Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-02-27
From the Eleventh Regiment.
WASHINGTON, FEBRUARY, 1868.

Dear Old BosS,-That the Vermont
18th regiment is changed to heavy artil-
lery is now considered q stubborn fact.
Col. Gibson of the 18TH Pennsylvania,
acting brigadier, and feeling more so,
done all in his power to shove US "Yan-
KEGS" 'tother side the river, and get in
our stead a regiment from his own state.
But twas "no 60" at all. The venerable
old Gibson has been in battle of some
kind. Whether it was a Irregular sham
fight" or an old fashioned Irish knock
down, is more than / can just now say.
But in the scrape he lost his heel and
now has a cork one. He will have to 60
on to the battle field once more and get
a cork head before he can come any Of
his gymnastics over Col. J. M. Warner
of the Vermont 11th.
When / last wrote you we were most
ready to move into our new barracks
We moved in Immediately after we got
ready, which was the 9th day of Deem
Der. They are 60 feet long and 20 wide !;
have four windows on each side; two
large box stoves, and hunks 6 IL feet
long and 1-2 wide; room enough for
two. IF one wants to turn over in the
middle of the night, there is room for
him to do so without unslumbering his
fellow soger.
We went to shoveling in the fort soon
after arriving at our new lodging place.
A sad accident happened at the guard
house upon the 9th of Dec. Corporal
Lyman Hunt, company H, was acciden-
tally shot dead by corporal Daniels of
company G.. Daniels had the gun, cock
ed, and held it at ready" Hunt had
the bayonet, knocking the gun one side,
when in some manner the hammer came
down upon the tube which was uncapped,
and the gun went off, the ball entering
his neck, coming out under bis right
shoulder blade. Another accident hap
pened on the I'd day Of this month
Thomas Caplcs of Irasburgh while going
up a slippery Hill, stubbed his toe and
fell, at the same time throwing out his
arms to save his broad-side from giving
the ground too hard stroke. In this
movement he put his left arm in front Of
the muzze, with bis right brought the
lock in contact with the slippery ground,
when bullet wendell its way through
the middle of his arm-about half way
between wrist and elbow--smashing sew
era bones, and went whistling over the
hills 10 the nearest tavern.
December 10Th we got our new pants.
In the evening had smashing dance
We could dance the Devils Dream"
very well, but when we came to Twin
Sisters" 0 achere were the SISTERS ?"
If it will not be too late l will tell you
how we didn't have to 90 on fatigue
Merry Christmas" day. Christmas,
here in Old Columbia, is a mighty day /; !
bigger n all 18th of July in Vermont
one grand holiday. which is participated
in by one and all, big and small, rich and
poor, black and white; from the educa-
ted dandy, up along to the celebrated,
contrabaEd Pompey. Heavy guns in all
directions were heard at all hours Of the
night. At the farm houses a continual
cracking Of small arms was kept up,
sounding like fire burning hemlock
browse. The darkey8 sang "Susannah, "
yah yah'd and danced the jig. But l
was going to tell you what we blue breech-
es from the Green Mountains DONE
Well, we didn't do much of Importance.
However, in the afternoon the four com
panies at Slocum consolidated on the
parade ground and made few motions
according to holiday tactics. AS l was
little out of sorts and did not feel very
ferocious, remained neutral and did not
participate in any transaction whatever.
But was there and saw the elephant
The first operation was to bindfold sew
eral of the most adventurous they were
then to whirl round three times and 90
straight to large oak tree standing at
the foot of the parade ground, some 20
rods toward the sunrise. Some went d.
rectly up to the tree, while others OBJ
liqueG to the right or to the left. l no
ticed one cold fellow" a regular 80 bus
de bluader bus" some Is rods below the
tree still straddling on at an undated