The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-04-15

they took their position, and We III turn marched
past them.
There is something grand ahd imposing in tbs,.
reviews, that the lover of the beautiful cannot ii
to admire. Ten or fifteen thousand men unifo,r
ly dressed, and marching by companies at comn,,
ny distance, all keeping the same step and main.
tanning the same distance, is what one does nat n
ten see, even if he belongs to the army. Such
mass Of men moving steadily and regularly n,
ward, keeping time to the most souenliveuiDs
strains of martial music that ever was discourse6
is certainly s'osing spectacle. 1t would scEu,,
even those magnificent nsver-to- be. forgotten inn.
trainings that Vermont used to have in the good
old times when the sound of the drum and 81.
would kindle our boyish patriotism into entbu..
asm. lsoppose this review was preliminary to
an onward increment. At least it used to be 81
last Summer,-when we had review the ords,
to march soon followed.
Last Tuesday we were on picket We picket
now, the whole regiment at time, and generally
remain cut three days. Tuesday morning brought
with it nasty, disagreeable, snow stor.n. We
could barely make ourselves comfortable in our
tents by warm FIRE, but on picket, nothing need
be anticipated but wet clothes, numb fingers and
the prospect of shireriDg away the long hours
over Cemtortess fire of green pine, il we are
lucky enough to get even that to burn. GLOOMY
as the duty in prospect might seem to some, it
is ust such an occasion as the old Second Yer
mont loves to glory in. Had stranger been in
camp, and seen US emerge from our cavern-ike
houses into he slop and slosh that was on the
ground and the snow and rain that was ain COM
ing, and heard the laughiag Joking and shouting,
kc would thought the regiment was discharged,
and the scys were uprOarOusly jubilan! over the
prOipte. OF geing home, instead Of preparing for
a three daya picket We'll, We fsrmed into linz,
to guard mounting, and of course had
to stand tho best part o. an hour, that all the c
emonies incident to the duty might be perIorma
In manner strictly military, and all the whil. the
keen wind, direct from the North pole, was blow.
ing the Stow and rain into our faces. Undu
these circumstances, it is the most natural thiu
in the world for men such as compose this Seeop
Regiment to feel demoralized." SO Ioke and
play they would, regardless Of the demands
good discipline and even the officers were glad to
escape being made the victims of some sharp wit
tcjsm. The boys were bound to be merry, let
what woHld happen it is oDr philosophy. In
course of time we started on our way towards the
picket line. Part Of the regiment stopped at the
big reserve, part went on still further to some
smaller reserves, aad some went and took their
post at once. On the big reserve, where it ca me
FAY lot to stay the first twenty-four hour, We
built US HOUSES Of boughs and blankets to pgotsa
us rem the wind and storm, and made us large
fires, so we managed, the most OF US, to pass the
day quite pleasantly. Night came, clear, windy
and cold. Some managed to sleep comfortably
bat many couldn't manage to sleepa at all. Some
had their houses uncovered of their blankets or
boughs, and awoke in the morning, as the Irish
man said, to fnd themselves sleeping cut 'door1
Next day was April the first. Many bad pre-
dicted warm day after our snsw storm, but
they were nicely April fooled. Last year tn"
day J, with number of boys, enjoyed a goOu
bath in the James river. This year, unlsss MAJ
had latent calorc enough in him to meet an lcs'
berg, he would hardly want to venture into the
water far enough to wet his feet. We spent TINS
day at the small reserve. Here half of US onI!
were allowed to sleep at one time. The thru
day we went cut to the line, and relieved tho"
who had been standing guard tho last twsnty-iou'
hours. Supports are distributed along the lido
where n gcore rnorn ~ lace ava .t.tiunsd, Az