Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1864-06-28

| come with sort OF Hcreech, very much Huch as
you would get by treadng on a cats tail
Then there are others, the sharpshooters' bullets
we suppose, that whistle on much higher key
and snap against tree with as much force as
If the tree bad been struck by heavy sledge
hammer Some strike in the dirt with pecu-
liar thud, Others fly high in the air and
make noise similar to huge humble bee.
Tdey do not tarry long by the way. Whatthey
do Is done. quickly, and woe to the man that
stand. IN their way. To add to the beauties
Of our situation here we are IN an ash heap, a.
it were. The earth is like pile of dust, and
it dances before every breeze. like Vermont snow
ia midwinter. A man may spread down his
rubber blanket tor seat, and one puff OF wind
will cover 1t 50 completely with dust that it
will be difficult to distinguish it from the
Iground around it. Our clothes are filled with
dust, and our coffee and every thing else we
cook IS sure to get clever sprnkling of this
tine sand This dirt goes everywhere. 1t gets
int5 our hayegsacks and knapsacks 1t file our
hair and miugies with the sweat on our faces.
1t is universal, and there is no getting rid Of it
saw one fellow get almost swearing mad be.
cause he couldn't write and sea up dainty y
little letter, q guess it was loye-oiter,) with
cut dsdgucng is appearance with soyenly
looking hager-narks Of dirt.
Oao REGIMENTS no. supposed to say here all
the time They are tO be relieved regularly
We came out here wednesday nIght the oth
after two days rest, having been here for the
two days previous to that, and last night Fri
day,) We anEiously expected to be relieved, but
no relief came We had to be resigned to our
fate. Wen, the boys say, We belong to the Old
Second Vernon, and we are considered espe
csily 1t FOR any rough, disagreeabe duty the
army needs 70 have done Relieving il accom-
pIlshed iu the night, and as slyly MS possible.
4 y0iey from the rebels, even 10 the nigh, if
they knew where a regiment WAS moving could
BE- given US with deadly effect. The last time
We LETT here rallying polnt was decided upon
just to the rear Of the woods AMI then, IRON
one company at i time, each man LETT and
found his way there on his own hook. the best
se could, where we formed again. Wonder #
the rebels are bothered in the same way when
relieving their men2
Our works are so nearly completed now that
not 80 many are wounded as there were . week
ago. Every regiment then lost several every
dly. exclusive 0l shirmishers We lost one
0aa Thursday nislt, almost the FIRST thing after
gvtlu. here. lie vas killed instantly by
piece ai she4. lie had just returned from q
yeteraa lurlnugh, and this was his hrst duty
to the front after getting back. Ills name was
Joseph FELTON,. lie belonged to Co. II, and
was from Fairfax VI. IL isa pleasure to bsar
testimony to his sterling integrity aud Christian
character believe he would have rather died
than to have done wrong act or neglected a
single duty. first became acquainted with him
at the Gouvalescens Camp, where we were both
detailed a short time for guard, and remember
his anxiety to gel back to his regiment as soon
8 he thought he was well enough to do duty
there Some of the boys told him to stay
where he was az long as be could it was easier
than doing duty in the field But MIR. FELTON,
was no shirk. He thodght 1t bis duty to 90 to
hls regiment as soon rs he was able, and no ar
gument would avail anything against his con-
victions Of dOty.
We are on the famous peninsula once more.
The place we now occupy is near Coal Harbor,
and about ten miles from Richmond. Gaines
Hill, where the memorable battle Of June 27.h,
ls62, was fought Is about two miles from here,
aud within the rebel lines. 1t is to be hoped
that the old programme of go is not to bc
enacted over again, with she same result, Both
armies have become Injured to war since then,
and boodier consequences would follow any
saeh result now. 1t will be hard work for
either army to destroy the other by fighting
! 1t would suit me much better to have Grant
capture Richmond by some prodgous dispay
of strategy. Another oil his flank movements
may bring us a little nearer the rebel city, per-
haps as near as Mcclellan reached in hls celc-
brated campaign two years ago. IL is beyond
me to tell how the remainder Of the distance
will be accomplished. That another such flank
movement may soon be made begins to be evil
dent. Ii srumored that orders have been re-
ceyed TO eyacuate at the White House, and
oring The supplies to City Point on the James
River We know that part OF the troops to
our rear have moved away somewhere, rumots
do not agree where and We all know, without
aay ifs or buts that We were not relieved last
night as we ought to have been, which must
surely mean something or nothing. All these
facts, with many others, We weigh as evidence
that we are gong to eyaouate here and 20
somewhere else-prObably to the left again.
Bot will close this useless scribbling fad
alter all, that it is impossible to wrto anything
sensible in place like this ] have not told
You of our severe marching to get here, nor of
the charge We made when We arrived, June let
/ When | have moro convenient season ! will
endeayor to do 80. Just now our attention is
directed chiefly to the " "Johnnes." Some Of
the operations here are quite amusing. A few
minutes ago there was lull in the hrlng, and
the boys hallooed, /" Wake up there, Johnnies
II Is getting dull here" half dozen shots
Aas the only reply. Tie other night after it
s.s safely dark, the rebcls were as " bold As
sheep They jumped upon their breasIworks,
II .uritnh thn O. NnnLnn nnnu of - - 10