Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-06-04
From the FIRST Vermont Brigade.
cANr OF THE lST VT. BRIGADE, !
Near White Oak Church, Va, :
Nav 26. 1868. \

EDITOR RUTLAND HERALD: 1t has
been not little encouraging to us here to
see how soon and how firmly public con-
fidence was restored at the North after the
recent repulse of the army. "Demoral
izationn throughout the country very
quickly produces generalization In the ar
ny, and the present healthy state of pub
lie feeling throughout the North cannot
fail of exerting the most excellent infu
ence here would not imply that we
are in need of encouragement. On the
contrary, so far as | am able to learn,
(and have enquired of those belonging
TO nearly or quite every CORPSE the best
possible feeling prevails. The Vermont
brigade, which had not been at any time
forced from its position, left the battle
field elated rather than respondent.
fredericksburg is no longer terror to
those who have scaled its formidable
heights, nor indeed to the rest of the ar
my, since the recent movements have
shown that we can force the enemy to
leave IL whichever IL Is ucoHdUit.
There has been little or nothing added
to the works at Fredericksburg since last
December, thus showing that the enemy
has long been convinced that the msket
rather than the spade must decide this
contest.
The same reckless fury with which the
confederate troops rushed to almost certain
destruction at Fair Oaks, Malvern Hill and
elsewhere, was again exhibited in the re-
cent contest. Their writers, believe at
tribute this to their patriotism, while ours
regard it as the result of a too free use of
whisky. There is another theory which |
think more correct than either, viz: love
of plumber. There is little doubt that
their officers have encouraged this incen-
tive TO bravery and circumstances have
greatly assisted them in this respect
In the earlier part of the war soldiers
knapsack contained almost as many no
tons as would suffice to stock small
country store, and it is well known that
at the first battle of Bull Run me rebel
army secured a great amount of plumber.
During the retreat from the Peninsula they
met with similar good fortune, and
Greenbacks " formed no inconsiderable
portion of the spoil. 1t has unfortunate
" happened that the last two payments
of the army were Immediately preceding
the first battle of Fredericksburg and the
second battle Of Fredericksburg and
Charlottesville. Thus it occurred that
many who wished had no opportunity to
send their money home, and there are we'll
attested cases where several hundred dol
lars were taken by rebel soldiers from the
bodies Of individual officers. When we
consider the worthlessness of their curren-
CIV, and their total want of the Injuries
and almost the necessaries of life, it can
easily be seen what an Indictment to
bravery must be the prospect of robbing
our well paid soldiers.
The appearance of the prisoners captured
affords little encouragement to those who
hone to starve the South into submission.
They were stout, healthy looking fellows,
comfortably. though coarsely clad, and
said they had enough to eat-if they had
not, short rations are certainly highly con-
ducive to health. Last autumn they were
really in most destitute condition-one