Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-06-05
Our Army Correspondence.
FROM THE THIRTEENTH REGIME NT. !


FROM THE THIRTEENTH REGIM ENT
CAMP CARust, May 30, 1868
Dear Journal There is little or no news
with us, and cannot endure to write for
your columns when have nothing to commu-
nicate Brt it is the peculiar misfortune Of
the second brigade to be so located as not to
have an opportunity to share in the glorious
events Of an active campaign, and therefore
whatever we have to communicated is necessarily
more about ourselves than about the rebels.
see that a few good people at home, and also
some Of the noble old first brigade, have con-
siderable fault to find, because we have been
allowed to stay within the Department Of
Washington, whore we have had nothing to
do but amuse themselves. II they THINK we
have had nothing else 90 do, beg to inform
them that they are mistaken. We have en-
dured heat and cold, sunshine and storm,
hunger and thirst, iatigues hardships, priva-
tons and sickness, and like other soldiers have
all the time held responsible positions and
done important duty All the fault of which
we are guilty is, that We have not had the
privilege Of meeting the enemy ia great bat
tie, and bringing away w,eh us the marks Of
battle as well as the wreaths OF glory. We
have done all that we could do, aud if 10 is
competent for any body 10 find fault, It is only
those who have had the chance TO do more
and done il.
We listened TO the gun. of fredericksburg,
but the only way We could have got down
there so as to stand side by side with our
heroic brothers, would have been been to de-
sert our post aud leave the nution's capital
aud the nation itself in danger. No, if we
have failed to do woudT., it is not our fault.
Ii we have not done dtf duty, show US ia
what respect. If our friends at home are not
satisfied with US, let them do as well as we,
and en- critclso if there Is room But ID
the old brigade want to say any thing of us,
good, bad, or indifferent, we have no ohioc-
tions. They have gained the right to talk.
They might sheer at us, add We would bear it
for we respect them We look upon their
fame with pride, aud upon their scars and
wounds with envy. But with all the adyan-
tages Of their nigh position, they do no; talk
do not write, do no: think. bnt to 6gbt-and
fight till the last point is gained Valiant
troops Heroic, noble men. Their modest
silence IN the camp. sud their undaunted
bravery in the field, Is their true historian. Ii
shows that they have but one cause, one
hope one interest, and that is their country.
If they look into the future for day or for a
month II i. not to sec themselves restored to
their families IN the quiet pursuits Of civil
lite but IL is 70 new conflicts with the foe,
on the battlefield, and beneath the horrid din
Of battle.
Such, Mr. Editor, is their character and
ia what respect are we different; We are
just as goud material for an army as they are.
but we are nine Months men. Our puus for
the noxt quarter or month NE in Qua ,hices,
shops and fields. 10 rs uuayu.da1ic; beyond
our control, and the most natural thing in
the world Mr. Walton wrote home to his
paper from Washington, last winter, that he
considered the nlnc months arrangement a
failure IN many respects it certainly Is so.
We just ger to be- soldiers and oar time is
out. great many 20 into it on account OF
tho shortness Of The time, for The sake OF an
Office and ITS emolumeut-, who are really not
ht for tueir positions, and who would NOT en-
ter service for longer term. Such men
make what are justly termed "holiday OH.
GERS They like to appear on dress paiades
-- That is ii there is no mud 10 soil their
boots-Iut when there is a march 10 be made
they all want horscs--yes, and get them TOO,
sometimes. Sull, the nine months troops
have done then duty, and flied place that
no other troops have filled So tar the
scheme has been a success And IN many
states 1t will prove - still gEeater success. It
Will prove school ~ Inch they have be-
come fitted for IL longer term 'of service, on
which they will Immediately enter. had
hoped such might be the case with this brig
AIDE. But for reasUi--uot the fault OF the
men-l fear that the Government will lose
the future service OF many OF them, who,
were it not for that one reason, would ro-en-
list for three years.
But TO affairs in our own regiment. ! am
sorry 81. 3. L.' wrote nome about the little
conflict Of jurisdiction" that occurred here
few days ago. II was nothing any way.--A
mere mlsunderstanding-su is likely to
spring up any time, between all officers, mil
Itary and civil.
You are probably aware that we have been
having good deal of sickness ia camp re-
Gently | think It has become checked now,
and the hospital patients are growing fewer
every day
1t. Col. Brown left US some little time ago,
having received the appointment Of Commis-
sloner OF Enrolment for the l,t Distinct of
Vermont. He was good and faithful Off .
cer--eyer attentive to lis duties, discreet in
precept, and circumspct in example The
large crowd that gathered about MIN n the
morning of his departure attesled the kindly
feeling cherished tor him by the men.
Capt. YIN. d. Manson Of Co. ID. has been
promoted 4" his place and Capt. Joseph j.
Boynton Of Co. E. has been promoted to be
Major, vice Clark resigned.
We know of no reason why we may not
remain in our present camp some time yet
In few days we are to have a brigade re-
view, about seven miles from here. The
brigade has been so scattered, il will seem
oddly enough to US to get together again
But, something too'much OF this. c.
The Washington Chronicle of Saturday
has the following Gen Grant is progress
ing well IL the siege Of Nicksburg. A dis
patch was received from him at headquarters
yesterday that be was getting on very salts
factorily, and he felt himself amply compe.
tent to take care Of any force that may come
in his rear. The reports " his death, which
have been maiioiously ctFct1xIed by secession
sympalhisers in Washington, have no foun-
dation. Repeated assaults have been made
upon the rebel works, and at every trial
something has been gained The rebels are
losing heart every day. They have lost all