The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-06-09
a Soldier S Letter No. 26.
CAMP NEAR WHITE OAK CHURCH, Va,
May 20, 1868.

surprise last night. We out drilling, as usual
late in the afternoon, for we generally take that
time in order to avoid the hottest part of the day,
and besides, we can wind up with dress parade,
and come il and call it all one. We had but
just got fairly interested in our drill, when the
drum beat 1t was entirely out of season and we
all wondered what it meant. 1t was not for dress
parade, but was an orderly and an officers call.
The inquiry whats up P" could be read in every
countenance. Pack up for marching, seemed to
be the inevitable solution. So we went immedi-
ately to our companies and remained in line until
the officers had answered their call, that we might
be told the result. Boys fall in as soon
as possible, every one of you and,-Sign the pay
rolls" Bully, bully, was the enthusiastic response,
and we needed neither sergeant or corporal to
prompt us to execute this order. Instead CT
having to look hard marching, hard fighting, and
hard skedaddling in the face, the prospect of eok
ing in the face some more of Uncle Same good
natured greebacks, seemed imminent. Before
midnight, instead of being on the famous road to
Richmond, the most of US were sleeping very
quietly in our tents, for how could we help sleep
ing under the magic power that full money
expectations this time. We mad deliberate.
ly made up our minds that the paymaster's next
visit would be sometime in October. This unusu-
al promptness surprised US completely. If Uncle
Sam would always be as prompt to supply his
boys with the coveted article, they would be much
more eager to help him settle his family diff
Guilty.
Our pay came in Just the right time, as we
have but little else to do than to spend it. Our
duties are light, but none too light for the hot
weather We are now having. Besides our mill
tary duties we devote an hour or SO, occasionally
to the cleaning of our camp. We have literally
swept the entire woods, and made it as clean as
park. Our camp now las very clean, healthy
appearance, and it almost m axes one feel healthy
to look at it. The health of the regiment is re-
markedly good, and the disposition to meet the
enemy is good also. Only give us plenty of soft
along pretty thick, and we shall soon be "spiline
for fight" ... ...
My terminate has just brought from the fire q
savory dish of &" hash +" which he has prepared
from hard tack and fresh beef. He has a very
excellent way of making such material eminently
palatable. Assuming that no one else knows
how it is done, and that every one would like te
know, will explain the process
He takes small bag, like the one inside of oul
haversacks, and puts as many crackers into it al
he thinks his appetite will demand. And Their
with cudgel, or something else, he pounds these
crackers till they are as fine as -four. He cuts
up bis meat as fine as his patience will allow
using his jack knife and fingers instead of a chop
ping knife and tray. The next thing is to get a
spider and pour into it some broth or :" pot
liquor that he saved when the cooks boiled the
fresh meat, and which would otherwise have beer
and then pours in with it as much water as he hal
broth, and as general thing little more, for h,
says it would be too strong and too SALT and tast,
altogether too (" beefy unless it is little NIT,
reduced. AS soon as this is made to boil, tn,
cracker -four is stirred in. If he has any pc tatoes
which he frequently doesn't, be boils and smashe
them, and mixes them in too. 1t doesn't need tt
cook long, and when it is done, he has dish gooC
enough for anybody,-a super-cxceent one 70
soldiers. ! have heard unimpeachable critic
pronounce it Lrity, and as that is the mos
expressive word in the soldiers yernacular, it pre-
cludes the necessity Of further comment. i've
The boys have just come in from picket. They