Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-02-27
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FROM THE THIRTEENTH REGIMENT
CAMr NEAR woLr RUS Shoals, VA,
T.

CAMr MAR WoLr Rus SHOALS. VA,
February Is, 1868. I
Dear Waioi,dn On the afternoon Of
Monday, the 10th day Of January, the Regi-
ments composing the Second Vermont Brig
ade, which is also the Second Brigade OF
Gen. Casey's Division for the defence of
Washington, nov the Department Of Wash
ington, received orders to be ready to march
at o'clock on the following morning. We
we're then encamped at Fairfax Court House.
Promptly at the time the Regiments were in
line and ready for the march. The morning
was cold and frosty, and the ground frozen
sufficiently to bear both man and beast. The
18th and 18th were ordered to proceed di-
rectly to this place, the l4th, 18th and 10th
TO stop at Fairfax Station. Wolf Run Shoals
is a crossing on the Occoquan river, about ten
miles from Fairfax Court House, and about
seven miles from Fairfax Station, and derives
its name from small stream called Wolf
Run which empties into the Occouuan at this
point, We reached this place at about two
o'clock In the afternoon, selected place for
enoampment In a thick pine grove-or rather
woods-the larger part of our tents arriving
about an hour later. Many Of the axes OF
the Regiment we're brought along by the men
on their march, and as soon the grounds
were selected, they set themselves to clearing
them up and preparing stockades. That night
many of the men slept in tents as well stock
AIDED as those they had left at their old camp
in the morning, and were more comfortable
than they have ever been the first night after
any previous march they have made We'd
nesday morning it commenced to rain, and
before the baggage and remaining tents could
he brought up the ground was thawed olt,
and the roads were horrid to look upon and
Il
week before everything could be removed
to this place, and then only by the aid of
fifteen or twenty extra teams Since then
the travelling has been growing worse almost
daily, and those in Vermont who think they
have some knowledge of mud at home, will
do we'll to visit this God-forsaken" portion
of Virginia, AMI try the pleasures of ride
over corduroy and through mud-mud that
will give you full realization of what mud
is. People in Vermont used to think, while
the Army of the Potomac was lying in front
OF Washington last winter, that it was strange
they did not advance ION to Richmond - but
since seeing, as l have, what it ia for army
to move here at this season OF the year, there
is no use in asking, why don't the army move
The simple answer is, 10 cant, and those who
think it can have but a faint conception of
what Virginia mud is.
Since coming to this place, we--the 18th
and 18th Regiments-have been engaged in
doing picket duty for some six or eight miles
up and down this side the Occoquan, building
rihe-pits and forts, and tearing down those
built by the rebels on the other side, a work
which has called for pretty large daily details.
About two hundred men were required daily
for several days to put the roads in a condi-
ton so that our rations could be drawn from
-
state that the Second Connecticut Battery,
Capt. Sterling, is also stationed here with us.
Those who have had cause to complain of
the delay in receiving letters from their friends
in this Regiment may find consolation in
hope for reformation in future, from the fact
that a new Regimental Postmaster has been
appointed to-day--John w. Richardson Of
Co. B. The former Postmaster was removed
in compliance with petition signed by nearly
all the line officers Of the Regiment.
But my principal object in writing at this
time is to notice a very singular article, which
recently appeared in the Burlington Sentinel,
respecting a certain transaction in which the
writer appears TO think he is stating "the
truth. the whole truth, and nothing but the
truth" The ''home editor" Of the Burling-
ton Times, with his accustomed zeal in pitch
ing into army officers, (sec the file Of his pa
per while Gen. Mcclellan was in command Of
the Army of the Potomac catches the tune
and indorses the Sent uet writer, as follows:
"BIoorsY ~ oAMr.
We copy the following statement OF fact, from the
Sentinel II they true the oonduc u the req.
mental officers rs not creditable to them. Il is with
surprise that have heard Of this Of 1t. Col
Brown who, while the acting editor Of Watons Journal
scrupulous stekler for the observance OF const
tutiona rights" Conspicuous among them Is the right
Of men to Worship according TO tic dictates of their own
He In haNR item first rim
eiPles."
Here was a splendid chance for the Lamb
TO play the lion and CRAFTY his penchant for
faultfnding with army officers, at the same
time hitting the recent "home editor" Of
Walton's Duly Journal "sly dig" by way Of
paying off ''old Scores" 1t is sufficient an
swer to him, however, to say that while he is
pursuing his favorite vocation at home in his
easy chair, the proprietor and associate editor
OF the Times is member of the 18th Regi-
ment. doing honorable service in his coun-
try's cause, and upon seeing the article in the
columns Of his paper, brought it to Col. Ran
dali, assuring him that he repudiated the
whole thing that it was published without
his knowledge or consent, and that it should
be set right. The following is the article as
it originally appeared in the Sentinel
nIoorRY OR PETTY TYRANNY IN CAMP.
occurred not long since in the Vermont 18Th Regiment
which bear Of and which, for the credit Of
our regmental comfanders, hope will a.
gain. Company A, in the i3th--Capt. Lonergan
pany-s for the part composed Of lIish Catholics
On Christmas Day, while the Captain absent at
Washington, the company then stationed Fairfax
Court House, called out to attend public religious
service performed by the Protestant chaplain The
demuIed this and asked TO be excused from attend
Ance, because Of their being Catholics Their request
refused and their holding back at the word Of
command TO fall in the Colonel Of the Regiment rode
up and roughly threatened that he would every
Of them 10 the Grip raps, II they failed attend the
expected religious service They Yielded with bad grace
Of course and were marched to the place OF meeting.
On the Captains return they complained to him Of
had been put upon them, aid received his that
II should not be again. Sunday came, and Captain
Lonergan and his company again ordered to attend
religious service, to take lace at p. The hour
rived but neither the Captain his
An order dispatched for their immediate presence
= but II was not needed. second came, but with
like result The Captain refused to third
sage was sent that he must at once, he would
be placed under lie peremptory refused again
wheTenpon the 1t ColOne-commanding in the Coonels
absenee--came In his tent, took away his sword aud
placed him under Returning then the assem-
bed regiment, he informed them Of what he had DONE
as warning against any similar disobedence on the
part Of others CT the Of the affair spread
like wildfre, and produced much excitement. Captain