The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-06-27
From the Vermont Brigade.

From the Vermont Brigade.
r.vs NEAR SUMMERS VINE BRIDGE /
Tuesday, June II, 1862. ,
L.trct tie Ca1cdoaian
smith, division is at last across the Chick
av. and with the exception of the Sd ,
-.,,. i, encamped about one and a half
q below New Bridge. 1t being consider
.sracticlble to cross the above bridge, |
..yMy having a strong force opposite
neI with plenty Of cannon, we march
.va the river to Summers bridge, and
nearly two miles march mp the river, we
Yourselves encampcd in the front and
% face with tie enemy, or rather our
81, were. This was one week ago. No.
.ot IMPORTANCE occurred except the usu-
mount If picket firing, and occasional fir
artillery, which seems to be kept up
&: the qarposc Of letting one and the
p. know they are awake and ready for any
.racy, until Sunday morning. Early in
~rNing the enemy opened with cannis-
m couple Of howitzers on our pickets
nogkmen engaged throwing up rifle pits.
Ire was returned by our pickets, and as
as Gen Porter could get the grange" of
he replied with shell from the opposite
the river. Daring this time most of
-imen's were under arms ready to
- or receive an attack. Gen Porter's
soon si!enced the enemy. afterwards
.r"j that our picketS had been advanced
within hity yards of the rebel pickets, and
We had commenced throwing up rife
When daylight discovered our close
Unity 10 them, they seemed not to relish
lea, and soon their howitzers were
=, ny with the intention of driving US
With the help of infantry they succeed
L only Tor moment; our men made a
y. drove the enemy. gained their former
.a and held it, but with loss of some
.9,-,vc men killed and wounded. The
@E' loss was fully as large.
...s same day, the Vermont Sd, with two
y regiment from other divisions, were de-
.r.,) tE..d a road across the Chickahom-
>Samp, about half mile above Summers
'!~ Il is work of great labor and
.'.,s It will not be finished before Satur.
,oI' are cut ard drawn half a mile
." j. the ground that large logs are first
~. :-s'w'Se of the road; then large string
e. al on, and then the 'cordrroy" is
. "a top with split logs covered with
l@>' before settling, is three or fou,
=. ~.-'At but with heavy teams passing
y. d, }, soon settles nearly even with the
'-4 Oae half Of the regiment work il
'eaooH and the other half in the after
r. IHeSe are sub-divided into working
.'.-r'. one 10 chop, another to load; on,
'.' 'a+ and carry the log t. the part,
PAGES them and finishes the road, ex
LIE ast party which shoveis on tn
'.'>e parties, especially when it rains (w
'7 . work, rain or no rain) often presen
'''-.'lS appearance. The mud is frequent
,erp, and sometimes when bridging
'.' The men are obliged to swim fror
'-s 10 the other. In they 60, mud Q
'"'' cotAeN Of course all on, and whe
work is finished a worse looking st
'.' hardly be found. Covered with mut
'' @A.r' face, hands, clothes-yes, a
" All water dripping from them lik
Isl 'aNen from the pond. Yet joll
we me Vermont boys. They get the
~. once day and if their work is W,
"-.-' twice. This pays them for bein
"'' hours a day, and not work very ha,
fH' "h:t man would deny a soldi
''..." !. i Will add to his comfort cit
''.'' 'a..y or physically.
'''eF OF Mcclellan, the artillery are
% Lave their timber boxes and cal
''''-.' 70 their utmost capacity. Th
~ "-7m Very heavy. and not unfreqrent
- "'nasged,' Or to speak more prope
''"'4. This was the case with AYR,
y! 'ae other evening as it was passil
'.'H "t the Sd. There they were, stu
Nary step could they move,
-" Tie officers cursed, the men shoutt
'-l "ofSes tioundered. 1t was all to
.r''e' Ey this time several hundred
' "a0 coI,cc'e around to see the spC
"fy called it. One proposed to the lit
'. ''a''ng charge of the battery to l
81 '''> horses and they (the Cornstall
F4I them out. The horses were
ned a long rope hitched on, and h,
- men got hold. A private took &C