldiers. The
training of two distinct regiments during
the Mexican war, with subsequent labors
IN Kansas, and the campaign of the last
Spring and summer in Missouri have
given me practical knowledge on this
subject entitled to consideration. The
regiments that fought and won the battle
OF Buena Vista, were not as well provided
as the army Of the Potomac, and not bet
ter drilled. Sir, | have witnessed tho
drill OF that army; and [ am satisfied that
it has reached the maximum of discipline
by volunteers, and that every
day at lnactiOn now tends to its democrat
izaton."
| fully coincide with the above. Drill
is good thing; but too much of it with
out action, is dispiriting.
To-day twenty-eight of our brave sol
diers he beneath the sod. And had we
continued as active as when first we came
here, many more would have been num-
bered with the dead. Death is certain
but by proper care our lives may be
There is no way whereby we
may escape death. If we rest from our |
labors, and shun any exposure possible,
death will snatch us away
December 21st,-Just as the above |
word "away" was written, we received !
orders to fall out" and form into line
of battle; but ere the line was formed the
order was countermanded, and in less than
ten minutes we received another order to
fall in, and with pickaxes, shovels and |
axes. The very moment the line was
perfected, an order came to F." ground |
arms" No sooner said than done. The !
next order was fall out for guns and
cartridge boxes, and forty rounds of cart
ridges" The line again being formed,
the next command was, " Right, face |
Forward, march p Headed by the Vt. !
I'd, and followed by the bloody 9th" the
brigade moved rapidly eastward. Arriv-
ing at Lewinsville, he halted and loaded |
our pieces. We then proceeded nearly
westward for about two miles, then turn !
ing directly 10 the right, suppose in the
direction of Drainsville After journey
ing four or five miles farther, we again |
halted, probably eight or nine miles from
camp. BY this time the sun had nearly |
disappeared. In about ten minutes we |
received the command, About, face |
Forward, march !" and at about 8 o'clock
we arrived safely in camp.
To-day, intelligence reaches us to the
effect that quite battle has been fought
at DrainsVille. Sixty rebels were killed,
nineteen wounded and ten taken prison.
ers. On our side the loss was ten killed, |
and five wounded. Our men also cap
tured several horses, and more articles of |