Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-12-16
For the Journal.
FROM THE TENTH REGIMENT.
CAMP OF THE TENTH VI. RECT,
nnc z 1894

Dear Journal The Sixth Corps is once
more with the army Of the Potomac. The
LIST division left the Valley last Tuesday, and
the Sd division followed on Saturday. The
I'd division is yet behind, but is supposed to
be on the way
We, that is, che Sd division, left our pleas
ant winter camp which we had Just compile
ted near Winchester, on the morning of De-
cember Sd, marched across the Winchester
battlefield where General Custer made his
splendid charge, and at Stevenson's Station
packed ourselves into and upon the outside
OF freight cars at the rate OF forty-fve per
car. When the sun went down we were roll
ling rapidly on towards Harper's Ferry.
None OF us knew where we were going, but
Of all places, we dreaded Petersburg the
most. We turned to survey the charming
landscape, and take lingering farewell look
at the magnificent Valley, endeared to us by
the proud recollection Of our tolls, our fierce
conflicts, and our glorious victories, and by
the sacred memories which connect it with
the heroic deeds Of our fallen comrades. We
had never seen anything pleasant in the iea-
lures OF grim-visaged war " until we came
here, and it was not without deep regret, like
that OF breaking long attachment, that we
obeyed the order calling us away.
Before we arrived at Hatper's Ferry, it be-
came evident that we we've in very cramped
circumstances" The Acor was dreadful hard
and very much ached we wanted TO lie
| down, but there was no room and II a man
attempted to change his sture, to straighten
cramped limb, he would hit his neighbor an
unpleasant thump, which would cause him to
hit the next man 81 unpleasant thump. thus
GREETINGS circulating commotion in the com
/ pany, as when a schoolboy strikes his mate
aud gives the order to pass it round" One
mans feet got in the way, not only of him
self, but everybody else, and some one said
to him, " Stick them out doors :" but Lieut..
X. advised him not to try it,, facetously re-
marking that he did not believe there was
room enough out there for them.
When the train arrived At Harpers Ferry,
a man put his head into our car, and enquired
for the commanding officer of certain New
York regiment in our brigade, saying that be
was Lieutenant, and had been ordered to
report to him for duty. Whats your
name p asked the commanding officer from a
dark corner Of car. Hedge" replied the
Lieutenant. Ard his other name is Hog"
shouted some one else from another dark cor
ner of the car. We all laughed heartily, and
very rude but we had right to be rude to
him, for he had never seen day of service,
and yet was here with commission from the
Governor Of his State to command men who
had faced death aud richly earned promotion
on twenty batte-helds. | am afraid our gov
ernors do not always consider what great in
justice they may be- doing when they grant
commissions Next to life and country, pro.
hes fhn A.
der and have heard those who have been
overlooked speak Of their disappointment
when dying Of wounds received in battle.
Sunday morning, little after sunrise, found
us riding into Washington Guards were
stationed at every street. and the cars took us
down to Sixth street wharf, where we found
transports waiting for We were very cold
and hungry, and we had hoped to see our
paymaster in the city, but no paymaster came
near. The eating houses were all shut up,
and the guards said, " You cant pass here.
} Thus, after having been packed like hogs all
night in cold freight cars, were the men of the
Sixth Corps taken through the city which
they have defended with their blood, and
away from which they have twice during the
past summer driven the bold rebel invader.
Mr.. and Mrs. Baxter came down to the
]
worthy representatives, of fathers and moth
ers at home need no praise from me. l must
say that felt deep sense of veneration and
affection for Mrs, b., when Capt. Blodgett
with his disabled arm in sling, introduced
me to her. calling her a" Mother Baxter" and
saying that she saved his life last summer
Heaven bless her in her noble work
Having drawn rations at the wharf. and
L., L .l.4
children who had turned aside from lheil
Sunday-school way to see us, we marched
aboard the steamer, and soon were gliding by
Fort Washington and Mount Vernon. We
gazed at the latter place every soldier will
like pilgrims to the shrine of Mecca, with 10.
tense interest and devotion. Though the fail
Potomac aves the dark shores of tyranny anc
treason, the murmur Of every wave, and ia,
winds that curl up its waters, carry out tc
the great sea- and to all the world, memories
of Washington
Monday morning at 10 o'clock we LANDED
> at City Point, having come from our CAM
near Winchester in ffty-four hours--a dis
lance of not less than four hundred miles
The cars took us to Park Station, which is a
precisely the place where we built three line
of works last summer, just before we wer,
sent NOrtn.
This morning we we're moved across tn,
Weldon railroad into camps just vacated By
Gen. Ayres' division of the 5th corps. w
find good winter quarters, and what is bette
still, it is very quiet in our front.
} The hearty welcome with which the Sixtl
Corps is received by the army of the Poto
mac is a greater satisfaction to the soldie
than all the fine resolutions and words o
praise with which we have ever been hon
J ored.
: They being fighting men, we feel that Their
is hearty appreciation in their " Bully TO
you J" as they give up to us their good win
Ter quarters. G.
I The following rules and regulations gov
, erning flag of truce letters TO Union prison
ers in the hands of the rebels have been or
dered by Major Gen. Butler, and are publish
ed by the Ins hector of such letters for III,