Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-01-28
From, the Vermont brigade,
CAMP oP rHs VI. BRIGADE, }
Jan. %. 1864

Editor Rstland Herald An unusual
number of citizens have recently visited
this army. They express much surprise
to dnd the men in so comfortable quar-
tiers, and many declare that our style
of living is preferable to that at the
Washington hotels. The latter is, how
ever, considered doubtful compliment.
Citizens find little difficulty in getting
here now, though line from member
OF Congress, or some similar authority,
Is necessary in order to obtain the requi-
site pass. ...
Chaplain Webster, of the Sixth Yer
mont Regiment, has recently procured
OF the Christian Commission a Chapel
Tent, which, through his energetic eff
forts, seconded by members of the Reg
iment, has been raised upon stockades,
and furnished with desk, seats,
stove, &c, and forms very comforta-
BILE and commodious place of worship.
1t is, / think, the first of the kind In the
brigade since the winter of 1862.
Those who think this portion of the
"Sunny South" has anything in COM
mon with those regions where flowers
blossom and oranges ripen in January
would have such ideas quickly dispelled
by brief visit here at this season.
During most Of the time since the first
of this month the ground has been COW
cred with snow, and the cold has been
- intense that, on some days, clear
sun at midday would make no impress
sion upon the snow, or the frozen earth
where its surface was exposed Just
now, however, it is quite warm; heavy
rains have fallen, and the depth of the
mud does honor to the anniversary of
the famous "Mud Fleet" expedition of
one year ago.
Detachments of recruits continue to
arrive. Their unmilitary ways are
source of much amusement but there
is no disposition to vex the new arri-
walls, on the part Of the old soldiers.
They are too well pleased to have their
assistance for this; and so they go to
work with will to help build their
tents, and make them generally CON-
Portable.
The construction of tents, or rather
huts, for winter quarters, has become
quite an art. Many of these structures
display more skill, and are really more
comfortable, than the dwellings of the
poorer citizens about here. The old SOL
der never waits for orders to build
winter quarters; but whenever the army
halts more than two days at time, he
proceeds to fell trees and "conflscate
unoccupied buildings, and soon the
camp rings with the sound of the saw,
axe and Ratchet. He builds of logs or
boards box like structure from six to
ten feet square, according to the number
who are to occupy it, for which the shell
ter tent makes an excellent roof and
fills also the place of windows. The in
terstices are "daubed with untempered
mortar" that is, Virginia's sacred soil"
whose adhesive qualities render it inval-
liable as building material. A bedstead
is made of poles, and covered with "Vir-
ginia feathers" while tables and chairs
are improvised of hard bread boxes, &c.
A fire place in one corner, containing
blazing fire, makes all look bright and
rom Portable As tho tapto IF q conopo
ny are always laid out in the form of
street, the camp of regiment thus be-
comes a miniature village, and when
built with taste is not without artistic
effect. Thus snugly housed, the soldier
laughs at the storm, and, so far as the
substantial elements of comfort are con-
cerned, is as well off as anybody in the
world. A. A. c.