Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-11-06
Orr armp Correspondence


an account Of my experience ~ '''N i
am able. do not pretend 70 possess the
capacity. knowledge or experience OF Other
correspondents Of your paper, but hope that
a Main statement Of the facts which under.
stand will not prove uninteresting.
On the Sd Of August was drafted into
the service, was duly notified, and went to
Woodstock, where passed medical examina-
ton. was mustered into the service on the
9Th of September, and left for Brattleboro.
with other conscripts and substitutes, on the
9Th There we were confined under a close
guard in prison-like building, less comfort
able than good Vermont barn, for two days
and three nights. On the morning of the
18th, with that Feeling of satisfaction which
attends the removal from place TO which no
sunny memories" are attached, we left for
our place of rendezvous on Long Island,
Boston Harbor, where we remained nearly
three weeks. Here the invigorating sea
breezes, and the novelties Of camp life, into
which we we're Just being initiated, enabled
us to pass our time pleasantly rather than
otherwise. The number Of soldiers on the
island, including guards and oonscripts, va
ried, as they came and went, from one thous-
and to two thousand. All classes of men
were there c,ngregated together, and almost
every shade of character exhibited. Our
time was occupied in drill, guard duty, going
about the different camps, listening to stories
around the camp fire,--otten from men who,
from cultivated minds, or extensive expert
ence in life, could draw forth treasures Of in.
formation. or make such displays Of mother
wit as it is seldom our lot to hear at home
eating, aleeping, and all that goes to make
up a soldiers life in camp.
Teavinu tho Island IN tho nvpnipu of Oct
LIST, about one thousand Of us embarked on
board the steamer Forest City, and after a
rather rough passage, which occasioned much
seasickness, we came in sight of Fortress
Monroe on the morning Of the 5th, passed
on to Portsmouth, beautiful city, contain
ing many fine residences, surrounded with an
abundance of shade trees clothed in the rich
green Of the sunny South, where we landed
the New Hampshire detachment. Then re-
turning towards Fortress Monroe, we steam
ed up the Potomac, and arrived at Alexan-
dria in the afternoon. Here, for the first
time, many of us saw the white dome of the
Capitol in Washington. We were landed at
Alexandria just before dark, furnished with
guns and shelter tents, and then marched
through the streets to one of the soldiers re-
treats, where we passed the night. We left
on the cass the next morning for Culpepper,
from which place we marched distance of
ten miles to the encampment of the Second
Regiment Of the Vermont Brigade, on Cedar
Mountain arrived there at o'clock p. NJ,
attended roll-call, and were assigned to the
different companies. My lot fell to company
F, where l was so fortunate as TO find an old
townsmen, Sergt. Thos. McClury, who was
so kind as to prepare a cup Of coffee for me,
and render me such assistance in pitching my
tent, and in making preparations for the
nights rest, as was particularly acceptable to
one so tired and inexperienced in soldiers
life as !. For these, and subsequent atten-
tions, feel myself under great obligations,
and give this testimony as a tribute of regard
to his kindness, TO say nothing Of his abili-
ties as an officer, which position he fills with
honor. We remained at Cedar Mountain
four days.
On Saturday morning, the 10th, we receiv-
ed orders TO strike our tents and be ready to
march at a moments notice-with that plea
sure which soldier always feels when any
thing occurs to relieve the restlessn IS which
the monotony of camp-life always, sooner or
later occasions The order to fill in and
march did not come till O'Clock p. NJ. We
then pushed on through woods and fields,
across bitches aud small streams, at times
losing our ooting aud houndering under the
weight Of our equipments. until we again OBJ
tanned our equihbrium-untll we reach Gull
pepper, beyond which place we we're marched
a few mules To a hill side, here we spread
our blankets in the open air, at | o'clock A.
M, and slept soundly until clock A. NJ,
when the order came to fall in and advance.
Soon after day light, we we're halted TO cook
our meat and coffee, and then pushed on,
crossed the Rappahannock, and encamped in
the wood, at the Station, Mt 2 o'clock p. M.
Before light, on the morning of the 18th, we
recrossed the Rappahanncck, marched few
miles in the direction of Culpepper, then
were ordered into the woods where we loaded /
our pieces, and were marched out and formed .
in line of battle in the rear OF breastwork. /
Soon we were ordered to change our position /
and formed again back OF another trench and /
breast work, where we remained till after |
noon. The road 20 Culpepper in the mean
time was filed with troops, artillery, supply |
trains, ambulances, &c; cannonading in the
front, where the enemy were eng ged with
the cavalry, who covered our retreat. was
heard from time to time A little after noon
we we're moved forward again, formed in line
Of battle and then marched towards the front.
The cannonading grew more distinct and in-
cessant. AZ times we saw ambulances rs-
turning with the wounded, and passed dead
or disabled horses. At Brandy Station we
were nearest the enemy's lines, and could see
clouds of dust raised by the explosion of their
shells. Our officers wished them to give ur
battle there, but they declined, and at darks
we received orders to build small fires and
encsmp for the night. At 10 o'clock Nj, we
received orders to move again, retrsced our
steps, crossed the Rappahannock on the rail-
road bridge, which was blown up by our rear
at o'clock A. M.-encamped in the woods
at the Station, kindled fires and slept until
nearly daylight, when the order to fall in
came again, and we pushed on, the most of
us tired and hungry, having neglected to cook
our meat and coffee, under the supposition
that we were to remain in our encampment
through the day; marched few miles, halt
ed for breakfast, and drew rations Of sugar,
and t en- advanced until p o'clock M, when
we halted, two hours, perhaps, for dinner
and rest, aud drew rations of coffee, pork and
hard tack. Resuming our march, we went on
until sometime after dark, and encamped near
Bristow's Station, having made about twenty
five miles a hard march for us conscripts-