The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-10-02
From the Conscrlpt Camp.
CAMP VERMONT, Lone ISLAND, }
September 2l. 1868. {
!, the Editor Of The Culedoniuu:

u the Editor Of The C0led0niuu:
In my lest letter spoke of two deserters
being drowned and their bodies brought to
the island. They were buried the same dav
With" Il ceremony, and the next morning the
o.acr two were taken BY the police on JEFF
h.cs Point, East Boston. The authorities
were informed of the fact and strong guard
Ea, dispatched to escort them t, the Island.
.-cy were safely secured. and brought to
c'm? AID placed l.: the guard house, where
i.'! remained ill the next morning when
:.y were Ken to Fort Warren to await a
u!al by cGurt-martial. They will probably
'e shot. On Friday last, about 100 con-
"rlpts were placed on board the steamer
" Forest City and started for Portsmouth,
Va, where they will remain till they 60 to
The regiments to which they are assigned
l,he .ith and jtn.) Since they left it has
been pretty peacabe times, but before there
was scarce ly day that there vas not some
dSgfac.fnl affray, originating generally from
gambling and drinking, the two scourg4s of
the army. You may calculate the extent 10
which these vices run when say that have
known whisky to be sold for SO. per quart,
anumbrr of times. On Thursday morning
drunken stabbing affair came off among
the New Hampshire men. One man won
some $50. from the other at game called
poker, and because he would not give up the
money he had woa he stabbed the other in
the face and abdomen, intiicting severe, if not
fatal injuries. They were both sent to the
'ock-up to await trial.
The largest portion of men on the Island
are substitutes. mostly foreigners who have
come for the bounty, and the result is that
strong picket guard is posted around the
Island to keep them within bounds, regi-
men, hom Fort Warren being stationed here
for that purpose; and the consequence is
taa' no man can set pass to leave the
Island. Thus honest men have to suffer with
u" rosues. At Brattleboro the conscripts
are all kept in one Of the most disgusting
..lceS that can be imagined, and a guard
Stationed at the outside, and every precaution
j. AIKEN to prevent them from taking leg
al ) but orce IN while one gets the better
tnem and makes himself scarce. If the
uycroment would promptly punish The de-
,..eI- ~hen caught ttere would be less Of
'o business done think. The crime Of
.".Ntnn is Que that should be punished. and
"ll 70 the extel.t Of the law. u Ian thai
Na. w,lllully desert his country's flag in this
-.g naur Q! peril deserves death as much as
t." ir'on, for IL many instances the presence
g.. nose that nave deserted On the battle
t.d would have turned the tide of battle in
.lr favor.
IN incident occurred the other day that
created 20 little excitement in camp. \
E"Htlemanly appearing man came to the
camp holding large book headed in large
c'.it~,s " Adams Express Company" sa} ing
ne was an agent for th@t company. He man
I'D to get into his po>s, sscna couple ,h2as-
and dollars, promising to send it to the
trends of III" soldiers, and was about to leave
when a word happened to drop at headquar-
Ter, inat caused the matter to be Investigated,
att the man proved to be an arrant
AHm5Ug. ,.e chap was obliged to disgorge
A!> ilisotten gains and compelled to quit the
H." Island, which he was probably very glad
10 Do. And such is lie.
Ihe prevailing opinion seems to be that
W shall stay here til the next draft Is fn-
shed and all 60 out at once. That tnere
vii be another draft ere long is evident, as
preparations are being made as fast as they
an and those men that have displayed thejl
Patriotism by paying $500. will have the
privilege Of trying their luck again. A. r. s.