Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1863-01-02
'krh g Times.
BELLOWS FALLS. JAN. 2, 1868
From the sixteenth.
FAIRFAX CouRT HOUSE, Va,
Dec. IS, 1862. 6

been appri ed ere this, of the departureof
our brigade from Camp Vermont" We
received orders Thursday night. Dec. lIh,
to be ready TO march the next morning lat
a o'clock. This order, coming as it ID,
just as we had almost completed our winler
quarters, and our men had made up t'fr
minds that they'should have nothing t. %,
Cat least for this winler.l .at to Z eat 4 Jal
and be merry" rather surprised and might
add disappointed some, and am sorry to
write that there were a few exceptions
where our men were heard to complain be-
cause they were called to leave their com
Portable quarters for the {" Fly tents" and
an unsettled camp. Yet the men with very
few exceptions, cheerfully went 10 wcrk
packing up preparatory to an early march
in the morning. There was much conjec-
ture as to our destination, but the mystery
was partially revealed when our worthy
Col. Veazey gave the order to march thus:
" Forward by file right, for Bull Run
{ Let me here add that we have one of the
best Colonels to be found in the SERVICE
always kind TO his men, and thorough
military man. We always feel safe under
his wing.") This order called forth hearty
cheer from the regiment, and we started off
at quick time. We passed by Fort Lyon,
and down to the main road leading from
Alexandra to Fairfax Court House, Cen-
trevile, &c.
There was nothing of particular interes,
in the days march. We arrived at Fair
fax Court House about 8 p. NJ, after
march of about sixteen miles. Our brig
was pretty tired after marching SO far with
their heavy knapsacks, and we were right
glad when we were permitted TO turn in :
for the night.
The next morning our regiment orr
dered to be ready to march by o'clocs, A.
Nj. We took up our line of march towards.
Centreville, but through some mistake We
took the road leading TO Chantilly, about
one-haf mile above Fairfax Court House.
We passed up this road about three miles,
when our Colonel discovering the error,
found a cross-road over which we passed to
The right road; and while crossing over on
this road we passed over the battlefield of
Chantilly, where Generals Kearney and
Stevens were killed. We did not stop to
rest but once on the battle ground, and con-
sequently VIC could not examine the grounds
as much as we wished.
Our regiment arrived at Centreville about
o'clock p. NJ, aud halted about one-hal
a mile beyond, to rest. We then started
and marched on about two miles further,
and within about one mile of Long Bridge
which is over Bull Run, and where the
famous Black Horse Cavalry was so cut to
pieces by our Infantry in the first Battle Of
Bull Run. But the principal battlefield is
to the right and about seven miles above
Long Bridge. Here we halted for thirty
minutes, and 263 men were detailed to do
picket duty. Here we learned that our
regiment was to stay in this vicinity four
days to do picket duty and then we we're
to be relieved by one of the other regi-
ments,-each regiment in the brigade to be
on duty four days alternately.
cannot give you the exact position of
our picket lines, for | was unable 10 do du-
ty and did not 90 down to the line. / have
been off duty three weeks, and during our
two days march, was only required to keep
with the regiment, my knapsack and gun
were carried by one of the baggage teams.
AT this place where our regiment halted
TO make the detail, at the right of the road
was a piece Of ground, perhaps an acre,
which was completely strewn with KNAPP
sacks, cartridge-boxes, cap-boxes, gun bar
rels, and in fact, oil kinds OF equipments
used by an army. This is one of the places
where Gen. Pope burnt and destroyed so
much of his store and camp equipage Of all
kinds. Report says that he burnt in one
stack 10000 muskets 10 prevent them from
falling into the hands of rebels. Quite a
number of the old barrels are now on the
ground, but great many of them have
been carried away. There you can pick
up the MIME balls by the handfus. Net
being required to march in the ranks | had
a good opportunity TO examine the old rub
bsh while the detail was being made.