Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1863-04-03
tour Army Correspondence
FROM THE 18TH REGIMENT.
CAMP NEAR WoLP RUN SHOALS, Va,
March n, 1868.



nounce an improvement in the health of the
Regiment since wrote you last. The existence
Of some sixty cases Of pneumonia and typhoid
fever Of which eight proved fatal in quick sue
cession, alarmed us all, at one time But a
change has taken place Cor the better.-due,
apparently, to the increased care and precau-
tons taken for the health Of the men, for the
weather has continued as trying as heretofore
we had snow and sharp cold weather yesterday
and last night. and have drilling rain to-day
There have been no more deaths within a week
past; the number on the sick-list has decreased
considerably, and the new cases Of fever are Of a
milder and more manageable type. The sud-
denness with which death gave the final dis
charge, in several Of the fatal cases, was start
ling. In one ease, the man was taken sick one
day, went into hospital the next, and died the
next. IN another, the poor fellow had just sent
a message to his friends saying that he was pref
ty sick, hut hoped he should get along with it,
when he fen into a dreamy wandering state,
complained Of ,he weight Of his knapsack, and
did not sec bow he could carry across the river
Suddenly hrs breath stopped the soldier vas
over the river. without his knapsaek and never
again to be troubled By its weight
There is now, ! believe. but one m4n "a mem
her Of CO r. in hospital. who IS oonsidered
dangerously IL, and week Of sunshine. such as
We m.st have soon. it would seem, will bring the
regiment hack TO its usual average Of health.
Our esteemed Colonel. as I believe wrote
you, IS -oT commanding the Brigade during the
absence Of Gen Stoushton at tho front. leaving
the regiment in the vatohful and capable care
Of Lieut. Col Farnham Col Blunt has been
making his presence felt II Fairfax Station, in
the right way. The Station, as you may know.
il the point of supply for all the troop. in this
Fairfax Court House. Fsirflx Station and Wolf
Run Shoals. The quantity Of QuarteTmaster
and Commissary's stores here. is Of course. very
larCe-and the position Is one which is ordered
10 he held at al hazards. It's now, I am hap
py to say, in q very much better condition for
defence than ever before. Within the past
week, rife pits hive been lug AMI hrcast-worbs
by the mile thrown ur, by the men Of the nth,
18th and 10th Regiments, along the high ground
surrounding the Station on every side, from
behind which they VIII be happy 20 meet any
force likely To- be sent against them very shortly.
The picket lines have also hocn closely looked AZ
Ter by Col. Blunt in pcrs,n; the various depart
mcnts Of supply. for the Brigade, have received
attention; end the Brigade and Regimental hos
pitsl- have had the benefit Of the Colonel's occa-
sional and unannounecd prCscnceandq quick eye for
defects in management and care. One learns TO
value energy and attention to his business in a
commanding officer. after seeing how the in
luencC Of such qualities is fit Throughout, down
to the last private in tho Brigade
How long the rebels will leave our infantry
regiments unmolestei, Of course I cannot sly
but the way in which our cavalry suffer of late,
is a caution TO Us all You have heard Of the
late capture Of Major Wells. captain, two leu
tenants and twenty men Of the Vermont Caval-
~, at Drainsville This was followed up night
before last, by the sobbling up Of picket re-
serve Of the Pennsylvania Cavalry. numbering
some twenty men, a short distance to the right
Of our own picket line on tho Occoquan These
surprises, must say. are getting TO be altoscth-
CT too frequent. and arc anything but creditable
to the branch Of the service. which seems TO
have tho monopoly Of them.
have, by the way, recently met one or two
Of the men who we're present at the surprise Of
our Vermont Cavalry at Aide, two or three
weeks since, aud can add some incidents, not
heretofore published The statement that no
pickets were thrown out by Capt Huntoon. is,
am assured, incorrect PicEets were sent out
about mile, on three reads. The whole party,
piokets doubtless included, were however thrown
of their guard by bo1y Of the 18th Pennsyl-
yania Cavalry which met them on its way in
from the outside, and reported no rebels any
where IN the region. The men and horses we're
most Of them hemmel in by the rebels in the
yard Of 4 mill, from which the men had cot
grain % feed their horses. which accounts for
the large number captured. The rebel force
under CAPT Mosehy numbered, according to his 1
own statement, but - men. Capt woodvard's I
horse was killed instantly. while in full sallop
evar'is the foe. by ball in the spine snd fell (
IPon Capt. Woodward pinins him to the ground. I
While lying thus, almost crushed by the weight
# the animal a rebel lufEan rode up and com
ncnced firing at the PROSTATE Captain who
you'd probably have thus been murdered in cold
lood, Ind be not had strength enough left to
raw small pistol from his breast pocket. with
lhich after oncc or twice trying he was lucky
noush to send ball through his assailsnt's
ody. One man Of his Company defended him
elf for some time from two rebels who were try
ng to seize his horse, which he held nv the bal-
n, by striking at them with the bride ard bits
iurtin or Curtin, the brave Rutland boy who
as so severely wounded, was seen to stop with
he ball- flying around him and after he had two
trough him, and deliberately load bis revolver,
Inch he had emptied, and discharge it at the
ebels, after which he put spurs to his horse and
Jade his escape. He now lies in the hospital at
airfax Court House, and am sorry TO say in a
ritical condition, s. rebel ball having passed
trough the bone of the pelvis, into the groin,
here it cannot be extracted.
Several of the men who were captured with
en-. stoughtcn and accompanied him to Rich
lond, have been parolei and have returned.
hey say that they were taken to Culpepper
lat night and next morning. and remained there
yer one day, delay which would probably
ave ensured the re-cspture Of the prisoners,
ad q sufficient cavalry force followed upon their
aeks. Gen. Stoughton was well treated at
ulPepper by Gen. Fitzhurh Lee, who was a
assmste of the Generals at West Point; but after
IS arrival in Richmond he was taken to the
libby Prison, where he now lies in company =,
18th los officers Of our army, who are all con- 5
ned In enc room. 4 lady acquaintance Of the !