Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1862-02-14

twisting about sometime in his attempts
to maintain an erect position, finally
pitched into the mud, face downwards,
and took large tasGe Of the sacred soil
in its diluted state. 1t was saddening,
sickening sight. 80
The famous Chain Rridge which we
passed some six miles from Washington,
was said to be thirteen hundred feet long,
and the width of the Potomac is pretty
uniformly what it is at this place.
We reached Camp Griffin between 7
and o'clock in the evening, and you can
hardly imagine, with what agreeable
feelings we stepped from the ambulance.
squashing along in mud, scarcely the
constance of common mortar. One of
our party while cropping in the dark to-
wards tent, hit his toe against one of
the guy ropes, and down be came, on all
tours in the soft mud. a pleasant position
in such state of the earth.
We at first entered the tent of Quarter
master Pitkin, and soon found many Of
our acquaintance, who went from stowe
and vicinity. We remained in camp
three nights, and three Of us lodged in
the tent of Dr. Carpenter, assistant sur
geon of the I'd Regt.. for, whose kind hos
pitality, and in his absense, that of his
servant, we were under great obligations.
This tent was better provided with the
conveniences for sleeping, than most of
the others; and we slept very we'll. 1t
rained every night and much of the day
time. and we could not step out of the
tent. without stepping into deep mud !;
but we had come there to see, and must
be moving In the forenoon of the next
day, we went round to such of the tents
as contained the boys we knew. In the
afternoon, having provided ourselves with
suitable coats, we started for the line of
pickets, determined to see what picket
duty was. Major Joyce was that day on
picket duty, and we went to that part Of
the line, which was under his especial
supervision. We we're conducted by Capt
Randall, who led us through meadow,
pasture, and woodland, over the grave
yard of our regiments, where we saw
many new made grave; but for single
moment he did not lead us where there
was no mud. The whole time it was squash
squash, half to our knees We walked
two or three miles before we reached the
line of pickets which We we're informed,
extends some forty males, from one point
on the Potomac to another We went the
whole length of the line under Major
Joyce, making with our return to camp,
march of about nine milcs-and
through such walking! The pickets are
placed fifty PAGES apart and walk each
way twenty-five PAGES. Their strict
orders are not to halt any one on the
rebel side of the line, but if a person
comes within such distance, to shoot
him at once, and not word said. Those
not excused by the surgeon, are called up
on for picket duty, once in about ten days.
They all 60 out within about half mile
Of the line, and there stop in squads Of
thirteen. which together are called
think, the main reserve. Each picket
serves six hours in the twenty. -four, being
actually on picket, but two hours at a
time. when another set go on from the
main reserve, and he comes back to bis
squad. At first impression one would
think that he might image a more dc.
lightful business than to tramp in the
mud to the knees, in the cold, and rair
falling, in dark night, for two hour,
at time, liable at any moment to sex
some cause of alarm. But there is no.
thing like being used to a thing, and good
soldiers soon come to be delighted in tn,
discharge of this duty. On our way
back we passed in sight of townsville
aplace about large enough for common
school district though saw no signs o
school-house there. i.
The next day, through the kindly in
terposition Of Mr.. Stone, 70 whom we ar
under obligations for u number of favors
three Of us procured some good horses
and under his lead, rode over to Fall
Church, and beyond there to Bailey