The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-12-18

least are In the interest of the coniederacY
The families Of influence here, who have gone
in for secession wish 10 be missing at the APP
proach OF the Union army. The valley of
the Rappahannock affords some splendid plan
tations. We visited one, only d few days
since, OF great natural beauty and fertility.
The large aud finely butt mansion was pleas
antly located, with outouldiDgs furnishing
ample accommodations Tor numerous families
OF slaves. 1t must have been the res dence
of one Of the +. f. VS. who was living in
prncely style. 1t seemed strange to us, that
u man who mad al. that neart could wish, un-
der the old government, should rebel against
that which greeted him with such abundant
prosperity. But the day OF his retribution
mas come. Nothing is now left upon tne
sites where the buildings stood, but shoulder
ing emDers and broken fragments. The sol
dlers OF various regiments around here, strip
ped them OF every board and single, and car
RED them away to fix up their own scanty
/ quarters anu those iragments nave thus
been disbursed through quite portion OF the
! Union army. This affair was, however, AZ
tended with Il serious accident. Alter the
frame OF the main building had been upcog-
ered, they began at the foundation TO remove
the brlca which were laid to form the walls
and apartments OF the cellar. BY this
means the tall chimney was undermined, aud
ca ne down with a fearful cra.h upon the
workmen, killing two instantly, and severely
injuring one OF Two more Such an even.
threw gloom over our busy aud cheerful
community.
At this time TIE soldiers here have their
quarters IN very comfortable shape Tor win
ter. Where boaIds cannot be procured for
the walls of their barracks, slabs are split
from fallen trees, and walls built Of these,
which are closely jouted BY the aid Of mud,
made from the sacreu s0ll. These are roof
ed with shelter tens, md warmed usually by
the use OF au oid-!ashioued fire place. Stoves
have now nearly played out in the army, and
many soldiers would no, take Que as Il gilt
/ Such an article Is considered too dark and
! gloomy for soldiers cheerful lie, and fire.
/ places are all the rage. As strange as it
may seem, there appears to be no lack OF ma,
terlal to build these articles ct cheer anu
comfort for the soldiers quarters. Brick is
preferred if it can be procured, otherwise
stoves are frequently used if these are not
readily procured, they are built Of wood and
Virginia mud, and where none Of the above
materials are handy, they are constructed Of
turL Ample room is always found LOT the
huge chlmneys out OF doors, while the ire
place is constructed to throw its cheerful
nght and grateful heat upon The occupants
within. The soldier usually looks With pecu
liar satisfaction upon the trUmphs Of ms
skill, IN the construction Of his own rude quar-
ters and enjoys them with relish 10 which
dweliers IN klDgIy mansions are often stra4-
gers.
The old soldiers here are having he oppJI-
tunlty Of re- enIisting and we cam that many,
even 10 the Vermont Brigade, ARE accepting the
| opportunity. The Inducements to re-enllst are
very strong, as "a bounty of $4,000 is offered
by the government which is largely increased
by the bounties now being paid by the towns
interested to raise their quotas, and in addl-
ton 10 this, they are to have furlough of
thirty days, with a favorable prospect, that
this war may end, within the time for which
they are now eDlisted. Within the history of
tae world, soldiers never had stronger induce
lnents to enlist in the service Of their own
country. la addition to all moned induce
ments we have the opportunity Of aiding to
uphold a government worth preserving, and
OF uniting our strength TO overthrow a bel
lion akin in vleness, to the one which prompt.
ed angels to prefer, rather to reign il he'll
than to serve 10 heaven.
1t is quite evident that cool weather and
hard work haze no uufavorabe effect upon
the health Of our troops. In the 9Th Vermont
regiment we have outy TWO patients in our
reglmcutal hospital and they are evidently
convaescent Our last campaign cross the
Rapldan vas very tedious and uncomfortable,
made especially 50 from the severity Of the
weather, and many took colds from their ex-
posure, bat the men are recovering from this,
and still feel ike makiog sacrifices for the
good Of their country.
w.