Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1863-10-16
EVENING
Tour Army Correspondence J
FROM THE FIRST BRIGADE.

CAMP coy ND Vt. Vols
Near the Rapian, Oct 9Th lsi8.
.uessrs. Editors.
Perhaps IL may not De undressing TO the
many readers Of your paper to hear from the
First Vermont Brigade
When we returned from our northern tour.
we took our old place ia the Second div. Sixth
corps The men comprising this corps seemed
glad TO see US ba-k, and the third brigade. Gen.
Nel'-, VS. out under arms to welcome u. 4
camping ground was soon selected anil IN the
course Of two or three days we had quite a IT.
spectacle looking camp with tent, in which we
could live ia comparative comfort But we
could not long stay 10 enjoy the fruits Of our IA
boz. Last Thursday orders came for Us to be
ready TO march. We were toll that we were
going back fifteen or twenty miles TO guari the
railroad That evening the order was counter
manied. AMI The third division went iu our
place However. the next morning early we
had TO leave our camp and march TO the ground
len by the third division Il raiuci hard an
day, So We got nicely wet and hal to sleep
that night with wet clothes in wet beds.
Saturday We spent in fixing our tents with
poles and pieces of boards Again we hborei
for nausht for sunday night orders came for
the remaining divisions Of our corps to be ready
to march the next morning with eight DAYS "a
tons
Many were the couiectures as TO where We
were going. One report was that we we're going
to the Rapilau, TO relieve the second corps.
doing picket duty there. This report WIS the
true one.
Now few words concerning the eight days
rations suppose you remember, that some
since the War Department issued an orier to
the effect that men in the field should be COM
PEELED to carry eight days rations. whenever
their nearness TO the enemy, or danger Of hav-
ing the supply train captured or cut of. should
necessitate it, could not see the necessity Of
our carrying eight days rations There is a Ill
rect road from Culpepper to this place; and
teams come and 20 every day; besides our own
supply train came with Us. When men carry
eight days rations, they are supposed to carry
no extra clothing Thsmust be thrown away.
1t is now Fall. The cold weather is fast coming |
upon Us. Even now the nights are cold and ]
chilly. \ soldier needs all he can carry in |
blankets and clothing, yes, he needs more
hence he will do almost anything before he
will throw away his blanket, or an article of |
clothing lie will go hungry first.
Furthermore, if 1t becomes necessary to have |
the men carry rations for eight days, then they |
ought to be marched accordingly We we're en-
,amped about four miles from Culpepper and
nearly west Of that place. We started about SIX
A. NJ. yesterday morning, went to Culpepper,
then took the road leading south and went with
N a mile and half Of the Rapidan, then bore
% the right and went four or five miles up the
aver. Here we halted and a large detail was
made from our brigade for picket. This body
# men had to march to the picket line, and
hen down the line about two miles, making for
Is about ticeRfy mules. We marched to Culpep-
ger quite easy, considering our onerous KNAPP
acks, for We rested often But from Gull
'eppcr to this place we had but very little rest.
ould not stop to make coffee, the soldiers
riend, but rushed along as though the salvation
f the nation depended on our fast marching
f men were ever tired, we were last night; not
ecause we had marched 50 far, for we have
ften marched further, but because we had so
much more to carry than usual, and not having
efficient rest We soon became lame and footsore.
Let our friends At the North understand that.
hen they read in the papers that the army is
iactiye, rc are not aiicays idle.
Xaurs W