The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-04-21

tents--we call them shanteis" or "houses
here, which in the hurry Of camping here, sup
posing their stay to be only temporary, had been
huddled together in all manner OF shapes, had,
many of them to be removed and made to square
with the company street. We brought pine trees
from the woods and planted row on each side OF
every one Of these, making each street vista, at
once pleasing and beautiful. The officers had
their tents encircled by grove pine, and many
of the men did the same. Our camp now al
most has the appearance of we'll laid out pleas
ure ground. At the entrance of each street, an
arch is made of poles draped with evergreen,
the company letter ingeniously made OF the same,
suspended from the apex. The whole gives an
air of beauty and refinement to the camp, that
cannot be without wholesome effect. We think
we have a right to consider this at least minor
indication that our stay here is to be prolonged,
though last year the order to "police our camp
was so often followed by the order to march, that
it became proverbal. This year, things move
differently. lsuppose the men whose minds are
occupied only with the movements of great
armies, the raising Of men or the developing Of
gigantic financial schemes and who form their
opinions Of marches and battles from these,
would laugh at our puny ideas, but it may be that
we guess the nearest right after all.
If were to step up into the higher attitudes Of
reasoning, and proclaim my opinion as worthy of
consideration, should not be at loss to find
evidences from this source, of prolonged stay in
this place. The relative strength of the opposing
armies is no doubt proportionately greater in IA
yor Of the rebels, now, than YER before. Every
avenue to Richnond is closed as sec1re as skill
and science can make them. No position that can
be made available for defence Is left unfortifed.
The prestige of victory is with them. Several
times when our army was stronger, and theirs
was weaker than now, and when the way was
comparatively open, we have tried to capture the
rebel capital, and so far, we have signally, often
almost ANONYMOUSLY, failed. 1t seems to me
that it must be rare compliment to the genius
of the present Commanding General to suppose
him capable of contending successfully against
these great difficulties with his slender means
when others with greater advantages, have failed
before less imposing distractions. | have great
faith in General Hooker, but do not believe bis
skill or genius is inspired with anything superhu.
man. The soldiers who took part in the battle
of Fredericksburg, dislike trying the same thing
over again, not because they have lost courage
but because they see in it no prospect of victory
Citizens who live here and know the lay of the
land between here and Richmond, say it is sac.
eession OF ranges of hills the whole distance, as
strong by nature as that we tried to carry a
Fredericksburg. So if we succeed in driving them
from their present position, they have only te
fall back to the next strong position, where We
must dislodge them the second time, and so on
fighting them at immense disadvantage each time
till finally we may be overpowered ourselves and
compelled to act over again the sou-sickening re-
treats of last summer. Perhaps there is way o.
following upon an enemy so closely that he can
not gain advantage by falling back from one po-
stion to another, but if there is, our leaders have
never yet discovered it.
Parts of this army have been sent off, the
say, to operate in other parts. Our corps is 1
be left to hold this place and cover Washington
till new contingencies develop themselves, say
the same authority-they say. After all it WOW,
not be at all strange If We were ordered to " pac
up within twenty-four hours.
4 The news Of the week is measre enough. W.
were reviewed by President Lincoln last Wednes
day. The honorable gentleman looked thin an