Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-08-18
Alistellaltp.

CAMP NEAR WATERLOO, Va,
Auo 9d 1SG9

Aug. Sd, 1868.
EDITOR FREEMAN How very hot the sun
shines this morning how hot it tshone Yesterday.
Long shut out behind clouds and mist and rain,
for it rained almost every day in July, and now,
gust released, the great king of day seems to
glory in his liberty and power, and as il to make
amends for time lost, pours down his food Of
heat with more than redoubled intensity. 1t al.
mos, reminds one Of that bourne from which no
sinner returns. Il you'd be cruelty refined TO or
der march to-day. No man or horse or mule
could long endure marching or any kind Of labor
in this intolerlbe heat. At le,st it seem So as
We sit in our tents undergoing vigorous perspi-
ration, and feeling too languid and tooindolent TO
undergo the least exertioD, or think Of it with
composure.
As predicted in my last, we have moved
camp. Military men know why | don't The
charms of our former camp are no, reproduced
) here nor It's equivalent furnished. should be
= strongly tempted to grumble at a change so little
desired and 80 seemingly purposelsss, had not
learned that it is sxpedient in whatever situation
we are placed, herewith to be content. Many Of
j the movements that to US in the ranks look so
Y aime,,, and often absurd, have proved, after
wards, to be Of the most vital importance. The
most simple are apt to be the most complaining
n Hence so much veriupeation in my own letters
Bu, we only moved about a mie-merely e1-
4 changed lofty, airy and healthy location, for one
j that is not lohy, and which the wind seems 10
4 disdain. II is situated on small bill side soping
\ Westward in field covered with rocks and small
4 bushes and hemmed in on all aides by hills that
4 have no peculiar charms to recommend them.
The situation, however, is good enough in oil re-
spects, only having been removed from better
one It is hard TO ike this.
il The boys entertain the idea that we are to stay
here for some length Of time. There seems TO
be considerable excuse for thinking 40. Lees
i army has escaped from US. They have taken up
a their line Of defence where it best suited them.
& Our army has been weakened in many ways, as
Il every one knows. The nine months men have
gone home, The two years men have gone too
Il and the remainder has been most lamentably re-
duced by hard fighting, hard marching, by sick
ness and by exhaustion, until there is but a rem.
- nant Of the Army Of the Potomac left To ad
g vance with this at this time Of year and attack
81 Lee in bis chosen position would seem to US lik'
A an adventure too foolhardy for madman to at
81 tempt. Success would be impossible. If III,
81 army hesitated TO attack when we had the enemy
cornered agains, the Potomac at Willamsport, i
q surely does no, look as though with the same ar
my to oppose US and all the advantages reversed
81 we should now be anxious TO bring on a collision
1t frets the North more than anything else excep
the draft to have this army lie still, but in the yer,
selfshness Of their desire to see the Army Of tn
Potomac move, they must desire success also, bu
success cannot be bad without proper means, AMI
u it requires time TO secure these. The men ar
worn out and exhausted aud loudly call for res,
81 These long forced marches have told fearful
81 upon the best constitutions. A rest is impera
lively needed or the army will be too much weak
ened by disease to be capable Of effective service
i No particular maady affects the men, but sor
Of general debility relaxation of the whole sys
TEN that has long held out agains, severe an
protraoted hard,hips. The surgeons call is latel
well attended. The long train of sick, lame an
halt that find their way to the surgeons tent ever
morning, shows concusively that something
needed to repair the physical vigor Of grer
many who have been heretofore proof agan'
q the severest privations and hard'hips. Give
good food, something less concentrated than har
tack aud pork, and let us rest and recuperate OF
strength awhile, and we shall seon be able to a
toush the world again by our long marches at
4 hard fighting. Donot think, dear friends at HON
because we have no sympathy jus. now with d
impatient spirit that asks so often, "why dor
tn. Army Of the Potomac move p' that we a
indifferent to the cause, becoming demoalire
willing to sacrifice our couu,ry's interests to o
love of ease, or are in any way losing the spi
Of patriotism or the spirit Of war which we tn
# has Characterised our efforts from the outset.
the contrary, our very desire for success deman
inactivi,y just now. You have called US bra'
heroic and self saorif.ing, and whether we ha
deserved il or not we have accepted the comp
men,, but aftsr all Il Is no more than the truth
say that the bravs,t and bes, Of US would be
meat as willing to see the Constitution OF
United States destroyed as to see bis own.