Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1863-11-11
FROM THE 11TH REGIMENT.
Fort STEVENS, D. G.. !
Nov. I'd, 1863. I


FoRT STEVENS, D. G..
Nov. I'd, 1853.
Mr.. EDITOR We are still enjoying
the luxiries end pleasures which the Dis
tsict of Columbia affords. Like dutiful
soldiers we are obeying the will of our
superiors and still remain here garrison
ing the I'efences Of our National Capital.
1t may seem strange to some, that the
high officials in authority, should allow
troops to remain so long in garrison /;
that they do not send us Immediately to
the front. l don't know of any one that
would complain were such the order
but it is not to be supposed that either
the Regiment, the State, or the service is
injured by our remaining here. We have
done much labor since We have been here,
besides we have become well drilled and
think would be able to do some execu-
tion with the armament of the forts,
should the "Rebs" show themselves in
our front, Chose in our rear we let the
the good people at home take care off,
One year ago there we're no riAc-pits or
batteries within the limits of this Brig
ade. Now the defences are strong. Now
masked batteries covered-ways and rife
pits, line the whole chain of Notifications
and "our boys" have done most of the
work Should General Lee undertake to
drive his chariot Of Southern "chivalry"
iutQ the city of Washington, quite likely
he would find something of an impedi-
ment. before his wheels, by the time he
got here. We are now prcparin; our
winter quarters. They will be comforts
bic and commodious.
The negro population is not as extensive
in these parts as it was. The call for
colorel troops has taken away great
many of them, but there enough left yet.
The people Of the District seem to be
heartily glad that Congress. emancipated
their slaves. They say when we have
had as much to do with them as they
have, we will be as glad to get rid OF
them as they did. The negro has been
an injury to this people. They have de-
pended upon them to do their labor.
Nice farms that might have been product
i've and fertile, and shown the effects of
industry and economy, have grown to
weeds and briars, and look as though they
had been deserted. But the scene has
changed. A few years it was thonght
disgraceful for whiteman to be seen labor
ing upon his farm. now the farmertlrves
his own market wagon into town. takes
his boys with him out into the field to
work, his wife and daughters prepare his
meals, land like Vermont women) mend
his clothes, knits his stockings. &c. And
the good results of this change are percep-
tible.
Industry and activity have become
something besides fairy tale" to them.
They now begin to sec that their own eyes
eau discover the route, and their own hand
clear the way to that prosperity to which
they aspire.
The negro is no longer Of any use to
them,and the fact that the association Of
the black with the white race, has per-
nitious effect, is no longer the fictitious
dogma Of some polititian, but matter Of
concern.
But am wandering. The Regiment is
fast filing up to its full number. We
have about eleven hundred and fifty men.
Two new full batteries have recently join
ed u.s. Flies and drums have been dis
peused with. We have now corps Of
buglers for playing calls, and we have an
excellent Brass band TO furnish us music
The sanitary condition Of the Regi-