Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1863-04-23

reading writing and sleeping, while
Others were playing ball, or going
to the city (Ocoquan) to take a pleasure
trip on the river, or view the city. Some
went to Colchester, village about four
miles from camp. Colonel Randall, with
the drum corps, and few others took o
boat ride on the river, with the stars and
stripes waving. So you can see that
we passed the day off with much pleasure.
went to see the city. which consists of
40 dwellings and other shops, with grist
and saw mill, and five ruins Of dwellings,,
with cotton factory, four stores and a
bridge that was burnt by the rebels at
the beginning of the rebellion, on account
of it being union village The Ocoqn-
an river is as large as the Onion river,
at Winooski, VT, the bridge perhaps was
as good as the one there before it was
burnt The water power is seldom above
the one here The river is navigable up
to this city, for boats, and there is two
wharfs there. fit was in time Of peace,
aud the place had been settled by New
Englanders, the old moss covered roofs
would be reGtted, and new buildings
would be erected with taste. All the citi-
zens are in distressing circumstances. At
half-past four, dress parade came off as
usual, there were three ladies, wives of
officers, who were in front Of the regiment,
who looked very nice, but they were not
the wives of soldiers, for they are far
away, awaiting with tender love, the COM
ing of their long absent husbands.
-Apra l0M.-'rhc news came into camp
on the LIST inst, that rebel had left AL
exandria with a rebel mail, and would go
through our lines on his way South. The
Colonel had a company from the 18th and
Co. L from the 18th, 60 on scout to cap
turc the retel mail So down the Oco-
quon we started, through pines and small
openings. We secured the country for 10
miles or more, finding many horse-tracks
that led to and from the river. Here we
posted guard, Before the next morning
the Captain of Co. L captured a rebel
with his horse and bag but the letters
could not be found, He was sent to Wash
lngten to be tried.
On our return to camp, we found all in
stir for the regiment had orders to 60
down the Ocoquan River about ten miles,
to guard the fords that had been open to
the rebels all winter.
Our camp is on the plantation Of Wild
ow Violet, on a smooth meadow, near
good spring that is more like Vermont wa
ter than any We have seen yet, and we
have good hard wood quite near We are
within four miles, and in full view of the
Potomac. Things look more Ike farming
here than at the Shoals, but nothing to
boast of.
On the night of the 4th it showed and
in the morning it was inches deep and
still coming. Col. Randall gave orders
that all in the regiment that had no fire
in their tents, could 60 to Widow Violet's
house and make themselves comfortable.
Zen of us from Co. i went there and
found room on the second floor, with
good fireplace. We had happy time for
two nights and one day. Thcsnow storm
was very unexpected to us, for all the cit
izens had told us that most of the spring
work is done in March. If not warmer,
it will not be done in April. Provisions
are very high, butter so cents pound
cheese 40 cts, sugar 20 cts, coffee 40 cts,
-four 8 cts. pork 20 cts, and Con not be
got at that price by the citizens. Hay is
very scarce. Corn is between i and 2
dollars q bushel.
Our picket duty takes one company a
day, so it comes round once in ten days
The weather is cold and the snow lies in
spots In woods and clearing. hope it
will be warmer in June, for | wish to 60
home without wearing overcoats to keep
me warm. The winds are colder than in
Vermont. "'
| Why the 18th was ordered ten miles
from the rest of the brigade is perhaps
hecausc no other colonel dare Ia come