Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-02-06
From the Ninth Regiment.
CAMP DoUGLAs, CHICAGO, ILL.,, !
January 23, 1868. (

hihNb ibAlLEf-- ueTt nave Uedu
some changes in our company and regi-
ment within the two past weeks Of which
you will, perhaps, like to be informed.
In the first place our condition is chang.
ed. We are no longer prisoners to re-
bells, hut Union soldiers. This is glo-
rious change. No one who has not been
a prisoner can realize how much bigger
and better we feel now than we did be-
fore we were exchanged. l know it was
no; our fault that we were prisoners
still always felt little sheepish to tell
persons we were such. Since we are to
try our luck again we hope TO be put
under good general, and no such man
as the late Colonel Miles, who so shame
fully surrendered us before. Our boys
will fight if given chance. They were
complimer.ed for their GOODNESS at Har.
per's Ferry when under severe artillery
ire--but no opportunity was there offer
ed for fair fight.
Considerable indignant feeling e
among the officers Of our camp just t
growing out of enlstments from our i
giment into the regular army. BY
somewhat recent order Of the War De
partment the regulars are allowed to en-
list ten men from each volunteer COM
pany, and that, too, for merely the bal
ance OF their term of enlistment. 1t is
severe tbrsst at the volunteer service and
is doing much injury. The moment we
were exchanged, aud even before, our
camp was filed with regular army off,
cers, who, with lying lips and soft words,
were endeavoring to entice away our
men. They have succeeded in getting
about 20 from onr regiment, and proba--
bly, IS many from the 65th Illinois.
The men who have gone are generally
our grumblers-our always ill-used and
fault finding fellows, together with ano-
ther class who have some slight bodily
infirmily, which, though not sufficient to
secure them discharge, they hope and
expect will cause them to be rejected
from the regular service when finally
-xamned by the inspecting surgeon. If
rejected, they think ii will discharge
them from both services. Whether or
aot it will SO discharge them am not
able 10 say. BE that as it may, the men
who enlist for the purpose of sneaking
mt of the army in that way, are little
better thsn deserters, and NAV pretty
Safely be set down as towards. Should
my of that kind get home TO Vermont !
hope they will receive the treatment
they deserve. The enlisting officers pro-
mise them easy times in some fort. and
a furlOugh Of thirty days very soon. /
will not say they actually promise these
things, but they make the boys believe
it is safe to expect them, which is about
the same. The first promise is bid to
towards, and the latter to men purposine
to desert. There are some Of both kinds
10 seize the bait. Our company has lost
sight men by enlistment and two by de-
'ertion since we were exchanged The
ieserters are John Huntoon, of Canada
East, and Asa Niles. of Craftsbury, or
E more.
We have recently lost one man by
ieath, Corp. Lorin Cuts, of Newport
He was left in the general hospital, An
napolis, Nd, in September, and died
here on the 10Th of January. He had
never enjoyed good health since we left
Brattleboro. He was friend to all, aud
Ill were friends TO him. tried to pro-
,ure discharge for him several weeks
,go, but could not.
There have been several designations
n the regiment Of late, and as many pro-
notions. Among those promoted is our
riend L. II. Bisbee, who was our order
y sergeant. He is now made 1st lieu.
enant Of Company II, the Lamollle Co.
company, in place of lieut.. Guyer, pro-
noted to captain. Bisbee is compe-
ent and faithful officer, and the compli.
nent is well merited. His sober. steady
'abits and soldieIy department have
Won him the esteem and confidence Of
Ill Richari Z. Parker, of Coventry,
ucceeds him as orderly sergeant, He,