Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-01-02
FROM THE THIRTEENTH REGIMENT.

CENTREvrLE, VA, Dec %, 1862.
Dear journal 1t is long time since |
have written you, and during that time many
things of interest have happened in the ex-
perience Of the 18th Soldier correspondents
generally write altogether too many letters
when their regiment first arrives at the seat
of war but after it has seen service awhile,
and the WEAKNESS Of the long march, the
watchful scout, or the scepless picket is up
on the men, the first leisure moment is en-
ployed in rest and before the second comes,
another order is quite likely to disturb the
writer's plan for long letter tomorrow
You may set it down as a safe rule that If
your CORES pondents neglect to write, they are
doing something for their country and there
fore il you ever regret not hearing from them,
(Which, perhaps, might admit Of some doubt,)
you will be more than compensated with the
assuring reflection that the demands of duty
are so imperative that they have no time to
write. believe that there has been no time
4 during the war when news Of active exertion
on the part of the army has been 90 welcome
as now, and even the home circle Of each sol
der would willingly forego letters from their
sons and brothers, il the telegraph would say
They're in the field But am wandering
/ from the province Of my proper correspon-
, dence The 18th has seen many changes
within the last month"; that despair in the
outset, Of giving detailed account of them
We have seen some hard fare, but would viii
lingy see a thousand times more if we could
surely strike decisive blow for the cause
But that is one of the hardest things a soldier
has to bear-d0ing until his spent energies
almost fail him, and falling to see that he has
accomplished anything after all A single
days march Of single regiment even furn-
ishes theme for great deal of painful con-
temptation in this respect. Each soldier has
bis own world each has his own way to put
down the rebellion, his own peculiar plans
and hopes in the cause. When a movement
is made, each makes his efforts, stimulated
4 by his projects, conjectures and hopes. That
was the way he lived and walked and achieved
IN ciUd life, and there he had the satisfaction
OF seeing the effect of each blow of his ak,
and OF each furrow of his pillow. But here,
I in military life, he tolls longer, harder, on
e scant rations and under uclement skies, and
! when, after all, he lies down to rest on the
. damp ground at night, and turns back the eye
a of retrospect, be often fails to see a single
satisfying achievement, or even a straw blown
% to the Union cause to reward him for all his
;, pains. In this state of mind many despoud-
It ing letters are written home, and many unre-
a command are constantly employing the ar
y mics in useless service, while the cause Is
4, waning before their very eyes. But suppose
= every little service we render amounts to
IA something.
e Awhile ago we marched from Camp YER
mont to Union Mills We started in the dark
ID and rainy night, and after having hard
/, march and a short stay-just long enough in
ID which to get settled--we were ordered back,
rs We rode back on platform cars in a cold snow
storm. and when we arrived suffered severely
from the cold and wet. I'VE could not see that
re 10 amounted to anything, but suppose it did.
y We did necessary picket duty on the Ball
is Run until relieved, and that was something,
h, m sure. But we had not been back to
Camp Vermont long before we were ordered
f. out to the front again. 1t is clearly necessa'
ST ry that we should be here, and yet | have
ID heard many soldier say, when thinking OF
v his sore feet, or eating hard cracker, that il
ID was all useless pain and hardship, and that il
ID ever they got out of this trap, they would not
IA get caught again. But that is not genuine
e, patriotism. Each hHie helps the cause, and
OF the cause is as good as ever. The soldier
may not always see that his efforts and suffer
ings avail, but his own little world is often
I. magnifed to the proportions of the cause in
which he is enlisted, and he grasps more than
he can control.
1t is great tOheel to roll, and million
g. shoulders against it can hardly roll it upon
er and crush the giant coils of the great rebel
~ lion. These are times that try mems souls
/ the pest soldiers are the most patent, and in
10 thousands great manliness is called forth
I'd that civil life never tired. If was to ntrust
nd a man with a great Enterprise, | would first
OF inquire what his trials have been, and how he
IA has withstood them. The hereafter will see
" to this
Il But find | am wandering again. Yot
he want to know the eUents that have occurred
10 to US. / would be glad to tell you Of re
IT. view that was projected, and on which We
n, started and had an eight miles march in the
nd mud, month or more ago also OF yer,
- pleasant visit which made to Mount Vernon
II then of our march, stay, and return 10, at
no and from Union Mills next of our erection
M. of winter barracks at Camp Vermont, and O
IN our speedy evacuation of the same and GU
as march to Fairfax Court Houe; but you hay
ma heard it nearly all, and time and space forb
ge me to multiply descriptions, But Of our lates
,er experience | will give you little account.
7 Our brigade is encamped near Fairfax Cour
AT House with an appearance of about as niue
.ve permanence as we have ever presented. One
in four days regiment advances to this plac
mi and does picket duty. 1t is now the turn {
,as the 18th, though our time expires tomorrow
he The picRet line is about about mile and
,ur half to the west Of this place along ON
my Run our left ms the right Of Col. D'utas
t ! sey's pickets thrown out from Union Mil,
We and our right Joins the pickets Of the frs
ere Virginia cavalry, sent out from this place..
,Vs Thia is historic ground. 1t bears the fool
to- prints Of great armies. Twice has the Unio
ect cause been terror-struck upon 1t, and eve
ar now a scattering few of the hordes of rebe
hat lion hover upon the border and feel the Gu
SIS posts that guard our nations capital. W
bly, suppose there is no large force very near
viii us, though we have intelligence OF somethin
of force at Warrenton and the guerilas al