Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-03-24
(oar War Cors,poaIenee,j
From the 18Th Vermont Regiment.
CAN'T At Fairfax STATION, Va, !
Mach tGth lSE3

CAN'T At Fairfax STATION, Va,
March 10Th, 1868.
FRIEND WILLARD :--Nsthing of importance
has tran,pred ,ince my last worthy Of notice,
except that we were under marching orders for a
few days week before last, which was really new
thing to us in this camp. But we were not par
ticuarly disturbed by the order, for We have be-
come sufficiently versed in military matters, and
consider eursslves veterans, so far, at least, as to
know thAta soldier should he calm and sef-pos-
s"sed under all circumstances. But the return
Of about two thousand cavalry that had been out
sa a scouting expedition was evidence to US that
our force was then tOs strong for the Rsbs to un
deriske an attack upon US.
The weather for the past week in Dixie" has
been cold and windy, very similar to March il
Vermont. Yesterday we had thunder storm,
which furnished US with large supply of sno,c
and hsl, and the boys are busy to-day carrying
out the snow from the company streets, so that
they may not be blessed with the mud that would
otherwise be prevalent when the sun shall sead
forth bis radiant heat.
The boys are in the best Of spirits and ready
10 do whatever may be asked of them. They
shrink from no dangers and complain not OF their
lot. They voluntarily left their homes and fire.
sides at the time OF their country, greatest dan
ger TO engage in great and glorious cause, peril
ing their lives for that which is not only dear to
hsm, but to all those who have walked beneath
the folds Of the dear old .fag. And notwth,,and-
ing this, there srs some few at home that are coE-
planning because this brigade are not doing more,
and are trying to make out that the men have
become demsralired and would r.fu,et to 20 into
battle.
Who ars these men Are they those most
devoted to the enc great object of saving tho
Union They are the very men who have, ever
,ince the war first broke cut been blocking the
wheel in one way and another. They have ep.
posed the Administration in every thing that they
have done. They 'etup huge cry at lbe COM
mencement Of the war because il was proposed
w Nut hlultutIdllJH W InakC utt Ol tEe DiiCk
Man to help fight the war, declaring that they
would not fight beside Niger and that the
whole Union army would revolt against such pro-
csedngs, as though the army was composed Of
their styls while the truth was they were too
cowurdly to go into the army, but like the tmid
dog that bsrks at the intruder while be steals his
masters grain, ready to run at the first look of de-
fOuce, they stood barking at Jeif. Davis and his
fol- overs, ready to concede to them all that
should be most sacred and dear, if Jef would
only stop fighting But they sing a different
tune now in regard to the niggeS. Because they
see that there ha, got to be draa and some OF
them have got to come and fsh, they have set
themselves to cursng the administration because
it has not sci more niggers to i,htiag. Yes, they
have come 10 the conclusion that !, amt 50 very
degrading to fight beside nieger after all. 9u:
let things go as they will they must find fault.
| While none Of US are anxious to incur danger,
when it will do no good, yet shirk | speak The
minds Of the boys OF the brigade when say we
are ready to do our duty. And when justice TO
our country demands that We shall front the can.
mons mouth we will DO it unanchingy.
We have been unfortunate in losing our Act
iug Brig. Gen. 1t truly disgrace. But the
people Of Vermont when they understand the
circumstances Of the case, elunst blame the faith
ful men under Col. Sloughion for the gross neg
lgsnoe which resulted in hi, capture. Where
the oensure should fall it is ne, for ma to say, but
ii ia quite certain that there has been some bad
management somewhere. 44..
Col. Blunt who il now in command has his
headquarters here at the Station. lie does not
mean tha, the rebels shall catch him asleep, for he
has had as at work throwing up breast-sorks ed
otherwise preparing to defend the place. lie
seems to be very popular with the whole brigade.
II the "Copperheads Of Vermont are dissa,-
s6ed with wha, we are doing, W, will cheerfally
give UP our muskets and knapsacks to them mex,
June and they may see Il they can do more than
Q We have. Yours Truly,
!. C,E. A., Co. c.