The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-08-21

Bat in order to tell the whole story, which
seeing have begun might as we'll continue, it
will be necessary to speak of the manner in
which the boys often procure the boards to build
and ornament their singular hlbitations. The
rapid disappearance however of barns and someti-
mes houses in the vicinity of where new camp
is being formed disclosed the secret. In our last
camp the boys had begun to render their location
quite pleasant and tasteful, supposng that the pro-
mise to stay there was made in good faith, and
were quite 10th to leave in consequence. Boards
were plenty there as the Village had been vacated
but not entirely destroyed. Every building there
of whatever description that was not occupied was
speedily sacrificed to the boys greediness tot
comfortable tents They had been polluted with
the heresy of secession, and the boys could not be
made to feel any compuncton for their downfall.
AS soon as building was struck it was doomed
The first blow became signal for general
attack, and soon all that was left would be a few
scattering timbers and fragments of boards, while
the road to camp would be lined with soldiers
sweating under their loads of plumber.
There was one old miller left in the village of
Waterloo, and believe he is the last of his race
in that spot The village was burnt last summer
or destroyed when we came, except one negro
shanty. 1t used to contain two stores, wooilen
actory besides the grst mill and blacksmith shop.
Waterloo is en- the Hedgeman river or Rappahs-
,vb, ie tha horn
dry of Fauquer County of which Warrenton is the
capitol. 1t is about sixty miles from Washington
in direction little south Of west. 1t is repre-
sented as having been very thrifty place but like
many OF her sister towns it has become totally
crushed out BY this desoating war.
The camp OF the 2nd regiment since moving
from Waterloo is on a small ridge crowned with
grove of bushes which unfortunately was not so
extensive but that both ends Of the regiment ex-
tended out into open sunlight. The 3rd, 4th and
9th are lcamped near by the 9th are guarding
Thompson's Ford. We have found lumber much
more difficult to obtain here than at Waterloo.
"But where there is will there is a way" and
where there is plenty of boards only two miles
distant, who would be willing tolie in the dirt and
60 without them? Certainly not Vermonters,
if we may Judge from the throng that have contin.
ually streaming back to that place over the hills
and brooks and coming again with load such as
no lazy man would ever put on his shoulders. The
officers bad teams to bring their boards, but the
men being more independent brought theirs
OH their backs. BY dint of much perseverance
and industry we have sgain established ourselves
in camp pretty much to our satisfaction. Next
week may be able to chronicle another move.
Perhaps some one will question the constitu-
tionalty Of our confscatng secesh boards and
buildings in the manner have described. | can
only say it is way we have of managing affairs
here, and our officers had much rather help than
hinder US. This morbid tenderness towards
secesh property has been stifed by the rebels
themselves, in their uncivized conduct toward
Union people when the power has been with them.
Still must confess it looks little barbarous to
go into mans door yard, almost, as we did the
miller's at Waterloo and tear down his barn and
shed under his very eyes. This " erring brother
could only look demurely on and witness the pro-
gress of the destruction he was poweress to pre-
vent it. But they not only tore down his buildings
they carried away his garden fence and ransacked
and spoiled his garden. Excuse me reader, but
too went into that garden to help harve't the
immature crop, and should have carried out my
intentions, perhaps, but when l saw the woman
and one of her children looking in sorrowful sub