Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-02-28
l0ur Army CorrespOndence.I
FROM THE CAVALRY REGIMENT.
HEADoUARrERs, lsr VT. CAVALRY,
GAMp HAnRIs Mn Eeh L. 1870

| HEADoUARIEEs, tsr Vr. CAvALRY)
| CAhP HARRIS, Nd, Feb. II, 1862.
DeaT Free Press
The lst VT Cavalry Regiment is still in e1
Istance and slth ough their camp Is near an an
cient city Of fossils they sill retain the life ant
sigor which ehsrsoterizes all Vermont soldiers-
And to show you that they are at work viii
give you list Of our daily duties. according L
| cur signals
First call for ReVeills S, A. NJ
RAveille and Roll call e.lo
Breskfsst call GO.
Stable duty :.
Boots aod Saddle s.
To Horse s 30.
Recall from dill 10
Water Call 1890.
Dinner l..
Drill so, P. NJ
Recall from drill ,.
Stable duty $50.
Retreat and Roll call $50.
Dress Parade 5.
Tattoo g.
Taps $50.
Our drill is in the manual Ct srns and ssbre s1-
excise; in the latter we are becoming quite pro-
hcient. We should have been more advanced
than are, were it it not for the vast amount Of
rainy weather we havoc had since we came here,
and the quantity Of work we have had to perform
previous to getting ready for drilling. Our work
consisted Of building stables for cur horses fell
ing the posts for the same in the forest, building
cook houses, raising our tents, &c. This system
of raising the tent, is grand thing, as it gives
US so much more room. think it was first
got up by Gen. Banks.
Last Friday and to-day were with us two gala
days On Friday the bugle sounded at noon for
mounted Dress Parade, and in a few moments the
entire regiment were formed into line Colonel
Platt and the Adjutant rode down the line to the
centre, when the Adjutant proceeded to read an
account Of the grand fuooess Of Burnside and his
brave nen; after the reading of this we were
formed into platOons and headed by the Colonel
marched on to hill short distance from camp
and formed into a hollow square. The Colonel
then rode to the centre and proposed three cheers
for Burnside and bis good men, which assure
you were given with a will. We then marched
back to camp and were excused.
IN the evening our Band (Which by the way is
qnite an institutiOn) gave grand serenade to the
officers Of the Ira Harris Guard which are On
camped near by. They were received and enter
tanned in a cordial manner and everything passed
Of in grand style. But the grand scene came of
to-day when the news was received OF the capture
Of Fort Donelson with the Rebel Generals Floyd,
johnson, &c. Tho intelligence came into camp
just at dark and in less than ten minutes the long
roll had been sound, and the whole regiment
were assembled near the Colonel's Quarters
The Band struck up the "Star Spangled
Banner" SIS this was ended, Capt. Perkins pro-
posed three cheers for the " stars and stripes
with the remark. "M,y they soon wave from the
ot. Lawrence to the GuIf of Mexico" By request
the Band played Yankee Doodle" At this
moment Col. Plstt appeared In the crowd and
spoke as follows.
" Soldiers, l have just received dispatch from
Gen. Hatch, stating that Fort Donelson, hsd been
tAksn together with the rebel Generals Floyd,
johnson, and another id rebel whose name had
been forgotten
There cheers were then proposed BY Or. Edson
for Commodore Foot who never moves a foot only
toward the enemy.
Three mere were then proposed BY Lieut. En-
hsrdt for the army OF the West, and many others
followed. Thus ended the day and it is late and
l muEt olose for the present.
l am. &c, c. Il. B.