The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-03-26

not long in making ourselves familiar with our
new situation The orders at dress parade gave
US tC understand that stealing. plundering pr
vate dwellings,, house burning, and such unsol-
dierlike depredations would be visited by severe
and speedy punishment. The limits of our en-
campment were drawn pretty close, and any one
found beyond them, without permission, would
be held to strlcJ account. The Colonel told us
that, if necessary to enforce these restrictions, ne
would establish IA line of pickets around the en-
tire camp 1t WAS evident that the la"lessness
OF the men, which characterized last summer
campaign, was TO find no counterpart In this.
That nigh, was placed on guard, though
[ felt Surely in need of u little sleep. Thursday
we were reviewed by Gen. Mcclellan. AS the
General rode around the square formed by this
Division the men everywhere cheered HIM as ne
passed them, with the intensest enthusasm.-
His very looks, with his lofty and gentlemanly
bearing. axe sufficient to enkindle spirit of en-
ergy and bravery in The hearts OF The troops un-
der his comlnanu All the p,en place the most
unbounded confidence in their General.
Saturday, at = o'clock, we packed our KNAPP
sacks and resumed our march. Before we
reached Fairfax Court House it commenced
raining in good earnest. From Fairfax we took
the road to Alexandria, ard after marching some
seven or eight miles we halted IN pine woods,
a little distance from the road on the right. The
rain had been pouring in torrents for the last
two or three hours, which made it very tedious
marching, from the accommodating mud under
our feet and the fast increasing weig ht OF our
clothes. Some of the weaker ones fell out of
the ranks, and others threw away their KNAPP
sacks containing their blankets and all of their
extra clothes. The officers kindly assisted us
every way in their power, often taking the gun
or knapsack of some tagging soldier and car
rying 1t themselves.
We put up our miniature tents this time on
an improved PLAN by elevating the ridge pole
and leaving one side nearly open. We formed
them in a sort of circle, and built up Il rousng
fire in the midst. We were thoroughly drenched
to the skin, but still it rained, Some Of the
boys stood around their fires nearly the whole
night; others piled large quantities Of pine
boushs in their tents, and spreading their
blankets on this for a bed, ventured to lie down
in their wet clothes, while directly under them
the water was running at the Iate-I had al
most said-ot a barrel per minute 1t Is 10 dis
arrangement to the boys to say that they
- steamed - that ght i'll the most literal sense
of the word the warmth Of their bodies in
contact with their wet clothes, produced this
effect. fancy those that went to sleep in that
situation must have dreamed of Paradise and
downy BEDS. For my part, lay shverug most
of the time in the submest misery. AT md
night it ceased raining, and Sunday was a toll
erably fair day.
hear of no ones taking cold in consequence
of their exposures, nor suffering in any way
worth mentioning. The next morning We
moved to L more pleasant locality tsprinkled
Il little we started, but the distance was short
and the rain was soon over. We are now en-
camped on the slope Of IL hill bordering u small
pebby stream Of pure water, where there IS
plenty OF oak timber, and where the ground is
less muddy than the place We left. Just in
front of our encampment, at the top of the hill,
is Il level plat of ground stretching out to the
West, and hemmed in on all sides by the thick
woods. 1t makes us "a beautiful parade ground
and an excellent place for drilling. We have
several drills in the bayonct exercise each day
when the weather will permit. Proficiency in
this drill must give one great confidence in
bayonet charge, being conscious Of the ability
to parry thrust from an adversary.
So much for week at soldering.
ANTI-REBEL, End VT Regiment