The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-04-11
From the Thirteenth Vermont.
CAMP WIDOW NIoLET's FARM. }
FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va, April Stn, 1863. {

FRIEND FREEMAN -
Randall's boys of the 18th you will find at pre-
sent at the above mentioned camp, some eight
miles from Wolf Rum which place we left on
Thursday last at 8 o'clock in the morning under
command Of Lieut.. Colonel Brown-(our Col
onel of Colonies having gone ahead to see to our
mutual safety and wefare.) We reached this
place about noon and encamped near by in a
piece of woods to the left of the road stayed there
over night and removed away in the morning to
the 'Widow,Vioets Farm the name Of our present
camp. We pitched our tents after the manner of
the arabs only little more regular and commence
ed making ourselves as comfortable for the night
as circumstances would permit. About five in
the afternoon terrific gale of wind sprung up,
accompanied with hail and snow, and continued
undated during the night and day following.
Snow fell to the depth of ten inches, and we, be-
ing in our A tents on the ground, it proved rath-
er toJgh, as the buys said. We are not allowed
to stockade, 50 we have to grin and bear it. On
Saturday we were ordered out to have dress pa
rade, which being accomplished, we formed square
and Col. Randall proceeded, with bis usual urban.
ty and athery advice, to address u.s. He dwelt
at some length GA our neglect of drill, and limited
that we were getting rather Indifferent, owing,
perhaps, to the near approach OF our departure
for home. Still, he promised to improve US in
the shape of battalion drills.
Our camp is very PRETTY located. The noble
Potomac, (Rappahannock p can be seen some
miles to our left, winding its smooth way along
between two armies arrayed in arms against each
other. While our camp faces West, the rear is
grded BY belt of pretty young pines, which
serve TO give it cheerful aspect In fact, our
Colonel deserves praise for selecting such beauti-
full locality for his boys, and we shall ever hold
him in grateful remembrance. Some two miles
in westerly direction, the village of Occoquan
les, and is tatroed by the Second Pennsylvania
Cavalry, whose reserve 10 quartered at a house
near by our present camp. They tell us of more
than one skirmish with the rebs and ask us what
is thought of the war at home in Vermont. Seine
have heard of the rawlings Of that wilv seet the
copperheads e., the seceSh snake, clad in the skin
Of peace Why will men who claim to love their
country and her noble institutions, allow them
selves to be led by these rowdies in sleeps
clothing3 Talk not to US of peace short of any
thing but submission and reunion, but rather.
your musket and come and share with
us the prvatlons and suffsrings OF soldier, whose
highest honor is to lay down his life for his
country's sake, and not whine at home for peace,
when there is no peace but in disguise ard defeat.
Urge every man to go and do his duty to bleed
ing country, which calls him, with all the earnest.
ness of a mother calling for her children in her
hour of deep distress. Give up all, wife, children,
friends, and fortune if need be, but do not let YOUR
neighbor return home from the war and have the
blessed privilege OF pointing you out in future
years as one who clamored for peace but did
nothing to accomplish it. Let not the friends in
Vermont whe have dear ones in the Thirteenth
believe that copperhead dwells in our ranks.
Loyal and true we will stand by the Flag and np-
hold the Union and the Constitution beouethed
to US by Our forefathers.
SERGT. II. G. Co. II. 18th.
/. .. olhce writing the above we have re-
ceIved intelligence of the death of Sergt. I. !
SIayton' Co. II. He died this Tuesday morning
at . ciock' of typhoid fever, a, the camp hospi-
tai OF the l4lh regiment Wolf Run Shoals.
Peace to his memory. He was respected by his
officers and company, as faithful soldier and
true friend. May his relatives and friends be-
coosoled in their loss by the assurance that it
was for his country he died. .r H.G.