Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-09-15

culluTen soon lOunu out Lnal lhere was lngress
there, and it was sought all the more because for
hidden on our side My post was on the west
aide. There was large gate there for teams,
which was kept closed, only when used, and on
each side was q small gate for travellers on foot
guarded one Of these small gates and regular
guarded the other. Ny orders were strict to let
none Of the little brats into the park but the reg
ular might let in as many as be pleased. Troops
Of frolicking children were continually pressing to
enter, hut my bsyonet afforded an luseparable
barrier at that gate. 1t was amusing to notice how
quickly their look Of eager glee change to one
Of grim dependency when told them it was
against the orders TO let them in, and they saw !
eviced determination to keep them away. II
they happened to think Of it they would try the
next gate, and when they saw there was nothing
to hinder, they would march in in the greatest
triumph. OF course il was matter of perfect
indifference to me, but when they turned and
gave me salute with their thumbs to their noses
and lheir four fingers dangling IN the air towards
me, began to appreciate the importance Of my
position, and to zee great advantages arising from
winning the respec! Of the rising generation thus
early in the day. These young ones would Ger.
tainly admire my frmness in preserving order,
and .hey had here lessen on the consistent man.
agemeut of the war, which they could understand,
and which was fair specimen on a small scale OF
the way the whole concern is carried on. Sinch
th,t time, the guards have been united, Snd eace
regiment took their turn. The rognlars are con-
sidersd as one regiment. Matters are better ar
ranged by this time But the children carried
their point we have given up trying to keep
them out
But these youngsters were not the only ones
to be affected by the annoyance Of supe riluous
sentinels. Citizens at one time we're prescribed
from walking certain paths. A sergeant of po-
lice wished to know of me what our rules were.
He said that as he was coming. down through the
park he was stopped by sentinel and ordered to
take another path Very deferen,ially he COM
piled, though for the lie Of him he could not tell
what for. On the other path to which be had
been directed, be was met by another sentinel
and ordered back to the path be was travelling at
first Here was an awkward dilemma. lie con-
cluded to mark out path for himself by taking a
shorter cut down between the two sentnels and
thus flank them both. He always made it mat
ter Of conscience TO obey all orders but be said
he could hardly see the use or the utility Of our
rules.
This police sergeant was what the soldiers would
call bully fellow" and just the man to be
highly popular among the boys. He could be
trusted, so we asked him how it would fare with
US il we we're arrested for playing truant and
brought 70 his station house. In reply he said a
number Of our boys we're disch,rged that morn
ing after answering few brief questions. The
old Judge would ask them what their punishment
would be when they returned to their company
and il be thought it was severe enough, be gave
them some good advice and let them 60. Twenty
four hour, log drill would be sufficient for
getting drnnk and getting into small row twice
twenty-four would pay for a big one. The ser
geant told US very confdentially that il we want
ed to 20 out to go, be should know US, aud II we
were arrested and brought to his station house,
he wouId-a sly wink told the rest. Now We wish
TO have this kept profound secret, because one
of these nights we are going out on a regular
=" bum" and il We get back safe to camp through
that sergeants fundamentally, it would be the
heigh, OF dshonor TO get him into a seraps. That
sergeant is brave man, though he contends be
could not stand the whistling minnis.. He has
charged pell nell upon gangs of rioters, and had
received some hard knocks in bis day, and still he
persisted in saying that cold lead would be more
than be could stand, and that be could never make
a soldier There w,s a roguish twinkle in his eye
that made me discredit his statement, almost es
much a, he diseredited it himself. believe the
old fellow would stand almost anything except
copperheNd ideas.
There has been large influx of visitors from
Vermont to see their friends here. Soldiers
wives have come to see their husbands and pa
rents to see their sons. Visiting i, done, bowev-
er, to a disadvantage, as the general order grants
no passes for length OF time exceeding two
hours, and unless we can 90 out, one almost feels
that ii is like being visited in his prison. But
where men can be trusted, our officers grant them
all the privilege in their power, and sometimes
more. The Vermonlers have the name here OF
being the most orderly and civil troops that have
been called to the city. Copperhead' and rioters
scowl because we occupy their beautiful parade
grounds, but other citizens are pleased to have us
there. ASrI.RKTEL.