The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-02-10

res, before any tuibS ~ 'pS ouaP0 u P'
from the storm was to be thought Of. Our names
hid all to be taken down, one by one, before any
& US could be received into a tent. Probably
here was no other way to do the business, but
there were enough OF US now to make good
sized regiment, and to me it seemed a tedious
long while to wait there for one man to take
loan all Of our names. But it was accomplished
At last and by that time il was nearly night. All
day we had been exposed to the pitiless storm,
without mouthful to eat, and we we're begin
ming to feel ourselves entitled to good quarters
somewhere and we thought if anybody justly
deserved a good iSupper, it was ourselves But
we were mere novlces in the camp, and we bitter
ly found that we had much to learn.
We were divided up according to the States to
which we belonged. New York troops were sent
to one part of the camp, Pennsylvanans to anoth-
er, and the Vermont boys to their particular linn
its, &c, The prospect before us seemed more
dismaly discouragiug than ever. The rain had
converted the cayey soil into mud, or mortar, to
the depth of several inches. Inside Of the tents,
well as outside, it was nothing but mud. never
saw more cherries place in my life for even
well mans habitaton, and have seen those that
were gloomy enough in all reason. But this was
for convaescent men; men in Just the condition
to need good keeping, as farmers say, and to need
the best of care. Weak and crippled men were
consigned to quarters more contemplate than any
that Conscientious farmer ever thought ft to
offer his swiue
The New England troops, part of them, were
taken over to the southern slope of the HILL just
back of the city reservoir and facing the Fairfax
road. Here was a large field Of tents huddled in
close together in regular streets, with something
like the appearance of order. Vermont, Maine
and New Hampshire troops occupied one street.
1t was with the greatest difficulty that we could
find place here to lay our weary heads the com
ing night. Every tent appeared to be full. The
Sergeant took US the whole length Of the street in
vain. At every tent he had inquired ifthere was
room fer another, and had everywhere received
the same gruf reply in the negative. Things
were beginning to look exceedingly gloomy.
Something must be done. Probably not one of
us could survive night like that without some
kind Of protection from the storm, accustomed as
we had been for some time to hospital living.
The little A tents were huddled full of men, and
that they were exceedingly averse TO receiving in
any more was quite evident. One fellow remark
ed that he would give months wages for the
simple privilege OF lodging that night in one of
the city hotels; but proceeding SO unmtary as
that was not TO be thought Of. By diht of much
persuasion and some threatening the Sergeant got
us admittance one by one until our rumber was
reduced to three, including myself. Luckily for
US we found an old tof tent, which we got
permission to pitch for ourselves. Even this
could not be done without encountering Difficult
ties nnumerable. First, we had to dodge all
conflicting claims as to locality, then the materi-
ais for pitching the tent must be found when there
were no such materials to be had then to get an
ak Y ben nobody had one to lend, and strangers
were not regarded as men worthy of notice.
all these, and many like perplexities, had to be
met to begin with. But where there is a will
there is way, our tent was duly pitched and
we crawIed int it for the night. | have spent
many dlsagreeable nights in camp, but if any of
them were comparable to this the occurrence has
escaped MY memory
Just at dark, young soldier, too young to be
here came to me and begged the privilege of
stopping IN my tent till morning He was poor
and pale as death, and bad evidently suffered
greatly from sickness and his sufferinos sesmsd