Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1863-10-20
Scraps from the Signal Corps---No 3.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF PoToMAc, I
CuIpepper, Va, October 8. {

the consequent non-appearance of my FREEMAN,
reminds me of my obligations to that welcome
little visitor which usually greets me at shutdown
with its tidngs from home, and suggests the
idea that the hour which must pass before it is
my " trick on guard, might be proftably EN-
ployed in scribblng for its columns.
You see that We of the Signal Corps, although
a much favored class and enjoying many ad-
yantages not voucbsafed to other branches OF
the service, being allowed transportation for as
much baggage as commissioned officer OF In
iantry, &c, g., yet we are obliged to " stand
guard occasionally -and where is the soldier
that isnt? But our duties in this line are not
very arduous, as we only keep stable guard
from P. M. until 6 A. M, which brings each
man on two hours about once week.
The only incident which has occur red during
the past week to vary the monotony Of life in
the Camp Of Instruction, came along on Thurs
day, IN the shape Of a trip TO the front. At the
conclusion Of the drill on the morning in ques
ton, the Sergeant detailed six Of us from the
left of the squad, placed US In charge Of Ser
geant johnson, (who, by the way, is non of
your dead beats, but sound on the goose
and typo in the bargain) and ordered us to
saddle our horses and report to Capt Norton,
Chief of the Corps. Reporting to the Captain,
la t.s had on ba unuf
us back 70 camp to procure days rations for
ourselves and horses, and our blankets to re-
turn after dinner for long tr.mp. We were
unconscious at the time that our eagerness to
be on the way, tor we had heard it whispered
that we we're bound to the ironD had destroyed
cur appetltes 50 that we did not eat half our
soup, but we realized the fact before we got our
suppers, and resolved that the next time we
were ordered out We would not allow anxiety in
regard to our trip to deprive US Of our regular
allowance, even il our dee tnaton were reported
to be Richmond itself Al the time appointed,
We came UP to the Scratch aud filed of as
escort to Capt Norton and Capt Bradbury, the
Inspector General Of the Corps, in a south.
westerly direction, on the road to Thorougblare
Mountain, whittier they were going for the pur-
pose Of making the monthly inspection Of a
station and is appurtenances Crossing Noun
lain Creek, and passing through the village Of
Culpeppor, We entered barren pine waste
country. oyergrown with briars, minus fences
and a majority Of the houses it once contained
they having been torn down Iy the soldiers
Tor fuel, ami remarkable for nothing except it,
general desolatlon.
But before going further, allow NE to DO Cul-
pepper justice by remarking flat it is the
pleasantest and most modern town have yet
seen in Virginia Its treets are well laid out
and profusely shaded by the cutpaper tree
which, from the abundance and beautiful hue
Of It's foliage, is peculiarly adapted to purpose
o. aiornment Among its residences, too, ar,
son which bear unmietakable evidence Of hay
ng been designed by a Yankee architect, anC
built by Yankee workmen Of superior skill.
Some three or four miles beyond Culpeppe
We passed outside our picket lines, and did no
again return within them until very near tn
village of jameson, at the foot OF the mountain
The mountain path was rather preciptous II
some places, but by clinging fast to our horses
names We managed to retain our seats In the sad
die until we reached the extreme summit, whic
We did about four clock, having ridden fiitee
miles Here widespread view greeted GU
gaze, embracing many places of recent notorety
On the South, the Rapidan, the preseat ironiic
of rebeldom, and on the west Madison Cour
house, the scene of Kilpatrick's last brilliant e,
plot Being pointed the direction in which
look for the rebel yidettes, trained glass I
bear upon the spot designated, and soon had ii
pleasure Of discovering, just on the south ban
of the Rapidan, couple of mounted " Souther
Coniederacies, " and although they were sever
, miles distant so powerful was the glass that
{ was able to discern their features the color
their hair, and the most minute details of the
uniforms
Leaving the mountain about five !. NJ, v
took the road Tor cow path Iather) 10 Ced'
9 Mountain, distant some ten miles in a southeas
: erly direction where there WAS another static
$ to visit Perhaps some of your readers wou
: like to ride ten miles, over southern road,
such inky darkness as relgned that night, MOI
OF your party knowing aught of their wher
abouts except that they were IN rather clio
proximity to the rebel pickets, and perhaps 8
ing directly toward them but as for me,
rather be excused. However, after blunderil
around until about nine o'clock, leapng ditch
i. and fences, wading through qnagmres al
stumbling over stone heaps, We at length sa
the light Of camphres IN the distance, and ait
!. some hesitation concluded to 60 to them, ru
!, ming the risk Of getting ourselves in nest
: ''Johnnies." The camp proved to be that Of
+ portion of the 2nd Army Corps, who soon 2
US on The right road and gave us the necessa
directions Tor finding the Cedar Mountain 81
A tion, where we arrived after an hours sma
r galloping. We found that the party in char
had gone down the mountain for the niel
leaving the Station entirely deserted, but
le had travelled far enough, and feeling the need
Il res; and food to be more urgent than any bu
70 ncss we had to transact with the missing SigI
~ party, we unsaddled our jadod beasts, and
about preparations for supper and nigh
10 Lar, nh.,,,A ~ Tin