The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-08-04
A Soldiers Letter No. 33.
CAMP lEAR WARRENToN, Va, I
July %, 1868. {

Since Saturday night we have rested here il
camp on a conspicuous elevation in the vicinity o
Warrenton Our brigade is in splendid place
for camp, affording most extensive and beauti
full view of large portion of Virginia. Away
to the east far the eye REACH hill succeed.
hill, until the view is lost where sky and earth
meet in the dim distance. On the west the Jag
ged and imposing range of mountains composing
the Blue Ridge, are seen in all their grandeur
and sublime beauty, their Hottest peaks piercing
the clouds, and their green Sides so smooth and
unbroken as they lcoE in the distance, seem to
speak a nober purpose in their creation than that
they should be mere barrier between two hos
tile enemies. 1t is just such place here as ma
lures lover would wish to occupy that he might
see and ad mire the vast panorama she has spread
out before him. 1t is a cool and airy location,
too, where we have plenty of the pursst water
and where we are free from the pestilence-breed-
ing filth of low and unhealthy camps. l should
have no objection to serving out the remainder of
my term IN camp here but it is not our habit
to stay long in so nice place, and now we are
almost momentarity expecting to receive the or
der to pack up and march at double quick pace,
and must crave your indulgence accordingly.
We have been on the move every day for the
past week, except one. We have marched in all
directions, north, east, south and west, with how
much result may never be accurately estimated.
we have seen no enemy, fought no battle, but
we have accomplished toll enough to win dozen
victories, and it ought to have some saving effect
on the Union. Often we have been on the march
from four o'clock in the morning til ten at night
then, after brief rest, start on again at daylight:
Last Tuesday we remained in camp near Philo-
monte, little village about twenty miles from
where we crossed the Potomac. Here the bows
mad an opportunity to wash and mend their
clothes, clean their guns, pick berries, write let
tiers, and steal chickens. 1t was busy day with
the most of US, if the army was STILL and one day
was all too short for the many things we needed
TO do tor ourselves. 1t was not till In tho .f.-
noon of Wednesday that we resumed our march,
and as time fingered and we delayed moving we
began to think another day was to be given US to
rest. Some of the boys ventured to put clothes
IN the wash, some went berrying. | even went
so far as to pull out my portfolio to write you {
another letter, but long before had completed
1t, the order was given to march. | had to lay
aside pen and ink and shoulder my musket and
knapsack and trudge on again, leaving my ideas
to get scattered beyond the hope of recovery. !
had long story that wanted to tell the boys at {
home who read the Fireman. of our campaign in {
Maryland, but it is so long ago now that an ac-
count of from would be dull affair to read
hough can assure you our Maryland trip was |
lutte an interesting event to experience. 1t was
hard marching every day, sometimes hard fight i
ng, and all the time hard living 1t is more v
pleasant, to be sure, to march through even SO q
friendly a country as Maryland, than to march G
where all are enemies but all the friendliness in
hat State, and all the kindness off thousand such b
and powers couldn't have separated
IS from our hard tack and pork, unless q regular q
ystem had been arranged to provide US some b
hing better. \
Perhaps all do not know how eager the boys 81
II are when on long march to get that to eat o
hat will bear some resemblance to favorte dish u
hey were fond of at home, or how difficult it is D
o crafty any such eagerness. In some cases it e.
J mere within of the soldier, sort of natural q
esre to get something different from what is h
rovided, but in many cases it is essential to 81
ealth, and often to life itself. But those that o.
eeded this kind Of nursing the most were not h
ways the ones to get it. Once in while m