The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-06-09

sun was too much for even the good natured
" Green Mountain Boys " TO stand They were
not, therefore, very choice in the selection of cpl
thets for :heir officer of the day. Some, however,
who were more charitable than the rest,
concluded that so long as it all went to help put
down the rebellion, they ought not to complain.
The corporal, who is a very close calculator and
shrewd mathematician, positively affirms that the
rebellion went down two inches during that dusty,
suffocating march. He further hints, in a mod
est way, that he could, in time, worry the re-
bellion down alone. Perhaps so, he is tip top
marcher, and very patriotic, but he will have to
march SO we'll that be won't need to march it over
again, or be will find himself in the same unpleas
ant fix that our commanding generals do when
they attempt the same thing.
The expedition of the Sth Illinois cavalry re-
turned while they we're out. From Mr.. Fassett
of Co. E, who saw and conversed with the officers
and men, and took some pains to ascertain the in
cidents of the raid, l have the following state
ment:
This regiment of cavalry, under Col. Clenden-
min, left the vicinity of Brooks Station the 10th
inst, nearly 500 strong, and started for Heath
vile, small place at the lower extremity of this
peninsula, near the mouth of the Rappahannock
river. After little more than days march, the
rebels began to suspect that all was not right and
sent over squad Of cavalry to reconnoitre and
ascertain what was going on. The cavalry had
passed by, so the rebs signalled back to Gen. Lee
that if he would send over 1000 men, artillery and
infantry, to their support, they could bag the
whole Yankee force. But Yankee ingenuity out
witted them. There happened to be among our
troops man that could read the rebel signal, and
thus their plans were penetrated and easily foied.
Col. Clendennin sent at once to his Commanding
General, and informed him of his position and the
intentions of the enemy, and had small brigade
of infantry and artillery despatched to his assist
ance. They came just in time to frushate the
enemys movements and drive him back across
the river.
The cavalry proceeded on-part of the time
pretending to be rebel troops, and part of tht
time Union, whichever circumstances demonstra
ted to be the best policy. They visited every
Court House the whole distance, eighty miles o.
more, besides many other places of some note
They said they respected Union property, but the
property Of rank secessionists they were less par
tcular about They found many who professeC
to be strong Union people, and they manifested
their loyalty by many acts of kindness which thu
men will not soon forget. In some instances tn,
women sat up all night to cook for them, and thu
best they had was always freely given. They ha(
started out with but three days ratons and wer
gone TEN days, but the men said they had neve
enjoyed themselves better. When among secesl
people, if nothing was offered them they com
PEELED the women to cook for them, but Away
kept strict watch in such cases, that they nigh
not mix with their food anything unwholesome
They estimated that they had captured $1O000t
worth of property and destroyed enough more t.
make the total loss to the rebels exceed million
They captured 400 horses, some of which wer
very valuable; one four years old blooded hors
valued at $4,000, 200 mules in excellent condi
ton, yoke of oxen, and large number of bug
ges open and covered, doctors sulkes, team
wagons, CARTS &c. They brought large quaint
ty of dry goods, in the shape of hats, bonnets, rib
bons, broadcloth, boots, shoes, gun caps, cutler
nearly all of which had been struggled throug
the lines from Baltimore and other semi-seces
places They also found used and destroyed a.
most any quantity of brandies, wines and liquor
of various descriptions, besides an immense quar-
tity of kerosene oil. In one place they knocke