Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-02-13
FROM THE NINTH REGIMENT.
CAMP DOUGLAS, CHICAGO. LII, !
!. 2
Feb. 9th. 1863.

Feb. 9Th, 1868.
Dear Journal Since writing my last quite
a revolution has been going on in our hither-
to quiet camp. With the reception of the
news of our exchange came orders to prepare
for the field, and the excitement produced by
receiving and distributing arms and equip
meuts soon dispeled the feeling Of sloth and
ennui which had so long enveloped us. Then
came the news Of the surrender Of Arkansas
Post, and soon after the arrival of the Con-
federate prisoners So we have enough TO do
now. We have 1900 who were taken at
Murrees boro, and $500 taken at Arkansas
Post; 1900 more are expected this week.
So you can easily judge what we are doing
and what we shall do for time, for | sup
pose that paroling and exchanging prisoners
is done away with until jeff Davis order
in regard to Federal officers is revoked The
9th Vermont, Goth and part of the 10Th
illinois, are doing guard duty, furnishing two
hundred men, fifty non commissioned and ten
commissioned officers per day. Visitors on
the outside stay out, and soldiers on the in
side stay in. Shoulder-straps do not serve
as pass now, "much to the discontinue oil
the wearers too" | notice.
think it would not be loss Of time, Mr..
at our butternut friends. Every State in the
Southern Confederacy is represented and
with them are Indians, Negroes, Mexicans,
Hali-Breeds, Octoroons, and potroons not a
few,-a molly group, ragged, dirty, hungry
and covered with vermin. Their clothes, or
"what there is left of them," are the same as
worn by all the Southern chivalry,-a mixture
of cotton and wool dyed in oak bark. Some
are minus hats, some shoes, some coats, while
Others have not an apology for either Their
blankets, too. present quite variety.
red, black, brown, bed-quilts of as many col
ors as Joseph's coat, and horse blankets, the
most noticeable iesenre in each being that
they are of the required length and breadth,
with the least possible thickness, and contain
ing the greatest possible amount OF filth.
One Of their surgeons told me to-day that he
did not believe they had washed their faces
and hands since they entered the service.
They look as though they were clothed in
sackcloth and ashes. doing penance for
their sins. Their bill of mortality averages
about fifteen per day. One thousand are re-
ceiying medical treatment. Among them
found an old scho olmate from Danville, by
the name of Smith. and two from Newark.
They had emigrated to Texas, and were con-
seripied last summer. A great many who
were formerly from the North have applied
and wish to take the oath of allegiance and
return home. Some OF them are rabid, how
ever, and still assert that the South are the
rightful masters Of the North. III should
hate to have my Imagination stretched suf-
ficienlly to consider them so. from personal
appearance ] see, though. that when the
chivalry are told to subside, or they will have
bunch Of Vermont bones 10 their mouth,
they gradually reduce.
The weather is extremely cold here, the
thermometer ranging from zero to twenty be-
low, with high winds. The sand and dirt
flies about beautifully, and will fill ones
eyes, ears and mouth full. in five minutes, of
matter not altogether agreeable. Do you
luxuriate in two or three feet Of snow in
Vermont yet!
Much dissatisfaction has arisen here with
the operation of General Orders ] 81 and l62
OF the War Department, by which men, who
are too lazy to work, too cowardly to fight,
but not to honest to steal by msrepresen-
tation and outright lying are enlisting men