Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-02-20
Our armp Correspondence
FROM THE SIXTH REGIMENT.


In CAMP, Feb. 8, 1868.
Mr. Editor During most Of the time our
regiment has been in service, but small share
of the newspapers and other printed matter
that our friends have endeavored to send us,
have reached their destination. This was the
case even when we were in winter quarters a
year ago but our mail facilities are now such
that most that is sent arrives with promptness
and regularity. Are there not some among
your readers who will wish to seize upon
such an opportunity to gladden. the hearts Of
their soldier friends daily, or at least weekly,
with the sight of a home paper? Even pa
pers apd periodicals that are not new, sent to
individuals, or to the chaplain, for distribu-
ton, would help greatly to relieve the tedi-
Gus waiting in camp. Some of the contrbu-
tions Of the good ladies Of Montpelier are
still doing good service and the song books
are not yet silent.
The following officers and soldiers Of this
regiment are going home for ten days: Col.
futile, who has never been absent before oS-
cept while sick of typhoid fever in the hos
pital at Newport News, Capt. Barker, ieut.
Bradbury, Sergeants Mcvar, John Kelley, N.
g. White, Henry Bushnell VIM. Cleveland,
G.. w. Flanders, 4. II. Nye, and privales Al
fred l.. Case and Frank Carpenter. Corporal
Dutton of Moretown who has been danger
ously sick, is discharged and so far recovered
as to start for home in care of his brother
who came out for him.
The weather just now is delightful, and the
men arc improving in health and spirits.
H. p. s.
FROM THE THIRTEENTH REGIM ENT.
CANT NEAR WoLF Run SHOALS,
I'm tho Oeccnuan Eok IQGQ
DEAR JOURNAL: As | expected, your
army correspondents grow less punctual, and
50 | think | will drop you line again from
the second brigade. You are informed be-
lieve OF the last march we made, and think
of our present location. But lest you may
not be entirely, will briefly specify.
On the morning Of the goth ult. about the
time of projected movement of the grand
army of the Potomac, slocum's corps (tbe
l2th) advanced from Fairfax Station to Dunn
fries and perhaps beyond, and our brigade adj
vanced il their rear to the ground just vaca-
ted by them.
The l4th, 5th and 9th regiments are en-
camped at Fairfax station and are very COM
fortably situated Their tents are well stock
AIDED. and their duties are light enough so
that they suffer little from the exposure in
ton is only stopping place on the railroad
consisting of one or two sheds, little tele-
graph office, and any number of tents that are
necessary for the use Of the Quartermaster
and Commissary Departments Of this brig
ade for that is our base Of supplies. Lieut..
Hooker A. A. G. to Gen. Stougbtun has
his headquarters there. And the principal
duty of the regiment, now thcie is guarding
- r,,h,. ,tols
without. The rest of the bridgade, consist
ing of the 18th and 18Th regiments and the
End Connecticut battery is stationed here,
and are constantly engaged in duty sufficient
ly hard for comfort during this season. We
have the inevitable and almost unfathomabe
mud of Virginia in the winter, and for
some days it was all the teams could possibly
do to draw us sufficient provision and forage
But with characteristic energy the men oil
these two regiments went to work, and cor
duroyed the road for the most part of the
way between the Station and here, distance
of about six miles, and now we have less diff
6culty, though orr transportation is at best
hard. We have also thrown up rife pits a
long the river in positions commanding the
ford, besides corduroying the streets of our
camp, to keep us out of the great lake o
mud Our regular detail for picket is abou
four men from each company per diem, with
/ one or two commissioned and three or fou
non-commissoned officers. They are throw
out in squads or detachments up and dow
the river to guard small fords and generall
each detachment has one or two men Of tn
2nd Michigan cavalry who are encamped
few miles to our rear, to act as orderlies, ant
communicate with the camp in case of trouble
Once in a while there will be an extra pickle
detail called for to meet some unexpecte,
emergency, or quiet some sudden fear, an,
then hurry up" sounds from the Sergean
Maj or and the several Orderly Sergeants, an
off 90 the poor fellows, without half gettiu
ready oft times, to do most watchiul duty al
night long, and to return in the mornin
sometimes as dissatisfied as Shylock, wit
"no satisfaction, no revenge" But Their
such is soldier-lie. A few nights since, Gen
Hayes pickets at Union Mills--a few mile
north from here were driven in, and onl
two or three nights ago our own exchange
shots with somebody, who was represente
by them to have fred from the opposite sid
of the river. And two days ago Capt. vii
Hams of this regiment saw some rebel hors
men across the river, who appeared to be SUI
veying our position. These, and several 9th
er signs of the times, taken in connectio
with the fact that there are strong forts an
earth works across the river which Nigh
suddenly swarm with the rebels, have set GU
commanders somewhat " on their caution.
Last night about dark, your correspondent
was suddenly ordered to take command of
small force and go and occupy the upper pal
Of Ford's Barn, which, on arriving there,
found to command very good rifle range {
, the principle ford in the river. Iu the bar
was one horse and three cows, but not stra
to make us bed. So we laid down on tn
bare floor of the scaiIold, and kept as still a
we could during the long, weary night.
allowed the men to sleep except two at
time, who kept " strict and most obseryan
watch" and tried to sleep myself, but in tina
we had poor success, for the night was cold
and the boards of the barn we're off, leavin
us exposed to the raw breeze, But havin
fallen once asleep, awoke after awhile wit
cold, and lay little while quietly listening
when / heard some one quietly moving in tn
lower part of the barn. OF course straine
my ears to utmost, and pretty soon hear
some one whisper from below. is
ssleepi" " Yes" was whispered by som
one from above, aud then stream, stream coul
| hear the milk squeezed by eager and skillfu