Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-06-09

From the Thirteenth Vt. Regiment.

CAMP CARusIE, Va, June 2, 1858.
The 18th regiment has been encamPed at this
place TWO months to-day,-two months OF quiet,
monotonols camp life WHEN we first came here
the picket duty was quite light, but the detail for
picket has been growing larger and larger, as the
stream has been'getting lower, untiln it takes
nearly one-third Of the working strength Of the
regiment for picket and guard duty A pri-
Yates turn for picket or guard duty comes once
in three days; a non.commissioned officers once
in FIVE or six days. while the commissioned Off
GERS Captains excepted, who come on duty pretty
often, come on for this duty once in seven or eight
days. Drilling of late, during the hot dry wealth
er, is nearly played out. short blltalion
drill is the most that has been attempted for some
time, and this not every day. Dress parade and
guard mounting, however, have been vigorously
kept up. There has been no end to reviews at
this camp. We were reviewed once by General
Stannard, once by our late Lieut. Colonel Brown,
and more recently we have had an inspection and
review by Capt. Hill, A. A. g. on Gen. Stan
nard's staff. Gen. Stannard expressed himself
pleased with the appearance Of the regiment I'M
der arms, and Capt. II also gave us compliment
upon the good order in which we kept our arms
and equipments. A brigade review Is in contem-
plAtion, hear, by Gen. Abercrombie, at a point
near Fairfax Starion. 1t would be good thing
uo doubt, but as tho brigade is now strung Out
on long picket line, it would be rather ".jd'
fetched" to say the least, besides giving the guer
rias chance to do mischief in our absence
Among other hitgs have to chronicle the cap
ture OF three Of our teams and teamsters, anC
Sergeants Silsby and Boyce OF Co. D. The team
were taken on tt G road to the Station, by small
squad Of the 4th Virginia cavalry. Prompt meas
ures were taken by Lieut.. Col. Munson, who wai
in command that day, to catch them, but without
success. The men were paroled, for which,
learn, they are to be court.marlaled, the order
of the War Department not allowing a non-com
mssoned officer or private to accept parole.
think the men were ignorant Of the order ant
hope their punishment will be light. The health
Of our regiment is now tolerably good but some
four or FIVE weeks ago, oil at once, for somt
cause as yet unexplained, some fifty were taker
down with the fever. OF these twelve have died
the balance are now sick or conyalescent. N
more are nov coming down, and | believe tina
there are very few considered dangerous. Tn
prospect is that the. regiment will soon be in goo,
health.
The weather for some time has been dry an,
hot and camp life decidedly dull. There is sti
some discussion about when our time Of seryic
is out. Many believe or pretend to believe tha
we shall be mustered out on the 10Th Of June
nine months from the time the draft was ordered
The more general opinion is that we shall not b
muster ed out till the 10Th Of July. II ths sha
prove the case it will disappoint some and max
no small difference about their re-enlising.
might, as matter Of policy, be well for the Gov
eminent not to keep troops more than ten 0
eleven months when they only enlist for nine
even though wrong mastering in would Civ
them legal right TO do so.
Vermont troops have too good reputation t
sign any petition and do any other thing tia
would seem to indicate that they we're beggn
off from service which was justly due, at the r.rn
time they have intelligence enough 10 perceiv
and spirit enough to resent injustice from th
general or state Government. But enough q
this we shall all know when we cease to be sol
ders, and can then tell whether we wish to re-en
list Yours Of the
TIIIRTEENTH.