Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-01-30
FROM THE ELEVENTH REGIMENT
FoRr MASSACHUSETTS,, y. c., |
Jan. "a, 1868


Mr.. Editor Again attempt to interest,
for a short time. such Of your readers as may
have friends in this regiment. or may wish to
know where it is and what it may be doing
and would willingly do more but on account
Of the scarcity Of incidents and material for
correspondence attending permanent situa-
ton in camp. / cannot hope to interest the
general reader. After two or three months of
Just about to be transferred, we are now
( realty Heavy Artillery Regiment, much to
the pleasure and satisfaction of all concerned.
The change was made by a special order from
| Gen. Hcintzleman and approved 10y Gen. Hal
/ leck and the Secretary of War, dated Dec.
/ 18th. 1t is not yet known whether the regi-
ment will be filled up to the full quota for ar
tllery or not, but the rumor is current that
/ the Seventh Regiment may yet be consolidated
with this, but how much foundation it has in
fac, remains TO be seen, and probably depends
upon what action Congress, or the President,
may take in relation to the filling up OF old
regiments. Col. Warner has just returned
from a visit to Vermont. but what encourage
ment he met with in relation to recruiting is
not known. However, his earnest add so far
successful endeavors to promote the welfare
OF the regiment have deservedly gained for
/
been so fortunate as to be placed under his
command. In proof of his untring efforts,
we have to show that while we have warm,
clean barracks for our winter quarters anoth-
err regiment, not half mile away, has been
all winter without any other shelter than
common "a" tents and with no provision
for keeping warm except such as their iugenu-
ity could devise, and have had to draw" most
D of hatr At hat -
desertions by the score, almost weekly, com
polling our regiment to throw out hundred
pickets each day, and very few are apprebend-
ed at that. To the soldiers in the front this
might not seem to be hardship at all, but in
a situation like this there seems to be no ne
cessity for such gleet il officers would do
their duty.
Although the Eleventh has never been
called to encounter the long, weary march, or
to face an enemy, they have by no means been
idle, as glance at the long ranges Of rifle
pits, the extensive batteries, the immense
amount of labor expended in repairing, en-
larging and erecting Notifications along this
line OF defences, would plainly show. Fort
Slocum. the headquarters Of the regiment,
has, since September, been almost entirely
rebuilt, and when completed is to mount one
/ nuuuieu guns. IpIt llnCOtn. the uChuQuM-
ters OF the brigade, and Fort Totten mount
each one hundred pound Parrott gun, and
Fort Slocum is to have one. The soldiers,
however, very often get disheartened at what
they term this everlasting picking and dig
ging as they do not always comprehend the
utility of ii and indeed it is not strange that
it should be so, while so many ignorant, shift
less aud incompetent off ers are placed in
command engineers, sometimes compelling
the men to labor for days or weeks in con-
structng a work, only to occupy an equal
number Of days in undoing their labor. But
they are fast learning that being independent
and doing your own work in your own way,
and doing it in the capacity OF soldier, are
two different things, as it would be entirely
unmilitary and out Of taste to know what
you wished to do, and do it right the first
time.
The regiment is still separated into detach-
ments, and occupies three different forts, the
location of which, as far as health and COM
fort are concerned, could not be surpassed
They are also very easily accessible from the
city, being directly north from it, going out
from Seventh and Fourteenth Streets and the
nocKvtIie Turnpike.
The number of men sick in hospitals is
y
and but very few cases prove fatal. Two
have lately died from dipthera one from
Co. b and one from Co. |. The latter was
Gibson II. Eastman from East Woodbury..
J The general spirits of the men underwent a
remarkable change for the better a short time
since, in consequence of the sudden and I'M
expected appearance of the paymaster in our
midst In an incredibly short space of time
crutches and canes, pills and powders, be-
came of no account, and with the exception of
those in hospitals, the astonished Sergeants
were able (for the first time in months pre-
sume,) to report " all present when each
in his turn stood ready with outstretched
arms to receive their dash" since which
time contentment bias seemed to smile upon
the camp, and will continue to, | presume,
till the money is gone when all at once,
many of them will discover that " war" is a
nuisance, the best you can make of it,-not
discovering to the contrary until the sight of
a paymaster again renews their downcast
spirits.
As many Of your readers are from Wash
ington County, perhaps | may be allowed to
devote little attention to Company alone,
in noticing briefly the severe loss the compa-
ny have met with in the loss of Lieut.. Leon
lo'u ohu 1 SoHhOt Octtti press tue leell0gs
of the company on that occasion than by here
inserting testimonial" that was read and
presented to him before the company on the
morning of his departure:
Lieutenant We, the undersigned, having been an q
pointed Committee for the purpose by the members
Of Company l-(now that you through Illness com
PEELED TO take leave Of us-respeetully ask permission
10 present to you, in behalf of the company, Ills but
feeble assurance Of the very high esteem with which
your open hearted honest and manly conduc, caused
US to regard you during the " too short time we have
been so fortunate TO presence smtng US
With pain we have noticed your rapidly declining health
and most carefully have watched from day to day for
ray Of hope that should assure that your place
among us not TO be made vacant But our socita-
tons have been in yain and now meet YOU for the
last time in Dixie, to bid you go and 'God speed
We cannot express to you--wth what pride and con.
dence have obser we'd your complete devotion Of both
heart and hand to the oountryhow brayey
you have batted with diseaeand how persisen,y you
have pushed your claim for the vcory-your presence
before us to day but too plainly shows Although your
Ill health has scarcely enabled you any time TO
without aid any degree of comfort TO yourse-
Your earnest practical Aud-sucoessfu endeAvours upon
every occasion TO promote welfare might If necessa-
ry-receiye personal attestatons from every member Of
our company.
As we have respected you a. an officer 90 have we ad-
mired you as mainland esteemed YOU as friend
and In our regret at parting with YOU shall cherish
the assuAscehat your thoughts will be with us often
and your best wishes-always.
SO in turn do W. sympathNe with you in your suffer
ing-and earnestly hope that return 70 your homo