The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-01-30
From the Messenger.
From the 18th Vermont Regiment.

FAIRFAX STATION, Va, jan, 22d, 1868.
DEAR MEssENGER Since our last wri-
ting, we have changed our place of encamp-
ment. Instead of being near Fairfax Court
House, we are now at Fairfax Station, which
is upon the line of the Alexandra Railroad.
Our whole brigade has been obliged to move.
This regiment, and that of the 14th, and 18th
are near the station, while that Of The 18th,
and 18th, have passed ON some six miles fur
ther So1th, and are encamped at VOLTS Run
Shoals The division Of General Slocum, re-
Gently occupied this ground but they have
been ordered on further in front, leaving us
for the present to guard this station. We
learn that the whole Army Of the Potomac is
again in motion, that Burnside is passing the
RAppahanuock in different places, and that
vigorous operations against the foe, are to be
the order Of the day. We are sure that our
troops will not obs to this, although it may
stir them UP, SO as to give them no quiet, in
winter quarters, II the weather is favorable,
We do not see why something efficient may
not be done to subdne the rebellion, before tic
Spring opens. Prom appearances since we
came to this place, we should judge that the
rainy season had already commenced, as it
has rained here now more or less for 48 hours
past, and the mud is obtaining depth, for
which this " sacred soil has already become
famous. Judging trom appearances, if this
weather continues only few days it will be
with great difficulty, that an army can move
in this portion OF Virginia. We infer that an
onward movement, at this time, will take the
rebels by surprise, but their facilities Tor
transportation, while they have railroads in
working order, at their command, must be
greatly superior to ours.
Ihe@e encampments we are making in Viz
glnia, leave marks behind Them hat viii not
soon be elaborated. Oar former location was
IN beautiful growth OF young pines. The
trees were growing with great thrift, and the
scarcity of lumber here, would Indicate thai
no small value would be attached to them, at
sufficient maturity TO be worked toto lumber
But Soldiers take them at their present value
without any apparent conjunction, for the
ruin that is effected. With the Soldier,
timber is Of ne account, only as he may wish
to use it, to bsild bis barracks, or TO sustain
his fire. Any Ole who has not observed the
results, cannot adequately calculate the de-
struction which a thousand men will soon make
in body Of growing timber. We are now
at work 10 another pine grove, and slight
observation here would convince any one that
Vcrmonters know how to handle an ak. If
tit Tor nothing else, we must soon be experts
at doing fatigue duty. AS we have already
twice prepared winter quarters, we must soon
know how 10 do this much better than raw
hands. Ii all OF this drilling is neediul to
fit men for active service, ii this war continues
it must be great misfortune to have these
nine months men. 60 home when their time is
out.
There appears in the workings of our mill
tary system to be a screw loose somewhere
in returning men to active service who have
been left behind at our hospitals. They
evidently do not regularly return to service,
with the return of health ! When we were
at camp Vermont, We were near the coDval.