Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-09-15
nlistclIaup.
tour War Corrssponience.)
A Soldier s Letter No. 81.
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEW York CRY, I
September 4lh, 1863.


September 4th, 1868.
EDITOR FIREMAN We bid farewell to our
little shelter tents to-day, and have just got US
new tents, and just got them furnished accord
ing to our rank aud station, the best our means
afforded. Indeed, the most Of US have fixed our.
selves up qyils comfortable homes in this beaut-
iul park, well that | am afraid the order to
move will be shortly forthcoming, and hasten to
improve these spare moments that may not lose
the privilege OF writing from them, at least one
letter TO the Fireman.
have no great warlike achievements to record,
nor particular exploits Of bravery to mention
Firing on pickett even, is bot heard here, and !
know Of no reason why | may not report all
quiet along the lines. | certainly might we're it
not for some noisy yender Of produce who are
continually challenging the boys to purchase Of
their goods, which we do, trading ,crow the
=" lines entirely regardless Of the articles Of war,
and all other articles excep, the ones We wish TO
buy. This oontrsbaBd traffic !, carried on 10 the
utmost good humor on both sides, and flags Of
truce are entirely dispensed With. We have had
10 skirmish through the camp occasionally to
drive out the juvenile population. but in these op-
eralions We are not always so brilliantly success.
fu, for the Ubiquitous rascas will either flank US,
or spring up spontaneous IN rear. Getting
rid Of them is out Of the quest on. After all, it
is quite convenient ts have these youngsters
around, for some Of them are the mos, Accommo-
dating fellows you ever saw. They are always on
hand to run Of errands, such as filing cante.ns,
purchasing Anieknseks, whatever we may want,
always, o. course, expecting a respectable COM
mission five happen to have money Of large
denominations, they known right where to get
the exact change wanted, snd they generally
manage to get it so efeciu,ly changed that il is
never trouble to the owner afterwards. If any
one hr surplus rations, or anything else laid by,
they are perfectly willing to relieve him from all
csre concerning their safe keeping. Once in q
while there is boy among them that would steal
,be meat from between ones teeth, almost, and
they have skill in their dishonest tactics, that
would shame many an older sccomplice.
We have had to preserve line Of sen,iael,
around the camp here to keep the men from
struggling away without passes. Besides the sem
tneI', there is, to prevent this, an iron fence o
good, lawful height, which it is considered 9
breach Of good couduo, 10 jump, but great many
of the boys ate just breacby enough to do it. Al
least am told there are, especially after the rol
call OF night, when everything is quiet and there
are no Indications Of any enemy. DO not stat'
uis as fact, but have strong suspicious that i
is so for when was on guard the other night
aud walking ay beat with all the dignity OF 9
young veteran, noticed number Of soldier
leaning against the fence near one end Of the
beat, and when had walked to the opposite en-
and returned noticed these same fellows WASH
there. had no means Of finding out where the,
had gone to, for when inquired, the boys onl.
laughed and said they were taking walk. Per
hAps they were. noticed number Of fellow
about that time walking rapidly down Fourtl
Sueet to Broadway, clothed ia Uncle Sans Uni
form, aod they bore a strong resemblance to
these felt very much greved to have the rule
Of camp violated in such manner, but couldn'
possibly prevent it.
But the bes, fun Of all was to stand gaard Il
Keep The little children out Of the park. The
seemed to have the faculty Of dodging guar
every way at once. If we told one to stay out c
The park, aud threatened him il he didn't, tn
next minute we might look to see him scamper
ins Ike wild cat away to the middle OF tn
camp They would seem to fly over the fsnc
'n'lslbIy at least no one could see them till th
hing was done, or else they would vanish iror
'ae street and scamper in the park When othe
eApcdients failed, they would offer to bring car
teen Of ice water for some of the boys, which I
course we could hardly Gud heart to forbid, an
THIS would pass them in. Children when the
parents were with them, were allowed to come il
Noticed many children followed parents tha
The latter did not own.
One day was on guard before the camp va
h'rIy organized, and the rules we're, as they a
ways ure at such times, without head or tail, or
held aud no tail. Children we're not allowed
come in at oil. The regulars had then sepsra
guard. There are three skeleton regiments
regulars In this park, the Sd, 4,h, and 9th, but a
Three are no, larger then one Vermont regimen
lhey occupy the southwest portion Of the par
Ihey guarded their own gates that day, and '
guarded ours. At tha, time il 90 happened th