Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-07-17
FROM THE TENTH REGIMENT.
CAMP AT SoUTH MOUNTAIN. Mo,

July ith, 1905. J
Dear journal The 10th Vermont is at
last in active service, as you have undoubted-
ly learned ere this. On Wednesday the gath
ult., the brigade broke camp at Poolesvile,
and left for Ha-per's Ferry just at night,
where we arrived early Friday morning in
heavy rain, and Immediately PROCEEDED up
the Maryland Heights. We camped, when
about half way up them, on the toughest
piece Of territory we have yet been on moth
ing but rocks aud tree-stubs The trees mad
been cut down about four feet from the ground,
and then burned, so that it lett anything but
an agreeable camping ground.
On Tuesday the 30th early in the morning
we were ready to leave, but the higher au-
thorities' were not. so we sat, and stood, and
waited, in one of the most drenching rains we
have yet had, until o'clock, p. NJ, before
we left the Heights. 1t was then evacuated.
guns spiked magazines bown up, &c, &c.
! About IL A. M, there were three explosions
| of shells and powder just above u, which
sent pieces of shells aud stones flying in great
ptOfusion amongst our regiment and the SD
! Pennsy lvania, which was waiting close beside
us, Fortunately none in our regiment were
| seriously hurt, although couple were slight.
| ly but OF those in and around the Fort some
eight or ten were killed, and nearly fifteen
wounded The forces under Major General
French camped outside OF Frederick City on
/ Wednesday night. From there some of them
were sent in different directions. Our regi-
ment, with the 10th Mass. battery, squad
ron of the 18th Penn. cavalry, and four com
panios of the 18th Mass. regiment, were sent
to Monocacy or Frederick Junction three
miles from Frederick City, on Thursday af-
ternoon Our regiment stayed there till 4
O'Clock Saturday afternoon (4th inst when
we were relieved by the 9th Maryland, and
we marched to Middleton, Md, where we ar
rived at 8 o'clock, F. NJ, distance of eleven
miles in five hours, with heavy rain for half
the distance, and dark as you please for the
other half Yesterday Monday we came
here, four miles from Middletown, on the old
battlefield of South Mountain. The 10th
W., 18th N. j., l53d Penn, l5lst N. Y. and
another n. Y. regiment are BRIG ded togeth-
er, under the command OF Brig Gen. Nor
ris, New Yorker. Right glad are we to get
into some other portion of Maryland, besides
Montgomery county. We could not be re-
| ceived in Vermont better than we have been
by the people of Frederick City, and especi-
ally by the inhabitants Of Middetown. All
along the route in this county we have
been received with such expressions as hur-
rah for the Union I" down with the rebels r'
"up with the stars and stripes !" Perhaps
some of the difference in the inhabitants is
caused by the land being so much better, for
it is magnificent country. 1t commenced
raining the next day after we left Camp Heint.
zleman, and has rained nearly every day since
but there is not man that complains, for we
know that the rebels cannot Tecross the Po-
tomac until it is lordable, and before that
time we hope to have them "gobbled" up
Everywhere among the soldiers We hear III,
expressions: MEADE Is doing we'll" Z"
think he is the man after all !" -Four com
panies of our regiment went as guards ovel
975 prisoners to Frederick City yesterday -
In all our marches for the past thirteen day
| believe there has been but one man left OF
( the road out OF the whole regiment, and ! an
ashamed to say he belongs to Co. b : on
fier, Lucus Downing. He stopped at San
dy Hook, although none in the company knew
of It until afterwards. Some eight or tel
. thousand of Gen. French's troops are here a
Champions Gap, and if the rebels attempt t.
7 leave by this place. they will be held in chec
until Meade can take them in the rear p