Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1862-12-05
oNGREss.--Congress assembled last
Monday but the proceedings of either House
were not of any particular interest.

Co. /, CAMP VERMONT,
Nov. 25, 1862.

Co. /, CAMP NERMoNT,
Nov. 25, 1862.
Mr. Editor Since wrote you last, we
have been through some Of the hardslips
and cares Of soldiers life. / do not write
of them because we long to 90 back to our
homes in the good old state Of Vermont,
for while we would all most gladly return,
we do not wish to do so till we have done
our whole duty out here.
We went out on picket duty on the 2lst,
and of that propose to give you an ac-
count
We left the camp at about A. NJ, Gou
see we have 10 get up in the morning here
and marched southwest til we arrived
where the reserve are held. 1t had raned
the day before, and the road was extremely
muddy. We were mufiied with our blank
cts, and loaded with our haversacks, can
teens, guns, &c. Our company we're then
divided off into squads, each marched in
different directions, and can only give you
an account of the squad was with. We
marched about five or six miles from camp,
and crossed the plains into a wood, in which
the most of US were stationed. We had
not marched far before We came TO sheet
of water, with no bridge, and which must
be crossed in some way; but the boys faced
it with cheeriulness, though some OF US had
only shoes. while more of US had imperfect
boots, aad the weather overhead anything
bat promising. My boots were good, but
sank over the tops of the legs, SO that
amounted to nothing. But across the wa
Ter we should all have been glad to have
wrung our socks, but there was no time for
that SO we pushed our way sopping along
through the woods, and We're finally sta
toned at our posts. The next operation
was to load our rifles, so as TO be ready in
case of an attack, for at this point we are
considered near enough to the rebels to ex-
pect such thing. We staid from 10 a.
NJ. till abou: p. NJ, when we started back
to the reserve. 1t was dark as midnight,
with the moon and all the stars ecEpsed.-
Our first difficulty was to cross a sort o.
canal, which runs through the woods.
led the way with burning stick for torch
till we came to tree which had been fellet
across the stream. Giving my light I,
some of the boys behind me, | gropet
my way on the tree, (Which was round, an,
not a very pleasant thing to tread upon
even for professional tight rope walker,
till presume came to the end, for sud
denly felt something drap down abou
three feet into the water and briars, whic
was about three more feet deep. But wa
moi injured, and my gun cap was still dry
!. The rest Of the boys got over safely, BIT
1 all got more or less wet at the end of tbs
0 log, which to US was like the parchmer
a rat-trap over the barrel head and thong
e there was nothing pleasant about this affai
= yet it made some fun and sport TO see ii
+ boys splash into the water. And so "
y marched with wet clothes and wet feet,
# where the reserve are held, and there,
that condition, we laid down on the grour
d TO sleep that cold, chilly night, with fe
d bows under US, our blankets over us--b
ot this is soldiers life. The next mornil
e we rose, and without breakfast, march
Is back over ihe very ground We had be,
S. over the night before, and took our pos
4. where we remained till that night, when v
is were relieved. We again slept on d
rs groand that night. Next day, Sunday ,
n, were relieved about noon, and march
e. back to camp, weary and hungry, but in {
is afternoon we all went to church, Ike chri
rs fians and brothers, and sung praises.
e, We are still busy at work on oar b;
re racks and building forts, and the boys q
OF well in our company, and in good spirits.
d. ON Thursday, the goth, all the Yermc
I'D brigade marched TO Fort Albany. 1t h
nd rained the right befhre, and mere VOL
IL Utterly fail TO give any idea Of the N,
IN but like the King Of France, who march
he up the hill and then marched down aga
to so we marched into the mud and then
OF again. The colonel laughed of the iol
al, and said 1t was whe, he expected wi
a they started, so, as in duty bound. we lau,
! cd too, and cheered our gallant colonel,
after all, have not yet been able to
any,hing lsushsble about Il, More an
A. McC
m
* .