The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-05-14

pits and occupied it themselves. They had a
short, spirited skirmisb, and gained an important
position byis. 5 = : - - q -
fn'the morning We moved down nearer the
rivsr and remained during the day. At night
we spread down our blankets in the mud, and laid
ourselves Down to dream Of parlors. and feather
beds. Some put up their tents and some did Mt,
for every moment We expected to be called upon
to move--perhaps dozen miles or perhaps as
many feet. AT midnight it commenced raining,
and, as 4 had preferred sleeping in the open air,
had the full bensf. of it. The soft clayey
ground I'll around me was fast converted into
mud. and everytims one went by my bed as they
often did, making gulchy noise like driving
yoke of cattle through barnyard where the
muck is belly deep. and scattering the mud into
my face, felt that there was more than, one way
for man to suffer for his country, and that this
must be one of them. If this twas MT the
dam--pest kind Of sleep ever tried to enjoy,
would MT say anything about it. 1t kept drz.
cling nearly all OF Thursday forenoon, but ia the
afternoon it cleared away, and bid fair for good
weather during the impending struggle. All day
firing was heard upon our right, and we very nat
urally felt the keenest interest to know what was
going on. An order was read to us from Gen.
Hooker to the effect that he had pushed their left
flank, and had now got the enemy just where he
wanted him--where they must either come out
and fight in open field or surrender. saw a
correspondent of the New York Tribune, who
had just come from the right, and he spoke of
the prospect as very encouraging. He said that
Gen. Hooker's plan, so far, had been carried out
with complete success. This intelligence enkin.
died our hopes amazingly. We began to think
that, after all, here was some prospect of seeing
Richmond and giving three cheers in the capital
of Secessia. s.#.
Yesterday we had q t rauch to do only to fall
into line occasionally, and then fall out again. We
moved out of the mud up the bank that encoses
the wide beautiful intervals that border the river,
and here we had good chance to watch the
rebels and our men on the fat over the river
The fertile valley of this river from Fredericks-
burg away down almost as far as one can see.
comprizes some land as handsome as ever pleased
the eye OF farmer. The fat on both sides of
the river should think, was nearly two miles
wide perhaps it would average more. In Yer.
mont it would bs worth from 500 to $3.50 an
acre. l have been told it was valued at that here.
1t is encircled all around with hills and bluffs, thus
forming kind Of basin that Nature evidently
intended should be highly appreciated, and would
have been if she had peopled it with Yank ees.
The hills are the strength of the rebels position
here. They are mostly hidden by woods, but
enough of them can be seen to show that they
are sufficiently formidable to try the pluck of even
Vermonters. Their skirmishers and ours are so
near together over there, that from here il looks
as if they could commence hostiiities without
their rifes.-that they could throw brickbats at
each other. Till to-day both parties had remained
perfectly quiet, but to-day the rebels have been
annoying our skirmishers considerably, they being
protected by high bank along the road.
could mt see as our pickets replied. Our old
Brig Gen. commands over there. Gen. Howe.
our Division General, asked him if he did Mt
want his men relieved. "No, Cd d-n it.,
(the Gen. always swears)" if you want position
fight and get one."
faw some boys few minutes ago belonging
to nine months Rhode Island battery Their
term of service is about to expire, but they have
unanimously voted to stay and see the termination
of this movement. They are brave and patriotic
fellows, and will probably do good service some
where in the coming contest.