The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-03-27
The Eighth Regiment.

Mr.. EDITOR: 1t is many long day since
ANYTHING from the Sth has graced your col
umns, yet for "a'that" it still occupies 1t:
honorable position in Gen Weitzel's brigade
and continues in its place on the right, ant
is ever ready to deal its might in defense o
the Union and the constitution. Were il
practicable might give you many hard ey
periences We have gone through, such a.
marches and countermarches, living on the
aIlmau'iae-hard army crackers, bivouacking
in open fields and drawing out an existence
in the mud and marshes Of Louisiana; but
these things are expected Of soldiers, and
you know too well the story of our thrall
Go'.' | might tell you of the great facina,
ton, of camp life, but the proix correspon
dents Of the new regiments in the Army Of
the Potomac excel in these, and | wish not to
rival them.
The prisoners which were taken from us
last September, numbering 40, have been
paroled AMI now are with US, and the long
ne of BATTLE" which used to be formed in
the SLOW Of Brattleboro year ago, again
grects the eye at our evening dress parade
though little shortened by death and sick
ness. Our regiment left Vermont with one
thousand and fourteen men, and now after
over years service we number between
eight and nine hundred men, and we have
received no men from Vermont since our Ge-
parture. We have enlisted about fifty good
men in New Orleans, and discharged about
as many, and the rest have fallen partly by
the bullets of the enemy and partly by the
sure conqueror Death" | will venture to
assert that no other regiment can show a
better record. Since we arrived at New Or
leans, cur ,abors have been arduous, and du-
Ing the heat OF sumrer We performed Her
culeun tasks that caused the inhabitants to
wonder at our endurance. We drew inspi-
ration from our glorious cause, and pressed
L
may say" excelsior was the motto Of Gen
Butler and his troops who shared with him
in the dangers, privations and hardships of
hostile city and country. Our success in
this department speaks for the energy and
perseverance of the handful of men who
accompanied Gen Butler into the great South
west.
The battle Of the Peche, ! see has been
commented upon, and favorably noticed by
the Northern Press. The Sth Vt. bore no
Interior part in that battle. 1t showed itself
as worthy descendants of the Green Noun
tain Boys, and came off with blushing hon.
ors.' will not give you detail of the bat
tie as Others have done theis, and you know
the incidents and result from other sources.
Company c, having been raised in St. Johns
bary, you dolbtless have an interest to know
Of It's condition. Capt Foster, whom we all
Iove as captain, has returned to US again. 1t
Carpenter had command and was alone, for
about three months, and now our captain
has come lack. We think Co. c, stands un-
r;yalled in about everything. Our officers
seem to be friends to all of US, and are al
vays Kind and obligirg. Capt Foster is
attentive to the sick and does all he can for
them. Our company now numbers about
eighty men believe, and all are we'll but
about half dozen. Four Of our boys join
I'd the cavalry the other day, Bailey, Whip
pie, Chamberlain and Kennedy, and they
seem very contented on their fiery steeds. y
The rebels come in sight of US often and we
earn they have strong force few miles
away. By and by you may expect to hear
Ct US among them. Tell our friends "we
are still FOR war until the rebels lay down
their arms, although we long for the time
when We can meet them again in our dear
own Vermont. r.