Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-05-08
Our armu Gurrfsponotnte.
FROM THE NINTH REGIMENT.
CANT NEAR SUFFOLK, VA,

DrAR EpIroR: After another long silence
yll again attempt to inform the readers OF
.ouf paper of the whereabouts and condition
our regiment At the time Of my last
COMMUNICATION we were doing guard duty in
chicago. and | am happy to say, " without
hoostinR," that the manner in which IL was
lone vas highly compimented by the Gen
s.,t commanding, as well as by other officers
4, charge at that post. The number OF pris-
,.,s delivered there was four thousand Of
ho.c. at the time we left, seven hundred and
c,nr had died. two hundred and 6lty-lour took
the oath, and ten escaped-being loss Of
,bout one-iourth. Two hundred more we're
len in the smallpox hospital and about TWEEN
,y of our men The regiment lost twenty
,,ven during the month Of March. We now
number Ave hundred and ifty-niue, besides
about thirty recruits who joined us to-day.
There are few cases Of smallpox seven
have died Of il. The health OF the boys from
Washington county is very good. Il reports
only two present sick, Sorgt. Bliss Of Calais,
and Drummer Don l.. Jacobs. 1t. Vaughan
was LETT sick at Fortress Monroe, and | have
not heard from him since.
10 leaving Chicago the regiment was divid-
cd into FIVE detachments, the last leaving
April Sd. We took the Pituburg and Fort
Wayne road to Baltimore arriving on the 7th
inst | noticed nothing OF account on the
route, except in every city there would be o.
crowd eager to see a secesh soldier. We could
get nd Of them in no other way than to tell
aboard In minute you would have sup.
posed it was Sunday aud everybody was at
church.
At Baltimore grand cavalcdds Of female
}. fltut cd trtfh
decacies for our ragged brigade. The boys
were very oiicious in passing said baskets
into the cars and delivering out the contents
when the officers we're not lookng) A cas-
ual observer. however, might have noticed
that it all went into the rear cars, where the
guards were They were Pretty honest how
ever, for they returned a.. baskets, except
one. kept as d trophy OF drawn on special
requnition, | don't know which.
90 the morning Of the Sth we went on
board the steamer Nellie Pentz and started
for CITY Point where we arrived on the even
ing Of the 10th, being delayed by the boats
sprInging a leak. The city is composed Of
five houses, pretty well riddled with shells.
and a depot building, which was burned
down last year" Reported back to Fortress
Munroe on the l2th, making on our Journey
about 800 miles.
On the l6,h, diminishing having com
menced a, this place, we bad orders to pack
up. and IN three hours were on board the
steamer Columbia, bound for Norfolk Ar
rived here at 10 o'clock, A. NJ, Of the 18th
On the 18th the whole regiment we're out on
picket, and we have not known what camp is
since for we have lived in rifle pits. The
number and position Of the troops would q
.I.s d
are enough, and VIC are well pleased with the
vigilance Of Mai Gen. Peck. He differs from
old Miles a little in that respect. Our regi-
ment is brigaded in 81 Brigade, Sd Division
9th Army Corps. The regiments composing
thi. brigade are the OH VT, the Sih and 2lsi
Conn, 4th X. l., 18th n H.. 18Th Wis, 25th
y j.. and ll7th \. Y,-all old regiments
some Of them numbering less than one hun
bred and fifty men just after dark on the
eve of the goth, detachments from this regi-
ment. s9th y. Y, Sth Conn, and 18th n.
H., crossed the river and captured battery
OF four 20 pound ParrotS guns, two howitzers.
and about one hundred and twenty men OF the
4f'h Alabama. It was smart thing and re-
fleets credit upon al concerned. Only six OF
seven casualties occurred on our side, owing
probably 20 their defective ammunition. some
OF grape and canister They have made sew
cral attempts to cross, but so far have been
repulscd Sharpshootcrs do greatest damage.
being pretty sure 90 bring fellow down IL
they get their eye on him.
We have heard and we hope that Gen.
Sauuard will be sent here. We do not like
TO give him up, it seems SO much like break
ing up a family. The officers and men. 60 show
AL. L..
with A splendid horse and equipments. Also
fine sword TO Col Anlross, who is very
highly esteemed by ALL The boys scod a
little now and then about the paymaster. He
has not been round 10 our ueighborhood for
STA months. 1t don't make much odds now,
for there is nothing here 10 buy. All quiet
here Tonight, except once in about ten min
utes they let off Ga pound she'll, justto keep
the wax out Of our ears. With few sug-
gestions 10 " b. r.. which, If you please you
may insert, have the honor to subscribe my
self Your very obedisnt servant, j. o. l..
=. s. The pagn'aster has come
REPLY TO OBJ RS" CRITICISM.
TOR. R.-Sir: In an issue of the Daily
journal ! noticed criticism directed TO j. O.
H. referring TO a communication dated in
January, in which you complain and wish j.
o. l.. to be informed that such sentiments are
better adapted To the meridian of South Ca
roina. was not aware, sir, that'l uttered
any disloyal sentiments and if had done
so unconsciously, the General commanding at
Camp Douglas, Gen. Stannard, or the Editor,
would probably haze noticed it, and repu-
handed me, for / consider myself responsible
Tor what | say and do.
Honest and genuine criticism is Always
wholesome but when, "as in this instance,
1t descends to yituperation and unfounded
accusations it loses its high prerogatiye, and
Is only worthy yirtuous contempt, | am
only a school boy-"am proud of it, too, -
and expect to live long. long time before
aspire to such vaa wisdom as is contained in
Is. RS criticism. Generalities are too com
mon to be glittering. Too many Iogues have
hoUrished while nanutlug justice and NUN
as a motto, and the Negro, | beg your par
don, llhe smoked Yankee has played out.
know no " Bill of Rights" but the Consd-
tuition, and / shall stick by that if am shot
ior 1t. lie quotes that few of them will put
themselves to any trouble, &C., and con-
cludes by saying he does not believe | know
anything about it. You are Uery geaerous.