Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1864-01-05
A Soldiers Letter-.No so.
SECOND VERMONT REGMENr,


MAR BRANDY STATION, Va, Dec 20.
EDITOR FREEMAN The great topic Of inter-
e'i in camp Just now, is that Of re.enIistng The
Vermont boys are as anxious as any troops in the
field, to turn veterans and they arc enliliing
to extent quite unexpected. Probably, before
this letter is printed and read there will be in
Vermont quite a respectable represen alton Of
g veterans from the Old Brigade, enjoying their
turoughs which we're given them for re-enIisting
Abou, a week ago, at our dress parade, our
Colonel talked the matter over with US, and he
told Us of plan that General Howe vas confident
he could get approved at the War Department,
which would allow all, except conscripts, to enlist
His pan was to have those who joined the reg-
ment at Yorktown, on the Peninsula, and those
who joined US at llagerslown, Mary land, in the
fall Of 49, re-enlist now, and when two wears Of
their term Of service has expired, they should
commence to receive bounte, in regular INSTALL
ments from that time, the same as the others that
enlist now This plan General Howe had great
confidence would succeed. He took measures to
ascertain how many would re.enlist providing they
could have this matter arranged as he proposed,
and the whole Division get chance to 20 home
to recruit aud have good time generally. This
was fully explained to US to the minutest particu-
lar. We had several dress paradss, in which the
exercises were limited to hearing full explanation
oi all the advantages that might be expected from
re-enlisting, and at one time we had brigade
dress parade whea Col. Grant took the stump,
or the saddle, rather, to explain great many
miIt'kss that he supposed we might be possibly
la5oring under. lie was very anxious, he said, 10
hsvo the whole brigade go home as a brigade, and
claim ali the dignity of veteran soldiers. lie told
US Of the probabilities Of speedy close ofthe war,
and though he was not OF those, who, when he
first came into the field supposed the war would
be over before the first three ysars had expired,
he now most certainly could not think the war
would last three years longer. Col. Wabridge
Ventured the expression at another time, that If
we went home as regiment or brigade, We might
never be called back
= war IS an uncertain game nd by this time
we ought to have learned better than to be nm
auy elated at our successes. remember about
the time we left Camp Griffin, nearly two wears
since, the New York Tribune said in view of
our successes, that within few months. in all
probability, the war would close. When we were
at Lees Mills, little later, the New York Herald
= even more enthusiastic, after summing up a care.
lul review Of the situation declared there was
!, prospect Of peace within lipo ,oc.ks Just now
= 1t looks as it was impossible for the rebellion to
e survive much longer We have cut huge slice,
, from their miserable coufederacy, and have can.
tured all their best strongholds. We have vot
the Mississippi river, and thus severed their coun
+ try in twain. We have nearly cut them in two
again at Chattanooga, and Il they persist in surviv
:, ing after receiving many more deadly blows lik,
these, it will truly indicate vitality wonderful,
> tenacious. But after ALL these things may b,
e changed within short time. A great battle ma,
d be fought, the rebels may get to very importan
e position first, or brigade may break on our sid,
e or charge be annhatod, and the rebels ma,
+ gain more important advantage than they hav
e possessed for long time. We had better no
L expect too much, and then It is less likely that WI
shall be disappointed.
}. There is strong probability that the 9th reg
/, iment will enlist in sufficient, numbers to entitl,
!, them TO the privilege Of going to Vermont q,
d a regiment, officers and all, and some think ,h
o other regiments in the brigade will, excepting