Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-02-03
Correspondence.
From the 18Th Vermont Regiment,
CAMP NEAR VOLTS Run FORD, Va, !
January Is, 1868. {

FRIEND FREEMAN:-You will find the Green
Mountain Boys" again ia their stockaded 'ents
this being the third time they have been ordered
to 60 into winter quarters; but red tape, and the
usual teehnicaties of war, have always counter,
manded those orders. However, we are once
more resting our oyertaxed minds and bodies for
further orders, We have brigade and battalion
drills once or twice a week, and are getting quite
up to the fighting point-or as near th't as pork
and hard tack eau Lring US. Much of our
superfuous flesh has gone, and men Of corpu en-
cy when they e home some three months since,
have dwindled down TO bone and muscle,-all
competent TO do or die in he hour of peed. We
have quite a band organized for the brigade, and
on special days each regiment is entertained by
the music it dscourses. Our Colonel is anxious
to perfect US in the bayonet exercise, and for the
last week we have been drilling and learning ao
cordIngly. We have had some cold weather, but
very little snow--n fact, Virginia snow seldom
falls to the depth of more than two inches. Rain
and mud at present prevail, and Virginia soil ad.
heres in large quantities to boots and clothes-n
hc,, it is friend that sticketh closer than
brother.
The woods in our vicinity are disappearing
rapidly, for you must understand that il uses up
considerable wood to keep a regiment in fuel,
each tent having an arch or a sh-et iron stove
to make it com 'ortable for the occupants and
some $50 tents to a egiment. In fact, axes and
men are continually engaged in telling timber for
the above purpose. II we remain here for two
months, there will be quite a space Of land cleared
up, but for whose benefit the powers that be mny
inform you, cannot.
MAJOR Clark has been sick, but We expect he
will soon be able to GIL his post with his usual ca.
pacity. Lieut.. Martin, Co. f. is quite sick with
fever Woodruff, drummer, Co. q, is dead In
Go. II, Bailey, Corporal White, - Moore
Cannon, Slsyton, and Corner are su the sick list
Captain Peck has resigned from Co. H. and will
soon be on his way home. Lieut.. Bancroft has
also resigned. We have lost by fever Captain
Yale of Co. X, who died in the hospital at Fair
fax Court House. One by one the brave and
worthy soldiers are dropping away from the et
fects Of exposure and fatigue incident to camp
life. How true it is tina, disease destroys more
valuable lives than the enemy's bullets. 1t would
pain you sprely to see the poor sufferers from the
various Affections which befa them in this eli.
mate. All is done by the Surgeon that can be
do with their limited facilities, and il is mira.
Gle how so many recover as do.
We have been favored of late with visit from
Bliss n. Davis of Vermont renowr, and he seemed
to enjoy the novelties Of Virginia considerably.
You will learn by thi, that we are in a new
camping-ground, but nothing to boast Of We
left Faifa< on Wednesday last, aud marched to
this place, some ten miles, and are at present do.
ing picket duty, and building roads to enable us
to receive our supply Of hard tack and pork. >
The wet weather has made travelling rather at a
discount. The 12lhIue near by, enclmped in
huts which they found already prepared for them.
The 18th also are in newly made barracks, but
some three miles from here in the direction Of
Fairfax Station. We are in the advance.
The boys are wondering why the Psymaster
ioes not arrive, and various rumors are extant.
.itf fHi