Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-09-22

drill in the forenoon and battalion drill in the af
ternoon. The order specifying the hour for these
drills and the hour for dress parade is published
every day 10 the daily papers, and large numbers
Of the citizens are always present to see US per
form our military man@uvers. Every afternoon
as the hour for drilling arrives, a stream Of car
riages Of all descriptions begin to pour in unit
a. four o'clock there is quite concourse Of peo'
pie collected in camp and on the hillside that
oyerlooks the parade ground below. The boys
take pride in drilling before so respectable an au-
dience Of spectators, and know Col. Walbrdge
was not dissatisfied with our drilling on the last
occasion; bis smiles Of approval told US plainly
that be was not. 1t has been some time since
we have drilled any before, but we believe we
have not quite forgotten how. We gave our
audience some practical illustrations Of a few Of
the man@uyers,on battlefield. The Colonel de-
ployed one Company as skirmishsrs in front Of
the regiment and ordered them to lie down and
load and FIRE. They went through with all the
motions as We have been instructed in such things
except actually fring--loading on their backs,
then turning on their face, FIRE, and Immediately
reload. The skirmishers being sorely pressed, he
ordered them to fire in retreat, while the regi.
mcnt behind.supporting them pitched in a few vol
leys and then charged. With shout, not quite
SO full Of energy perhsp as one we gave on a
certain occasion near the city Of fredericksburg
but something like it, we rushed forward double
quick, when at the command "down," we were
PROSTATE in on instant. As soon as the enemy vol
ley Of shot and shell sent to annihilate our charge
was supposed to be fairly over, We got up and re-
sumed operations once more. The ladie, laughed
and the children shouted with delight. 1t was
fun for them, and for US too on this OCCASION but
we have seen these same manquyers performed
when the attending circumstances made the oper-
alton little less pea' &. Were it not for that
part We take it our drafted men would more ao-
quiescent.
The draft here nov ia the all prevailing topic.
But little seems to be said or thought Of any Thing
else. 1t is now just completed. The city draft
was made last Monday. The conscripts here sub
mitted to their fate with philosophical cooness.
They had grand evening parade that night and
seemed to feel highly elated at the dsling .ished
honor Uncle Sam had conferred upon them by
taking them into his protection or sending them
TO protect him. The draft here as everywhere falls
very hard on sone. One young man with wife
and three little children who hsd Just built him a
new house and was commencing a prosperous
business was elected 10 go. Itseemed worse than
death to him to be torn from bis interesting fami-
ly and have his business prospects ruined. He
was too much in deb. 70 pay $500, and if he went
70 war there was no chance for him to pay for bis
house. Surely this is a" cruel war;" | saw women
returning from the Provost Marshal. office, when
the names for the city Of Hudson were drawn,
their eyes red with weeping, having suppose
heard the name Of some Of their dearest kin an
noanced at the fatal wheel. saw other young
men who said their names we're dra.n, and felt
hearty glad Of it, They could 90 to war as well
as not But these were the very ones that were
going to make the disturbance Three young fe
lows whose names we're drawn told me 10 conyer.
sation Of their plans for escape One bad lost hi.
front teeth and be expected TO be exempt becaus.
he could not bite off cartridge; another had had
a very l'me hip years, before and since the drsh
it wa, worse than ever, he expected 10 be exempt
on that the third had rich fiher-in-law that be
expected would pay his $500. |, is needless to
say that every one Of these fellows If they we're
now in the service would have to stay there.
Some declare that old Abe shall never get Uncle
Sam, clothing on them at any hazard. They
calculate probably to fight the law or flee from It's
enforcement, but they are making a very sorry
calculation. Theyare fighting against their coun-
Try and against their God--fgh,ing 10 the service
Of Satan and jeff Davis and they are fools IT, they
think they shall win in the end. Occasionally
man OF principle .eyinces determination 10 20 and
do his duty the best be can. God bles,such men.
Unless man has patriotism OF the most exat-
ed kind, high sense OF duty and an undoubting
faith in the righteousness OF our cause to lean
back upon n his hour Of trial. he has poor sup
port. Ii is only the man that atuuly loves his coun-
try, aud believes that We are fighting for God and
humanity, that can cheerfuy submit to his fate
when drafted. 1t is utterly impossible for any
others to do SO. Standing target for the rebel
minnies, is one of the most uncomfortable. positions
a man was ever placed in, as can tell you from
experience, and we do not wonder that some men
pray to be excused when the country calls for such
work. But the man who has resolulely made up
his mind to do his duty like worthy American
citizen, who scorns to pay hi, $500 or plead disa-
bili,y, all honor to him. Weask your hand With
you we will willingly, gladly fight side by side and
when this dark cloud of war has passed away and
the clear sunlight Of peace shines out once more
to gladden. our beloved country, we will walk this
blessed land OF freedom with prouder step and
a nobler heart, from the consciousness that cur own
efforts contributed 10 rescue the country from
ruin and disgrace when traitors 10 arms plotted
against it. But the poor copperhead, whose soul
is in his pocket we need no, wonder that he resiss
when called upon to risk his precious life for the
nations welfare |. .is the most natural thing in
the world that he should do so, and we will have
all charity possible for him.
ANTI REBEL.