The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-06-13
A Soldiers Letter-Ne. 81.
CAMP NEAR WHITE OAK CHURCH, Va, }
June 4th, 1868. {

EDITOR FREEMAN We have just come in
from another three days picket sweat, lima
tured and covered with dust. Our guard mount
ing this time had been enlivened by the newly
arrived Brigade Band. We have been for a
long time eagerly expecting this Band, and it
was no small satisfaction to see these musicians
with US. 1t is getting to be quite rare treat
nowadays, to hear good martial music, but
this seemed all the better for being sent from
Vermont for our especial entertainment and
qualification. Flies and drums lost their charms
long ago, if, indeed, they ever had any. This
Band made fine appearance, their music was
excellent, and it turned off our guard mounting
quite agreeably. ..r
After guard mounting we proceeded to our
posts, distance of some two miles or more.
The fine dust in the roads, in places. was like
ashes, and before we had gone far, every man
was so covered with the gray dust that he
looked for all the world as if he had just been
immersed in an ash-heap. All the fine effect of
the music was spoiled by this dusty march in
the hot sun. The first day we stopped at the
small reserve. Here we had but to get into the
shade, read books, if we had them, and make
things as agreeable to ourselves as we pleased.
We had nothing to disturb the harmony Of
our LEISURE except that we must fall into line,
whenever the officer of the day came around,
that the proceedings might in every particular
be done up at the highest military standard. Al
though this might often spoil precious nap,
or interrupt pleasant story, it was clearly too
small a task to occasion any grumbEng, and no
doubt he of the red sash was in every way sat-
isfed with our pronptness. The next day we
were on the outposts and stood guard two hours
out of every six. We were stationed near the
Potomac creek, where the prospect of seeing an
enemy was about equal to the prospect of ia
king Richmond. Standing guard there is dull,
listless business Who, three years ago, in
his widest dreams imagined that he should be
divorced from bis peaceful pursuits and engaged
in an occupation in itself so utterly proftess.
1t is a strange anomaly for our heaven exalted
land '.@ 'aai ..- 80
| recolect that we did not get over much
sleep that night for which l am willing tho mus
qultoes should have as much credit as our vigil
lance ia watching the rebels. did Mt see but
one good thing on that support, and that was
two canteens of milk, that one of the bows Dor
rowed-of somebody's cows. There was some
Jerseys with us, and every one was loud in as
nartiur that thair finna he 1oc L.
while the Government claims them till the 18th
They were evidently not over anxious to be en-
gagged in another battle Some Of the croaks
that came out with our grub spoiled one fell
lows appetite by telling that they were under
marching orders again with another light days
rations.
The third day we were back on the large
reserve, where We might pitch quoits, play po-
-ker, or amuse ourselves any way most conven-
lent 10 our incnations I had reserved my
hour for sleep till night, intending to lay in for
little extra of that luxury, and, if possible,
make up the lost time. But the Captain spoiled
my plans by detailing me to stand guard over
the guns Generally We had done this duty
by taking turns which, divided among so many,
was not worth minding but this time the cap
tain had made q different arrangement, on his
own hook, and one that decidedly disapprove
However, did my first two hours duty as
any patriotic soldier should, and had it not been
Tor the blunder made in going back to some
body's else quarters instead of my own, when
was relieved, so that, unfortunately, when the
next two hours came around the corporal could