Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-10-23
From the Eleventh Regiment.

Fort SLEMMER, D. c., Oct. Id.
Dear old yesterday morning
no detail for guards or fatigue was sen.
to Battery F, and the boys began to sus-
picion that we were "going away" AT
about ten or fifteen minutes after day
break orders came to roll blanket and
pack knapsack. This confirmed their
suspicion and at ten o'clock they knew
they must take a march, thing they had
not Gone since the l7th of last November,
when we marched from Fort Bunker
Hill TO Slocum. At one o'clock they got
into line, right dressed, fronted, and right
faced, and when the command came "for.
ward march" all stepped off with the leit
foot toward Fort Slemmer where we ar
rived in the course of half an hour. Fl.
Slemmer is very small fort with only
guns-32 FOUNDERS. 1t is situated in a
very pretty place upon an elevated hill
OF sand and gravel within one half mile
of the Soldiers Home" overlooking the
capitol and portion Of the city of Wash
ington, the concentration of al creation
besides the origination Of much treason
land darnaIon-between Forts Bunker
Hill and Tolten, within a quarter Of a
mile Of the former and three quarters of
the latter. There are good barracks 100
feet long by 20 wide, made of boards in-
stead of stockades, with a nice floor of
planed boards; the roof has two layings
of tarred paper on top of inch boards, so
there is no chance Of our getting wet ev-
cry night there comes a quick driving
shower. There are Y hunks besides two
rooms in one end about Z by 10 feet, cal
culaSed for the sergeants. AS long as
we stay in these barracks we have no
reason to complain. 1t hardly seems as
though we we're in the army. We have
to bring water about fifty rods up con-
siderable steep hill, but the spring we get
it from is a never failing one, at least
never knew it to fail. Some of the boys
complain because they think it is a loneD
some out-of-the-way place, and say they
would as lief 60 into wilderness among
the wild beasts and savages. But do
not look at it in any such light.
October l6.-You see a soldier cannot
always write a whole letter at once
Sometimes it takes a spell, spell and a
half or two spells. So it is with me this
time. l am going to take my time and
write you just as long a letter as | have
a mind to, and you may cut as much as
you have mind to off the ends or take
some out of the middle. Yesterday bats
terry M arrived at Fort SIocum. 1t rain
ed a right good bit, and Of course they
got little damp. But they were made
Of good stuff and did not dissolve. l
went over and saw my brother and fel-
ow by the name of Charles Brown who
used to work for Rearly Hill. They
we're we'll and looked as tough as two
,eeves. also saw Thomas B. Newcomb
IF Eden he looked rather thin though
ne said be felt we'll. | saw a number OF
f boys from Irasburgh, John
Mason, Henry Hill and two Stiles boys.
They were well enough guess. did
not hear them complain any. The i've
Jew recruits that came into this company
he 18th of last month are all well and
IN duty.
There is considerable excitement JUST
now around about Washington on account
Of the rebels getting pretty upstropolous'
Last night pickets were thrown out 10
Keep watch and this morning nine men
and two corporals went out from our
but three men came back, 50
we have - out now.
Six new recruits for company + JUST
two by the name of Young, one
William Webster, one Marckres, the otA-
sr two l don't know what their names
ire ParleS UOus, guess; l heard one
3ay, "Bon for ye," and the other "Oul'
1ui, o oui." Dear old Boss, it has been
4 very wet day, and even now
'The thunders roll from pole to pole,
And lightnings flash from sky to sky
From your devil,
ELLRRY Ii. WEBSTER,