The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-10-24
From the 18th Regiment.
CAMP CASEY, Washington, ID. c..
Oct IL, 1862.

CAMP CASEY, Washington, ID. C..
Oct 10, 1862.
To the Editor Of The Caledonian
Although the same interest may not attach
to the 18th regiment as to those which con-
tain greater proportion of men from your
section, vet trust your readers will now and
then give us a thought, and ii may not there
fore be wholly undressing to learn of our
whereabouts and condition.
Of our situation while in Camp Lincoln al
Brattleboro you were informed. We left
there on the evening of Oct 9th, and reached
Philadelphia the next evening just at dark,
where we received the best of suppers and
kindest of attentions from the Soldiers Re
lief Association, which has given meal to
every regiment passing through the city
The benisons of every officer and soldier in
the 18th will rest upon the hospitaLe citi-
zens of the Quaker City, and every soldier
who has eaten meal in that city will endorse
me when say that the thanks of the army
ought to be presented to the association that
has done so much TO provide for the comfort
of the soldier.
The unprecedented rush of troops to the
seat of war was the cause of a delay of sew
eral hours in Baltimore. through want of
transportation. Breakfast was furnished us
there, and the thorough loyalty of the city
was evinced in the courtesy and patriotic en-
thusiasm everywhere manifested.
We arrived in this city Thursday evening,
and spent the first night in barracks at the
depot, and the next day were ordered TO East
Capitol Hill, where we now are The first
night the troops had nothing but small shell
ter tents, and heavy rain coming in the
night occasioned some discomfort and a few
cases of sickness, though nothing serious
The next day, thanks to the exertions of our
! interchangeable colonel, a better tent was fur
nished and things are now quite comfortable
We are temporarily brigaded with the 18th
Vermont, 25th and 9th New Jersey regi-
ments, Col Dursom of the 25th New Jersey,
German officer, acting as brigadier general.
Our surgeon, b. T. Ketchum, acts as brigade
surgeon. Our future movements are highly
roblematical. We are prepared to move at
the shortest notice, and my next letter may
be dated miles away.
! The 18th regiment is encamped about four
miles from US, and are still engaged in dig
ging riAe-pits. There is some prospect that
they will be changed into an artillery regi-
ment. met the popular major of this regi-
ment in this city the day after our arrival
He is well and in fine spirits. The health of
their regiment is generally good. Lieut.
Hutchinson of the signal corps, formerly OF
Your place. is stationed across the river near
here. The hardships ofwar have not broken
him in health, and his popularity increases
with his term of service.
! In this connection | cannot refrain from
adverting to associations which have been
formed in this city by kind-hearted citizens
Of the various states, fol the better care OF
sick and wounded soldiers in the hospitals
here. In this way the soldiers from the re-
spective states are found and supplied with
delicacies ard comforts. The blessings of
Vermont soldiers will always rest on such in
dividuals from our own state who have been
thus kind. The secretary of the Vermont
relief association is John Osgood, formerly
of Rutland, and at enc time member of The
Vt legislature.
| wish to correct a statement which has
found its way into many papers, in regard 10
! the Vermont editors who have enlisted. Ii
has been stated that H. T.. Miner ofthe Man
chester Journal was among the number of
the editorial fraternity who loved their eoun-
try SO well as to be willing to take up arms
/ in her behalf. Such is not the fact. Mr. Nj
ner did endeavor, but unsuccessfuly. 10 OBJ
tain the position Of adjutant in the 10th. He
then, after the order was issued preventing
citizens from proceeding from one state to
another, and just before the time fixed for a
draft, suddenly disappeared, and came to
light in this city, where he is engaged as a
clerk in one of the departments. SO much
for his burning patriotism. 1t is doing in
justice to other Vermont editors to class Mr.
NJ. among them. d.