Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1862-08-22
Letter from the Vermont 18th Regiment.
BATON ROUGE, La, Aug. 8, 1862.

BATON ROUGE, La, Aug 8, 1862.
The long hoped for hour at last arrived
when the remainder of the 9TH Vermont
regiment received orders to prepare to go
up the river to join the regiment. The
remaining companys under charge of Capt
Porter had already arrived from Fort
Pike. Those, together with the remnant
at Carlton, marched on board the steamer
Ceres, the same boat on which Captain
Brooks was shot. We could see where
the ball passed through the smoke-pipe,
before striking him. His loss is felt and
realized extremely. especially in his own
company. We started on the morning of
the 3Oth and landed in this city about
one o'clock P M. of the next day. 1t
was necessary to keep guard of 20 men
on deck during the night, with their rifles
capped, ready to oppose any who should
attempt to modest us from the banks OF
the river We enjoyed ourselves very well,
in viewing the plantations, some glowing
with corn, others with cane. Then the
splendid mansions of the rich and veal
thy planters, and those that looked more
dilapidated and decayed, indicating people
of poorer class.
On arriving here soon discovered that
the 9TH had seen everything but soft
feather beds, and the affectionate hand Of
loving wife, mother or sister to fan their
pallid cheek, or drop sympathizing tear,
or utter one word of comfort or cosolation
to them. They had been at Vicksburg,
encamped in "a swamp, exposed to the eli
mate with nothing but the starry heavens
above. They were surrounded by water
and stagnated pools, common in all
swamps Their bed was an old log or q
piece Of bark, or four little stakes driven
in the ground, with one blanket fastened
to them, the other over them. That was
their bed through fair weather as we'll
as foul, and worse than all, obliged to
drink the water of the Mississippi, or
some sluggish pool or stream. The eff
fccts of all this was plain to be seen on
the countenances of all those living; but
alas they were not all living, seven of
our company had died; amongst them
was our dearly beloved officer, Lieutenant
Gull. He was noble, generous officer.
We do admit there are men better qualified
for military life, yet there was that friend
ly and sympathizing look about his coun-
tenance that caused his men to love and
admire him. The names of those that
are numbered with the dead are Lieut..
Gull, Elias Fletcher, Marshal Babcock,
John Emmonds, Ancil Robinson, Ormal
Doane, George Hawley, Alanson Fuller.
Others | am afraid will soon 60 the way
of all the earth. Some of them would
before now had it not been for the kind
and faithful attention of Capt. Landon.
He is beloved by all, not merely by his
own Co., but by all that know him. l
cannot but believe the remarks of Doctor
Kelly at Surgeon Calls this morning, as
he cast his eye from one to the other,
" our regiment is ruined" We have been
so used up that we could not muster over
60 men, officers and all, on dress parade.
Whilst writing the above, L. W. Street
er, member of our company, shot his
thumb on his right hand. He was busy
oiling his gun with his thumb on the
muzzle, when it discharged. He was ig-
norant of its being loaded.
Our drills are short, or I" few and far
between" The provisions we eat are not
suitable for the mel, being mostly hard
crackers and salt junk. The Surgeon
recommends vegetables, but it would take
the interest of grog-shop to buy any
thing here. A cent apiece for potatoes /;
onions two for five cents; eggs from so
cts. to rs cents per dozen. Considering
the allotment roll, the two and three dol
lars we reserved for spending money, will
furnish us with many valuables.
Our camp ground is beautifully loca-
ted on levcvel spot Of grass ground, di-
reotlv onnoo;fa thu o c+ Jcd;o., D.