Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1864-06-14

ldItU III llt IDtut az lldL Hh9 w " Bl'Sp W Wv
artillery, but across feds, brooks, bitches and
X fences, through woods that are almost impene'
! trabl., and through mud holes that are very pen
4 -trlbr indeed, making miles marching with
neayy kuapsack on one's back, and pair Of tired
egs under his body, not the easiest thing in the
world TO accomplish. We did not get to the
river until about ten O'Clock in the evening The
regiment bad dwindled down pretty small from
strageGg. So much excessive duty since this
campaign commenced, has told upon the strength
! OF most of Us. With some it was impossible TO
I keep up. Ny right hand man and had threat
ened to fall out before the firing commenced, but
when oanuouading and muskelry grew pretty
sharp, my comrade said he should keep up with
the regiment at all hazards a-d though | didn'
I feel Laf No brave IS be did, felt ashamed 10 bt
outdont aud concluded to keep along i possible
lt grew dark. The artillery were in the road
and the infantry were in the woods On both sides
Olher troops mixed with ours and It soon began
10 be hard work for fellow to tell where be be-
longed Straggers we're abundant. ! fell in with
she current, but alas, | son huad il was only q
cl.rett Of slrigglers | couldn't find a mau
/ thl belonged 10 the "a Vermont, and when dld
fud some Of them they we're Ju't as ignorant o
where The regiment had gone as was Further
along | noticed squad Of mounted officers in
outing for their regiments, and appearing to be
IN the .sme oflorn condition that We were, anc
We TOOK lour4ge from their example. They were
officers, aud on horsebics and appeared to feel
some shat chagrioed at the idea OF struggling, but
We were private. and on foot and what did VT
care , Il the Provost Marshal had been there
thea to arrest all straggers, We nigh, have enjoy
ed their illustrous company, or rather they ours
10 view Of such bright probib ties | deter
mined TO remain q straggIer all night. | Fersuad'
ed one Of my comrades Who mas seldom ever
fallen out on a march to remain with me. We
stepped aside ialJ the woods and built US FIRE,
aud sooa had some good hot coffee 10 drink
. Our hayersacks contained nothing but hard tack.
Raw pork that We have abused so much hereto
fore, has been q rare luxury on this campaign.
Occasl0 aly an officers cook passed us that bad
come, but We could not beg nor buJ mouIhfol.
Hut our appetite, we're keen. aud the hard tack
happened 10 BE- most excellen, ones. We found
no difficulty in drposing Of two days ralioDs Oi
them on the spot. The brigade stopped but a
little ahead OF where we were. We joined th m
in the morning and crossed The riyer where I E
Fighting had bren It seemed the jtb Corps hsd
partly crossed Vhea the rebels came up in force
on their flank, With the intention OF driving them
back in the river. But they failed Of accom-,
plishing theif Object, and were driven back them
selves. Our artillery did fearful execution among
them. They claim that they saved US from a
disaster there.
We have had pretty severe campaign thus
far. Scarcely moment has been our OVID.
Sometimes We are building breastsorks, some
times marching, and sometimes fighting. Our
marches are not so remarkably long as they are
irregular, many Of them being done in tie night
10 the daytime We are continually shifting from
one place into another, building breastworks
here, supporting battery there, on picket or 90
the march, so that there is but little chance for
rest, and none or amusement.
1t seems to me il must require an extraordinl
ry military MUS to comprehend the reason Tor
all the movements tht we make, and their result
We take up position one day and ortiiy it, and
the next day we abandon it altogether. Some
times We think We are abou. 10 make regular
attack on the enemy, and sometimes we think
they are about to make an assault upon US, We
make all preparations for fight, but no fighting
is done. Ii We think We are going TO have a
days rest, we are pretty sure to fall in immedi
ately and commence to march, and when a days
rest does come, it comes quite Unexpectedly !
will give short account in detail OF the past few
days.
Saturday, the l4th, We slung our knapsacks at
about half past two in the morning and started
in pursu / of the fleeing foe" We made long
days march, though we gained but few mics,
swinging around to our left, and resting on the
river Ny. Here we had our tour OF picketing
aud some rest. We built US a breas.work, and
Tuesday, Just at night, we moved all our tents
upon line, with company streets, as if we were
going to make stop of several days, when the
order csme to pack up and fall in. Some we're
at work on their tents when the order came. We
\ marched all night, and accomplished scarcely half
dozen miles. have milched twenty easier,
ln the morning We found ourselves advancing
under pretty sharp artillery fire over the same
oreastworks that we had captured in our desper'
ate fight Of Thursday. About dozen Of our
regiment were killed and wounded We advanced
aud covered ourselves under one Of their inside
lines of breastwotks. There were other troops
ahead Of us, but most of the firing was done by
larillery. What We accomplished do not know
We fell back from there about ten O'Clock, and
maSed in large open feld, where we made cof-
fee, and eat our breakfast, or dinner, or both,
when We took up our line Of march back again.
We crossed the Ny that night, and after we hOt
found the place assigned for u', drew our rrons'
cooked what we wanted for supper, we prepared
to bivouack for the night. Some were too tired
and sleepy to eat at Ol At talf past two we
were called up again, and the line was advanced
close upon the rebels, where we worked all da,
throwing up breastvorks. We held these tRo