The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-06-13


resolute calibre is Mt always the safest kind of
business
The fourth day we were relieved by the other
brigade. The new pickets said the camp was
full of rumors. That morning they had had to
stand in line under arms, la Chickahominy.
The First and Second Army Corps were on the
move, some said up the river, some said down,
and others said they were not moving at all.
All seemed to think that some important work
was in contemplation.
They had asplendid ball at Gen. Hewes' head
quarters Wednesday night. 1t was a select par
i ty, no lower caste than field officers were ad-
mitted, unless they were particular favorites, or
had lady, which, for the sake of iull attend
ance OF the fair sex, was an especial recommend.
An affair like that, SO suggestive of the pleas
ures OF home, and so strikingly in contrast with
camp scenes In general, excited the curiosity of
great many of the boys, and forgetting the de-
mands of decorum, they huddled around to
get, If possible, an outside view of the enchant.
ing show. Among these impertinent outsiders
they say, was large number of the Second
boys. Our boys were bound to have some fun
out of the performance-and they like fun, as
they do chickens, geese and pigs, all the better
II 1t is obtained at somebody's else expense The
boys had the greatest respect for this assem-
blage, but their pride was little piqued by be-
ing gratuitousl y informed that they could not
on any account be admitted. A large hall had
been improyised for the occasion 1t was built
of evergreen boughs and was all the more nte-
resting from its romantic situation and warllke
surroundings. 1t had well laid floor, and
probably no hall in America was ever occupied
for dance with better enthusiasm than WAS
this one. The dance was lively and interesting
GOOD music, pretty women and fascinating
dance, who can blame the boys for trying to be
spectators of such a lovely scene The tempta-
ton was too great to be resisted. They were
not content to stand outside the guard, bat they
made charge en- mGSSe, and about that time
there might have been seen multitudes of eyes
peering through the boughs, from the outside
upon the happy throng within. Unless the sum
total of enjoyment was greatly increased by the
presence of these unlimited visitors, they must
have subtracted heavily from the pleasure of
those who occupied the floor, for the boys out
side enjoyed their view amazingly. The aids
tried to order them away, bat what is the use
of an order without the means to enforce it.
After they had satisfied themselves and punished
the privileged ones all they wished, they retired
in good order under cover of the night, no one
trying to modest their retreat. If any different
account is ever given Of this ball than what
have written, the reader will please pay it not
the slightest attention. Let him read my letter
and he will be correctly posted
Our regular drills have become an established
necessity We have two per day. AS they last
but an hour or an hour and half, it is not
very cruel task, even if it is done under burn
ing sun. But all that time is not occupied in
drilling. We have our " rests,' when, as at
recess in school-time, we can play with ard
plague each other as much as we please. %.
E and Co. had one regular pitched battle
For shells they threw at each other empty -
bottles (The confding reader will excuse me
for not telling what kind Of bottles they were;
for as true as ! live do not know) 1t wa,
lively sport for few minutes and one had to
look sharp and dodge quick to save his head
The loss was about equal on each side, and was
finally settled by compromise.
There has been no rain since the 18th ult.
Everything is getting dry, awful dry, almost as
dry as this letter. There is always plenty of