Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-11-24

than thls soldier could master, ana the eoDse'
quence was that be invoked terrible imprecations
Of wrath upon the beads of all officers in gener-
al and this one in particular. If the supreme
control Of events had been left to bis discretion,
we should have trembed for the fate Of that Off.
csr engaged as he was, 10 the innocent discharge
Of bis duties. We do not wish to be msunder-
stood as trying to speak lightly Of these military
transactions, for as q means Of discipline, no doubt
they are very useful, but a common soldier is opt
to overlook that point and consider only what i'm
portant bearing they can have in putting down
rebellion.
Night came, and we built US great rousing fires
Of rails, that we appropriated from a fence close
up 10 this citizens house. In Vermont we should
have thought such sacrilege objectionable, but
here it was a very comfortable nececessty. The
next morning, when we went to buy csnteen Of
milk Of the lady there, We could not help motto
ing the wearing effect that daily contemplation
OF the dissertations going on here was having up
on her health and spirits. She was worrying her.
self to death. The provost guard, who had been
stationed there to protect her and her property,
and who probably was allowed liberties that
stranger might not assume, advised her in our
hearing not to " care" SO much. He warned her
that she was killing herself, and she did not at
tempt to deny the truth Of what he said. never
saw more complete specimen Of a broken heart
ed woman 10 my life. Nothing but the presump.
ton that she might be notoriously rebel in her in
clinatons could have prevented me from giving
her my fullest sympathss. As it was had no
heart to burn any more Of her rails or commit
any other depredatons whereby she might be
the sufferer. | know nothing Of her history or
her circumstances, | only Judge from what saP.
The next day We went out on to the line. We
were strung along in small supports of about six
men and one officer, commissioned or non-com-
missioned at each. The line itself was little
further out, and each support kept two men out
on the line all the time relieving one another at
regular hours ln this way the day passed off and
night too, and morning came when we were to
be relieved The relief did not come however at
the appointed time they were to stay and attend
the review before relieving US. 1t was now a
question Of pretty serious importance what we
should do for ratons. Every one Of US vas out,
and some had tasted since the noon before. Our
distress was only aggravated by the cooks COM
ing out with barely hard tack enough for dinner,
but with cone to atone for the last supper and
breakfast. Matters began to look quite serious.
What was to be done? One fellow proposed on
his own responsibility to 60 into camp and see
what he could gel. Rations had been drawn the
night before, and We must have them. The cor
poral, who deserves high promotion for his faith
ful performance OF duty under all circumstances
dare not allow one to go to camp without the cap
tan's consent. Possibly that consent could BE-
obtained. There was no harm in asking him
Back We went to the last reserve and stated oul
case to Captain Wales We had the captains
sympathy, but he candidly told US that be had nc
authority to let Us 60 IN from picket. We wert
to be released he said at four O'Clock. The cap
tain knew as well as we did that the relief woulC
not get TO US till after dark, il it did then. Hi
thought We could stand it till four o'clock, and SC
, we could without anything but we felt that III,
North, with all her immense resources, ought t
furnish us with a. few more hard tack. We tol(
the boys the result Of our mission TO the captain
and they began 10 think the case was hopeless
But We could not give it up. We looked at ou
I hayersack, it was entirely empty, and our stomach
D felt equally void. We thought Of our scant
' breakfast, and the thought made US hungry an,
/ indignant We thought of cur supper the nigh
/ before, and the thought made us SO hungry tha
0 We couldn't stand it any longer, aud SO indignan
that We wouldn't. We determined at once TO g
into camp and risk the consequences. The col
poral was asleep anu the captain was out OF sigh
4 SO shouldering haversacki,n utter defiance OF a
: reprimands, guard houses or court martials, v
posted into camp and returned with il full OF har
O tack. We could feast now TO our hearts conten
and 10 our condition it was hardly necessary to is
9 more the fact that they we're wormy and full
Y bugs. But TO make short tedious story, we wi
= simply say that We were duly relieved at nit
,s O'Clock that nigh, and allowed to come back
II camp.
d We LEANED on reaching camp that sad acc
r dent bad occurred to one Goode Of Co. L.
n fellow 10 Co. X discharged his musket, and II
'. ball, after destroying one of his own toes, lodge
ia in the leg Of this man, and inflicted so serious
ge wound as to render amputation necessary
"A ANTl-REBEL,