Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1864-08-30

I ook handful of canteens, and started of by the
side of the road to fn1 water, il any could be
found. | travelled five or six miles, at distances
varying from half OF a mile, to mile and
half from the line Of march and examined
every place where the lay Of the land seemed to
indicate the possibility Of spring ora creek
and tried at several houses where there were In
habitants but could find no water. At one place
found there were some of our wounded cavalry
men from the skirmish the day before, and !
thought here surely they must have water but
they told me the nearest place where they got
any would take me three quarters OF mile fur
ther out Of my way. Thinking, perhaps, they
might have motive in telling the soldiers they
had no water felt inclined to examine the prem
ses myself, but a Union soldier left with the
wounded assured me that it was fact and be
told me had better not % further from the
marching column, as the country was infested
with rowing gusrriIl4s. Several suaggers had
BEEN picked up sy them, end no Union soldier
was safe beyonl our army Eventually found
some water, and filling my cAnteens, hurried to
the train, where | wos on guard. On my way
there, had many tempting offers for gust a
drink, from soldiers half dead with thirst some
offering d, high as a dollar, and some drink Of
whisky in exchange fora drink Of water, but my
own comrades needed it, SO paid no heed to the
potent Inducements urged upon me TO give 1t
away.
At our camp near Frederick we pumped every
ssll dry 10 that near vicinity and before We lett
those more remote were beginning to share the
..me IA te. Just before we left, visited several
pumps. but everywhere the guard gave me the
same answer" failed up" AT one place there
was d little, which was allowed to only few
privileged ones. The guard stopped me, but
iold HIN | wan ted to carry it to Gen. Grants
h,al q1erers Il was on wagon guard there. }
What, says he, 3" is Genera Grant here when
did he come p | told him Gen. Grant was sc-
tullly with us-that be came the day before. The
guard looked lucreduIou', but be allowed me to
get my water. lie probably thought meant
the ndomitsble Lieulenant.General bat il be
pretends- to be a soldier in tie American army,
and hasn't heard Of the Vermont Brigade or oui
Brgadier General, his ignorance is inexcusable.
llo deserved to lose pallfal Of water.
Ga, camp near the Monocacy was well sup
Piled. We had the whole river to use from.
Tins might have been one reason Of our moving
there. Another might have been that our posi-
ton enabled Us better to protect Washington
and Baltimore, for under no circumstances must
our army uncover those cities. We stayed there
just two days. Marching orders came Friday
the 9Th, and Saturday our corps camped on the
same ground, beyond Hsrpers Ferry that We
had occupied week before. Here we enjoyed
another short respite from marching. We did
not leave there till Wednesday the 10th. This
gave u, ln opportunity to draw new clothing, aud
to wash our old clothes that had become sstu.
rated With dust and sweat. Wednesday We
marched all day, and again Thursday. The wea-
lher was extremely hot, and the roads dusty as
usual Friday we came up with the enemy on
Cedar Greek near Strausburg. Our cavalry had
followed close upon their heels all the way. Our
pickets nov extend TO the town. We are about
opposite Manassas Gap in the Blue Ridge, and in
the neighborhood Of fifty miles from Harpers
Ferry There has been no fighting here with the
armies proper, but the skrmishers on both sides
have had some lively engagements. The picket
line Was advanced this afternoon. hear that
Capt. Wales Of Co. c, is again wounded. He
had just returned from the hospital, with wounds
received 10 the Wilderness still unhealed. My
informant says that he has 40 ugly wound in the
head, bul refused to leave the field till the fight
ing was over, and he declines leaving the regiment
on account Of it.
! 1t does not seem to be the intention to attack
the eaemy here n front. | doubt II any one be.
low General Sheridan himself knows what is in
tended. Our division has recrossed the Creek.
but The picket line is farther advanced. The
troops have had orders to march at a moments
notice this evening, but unless We are pressed by
the enemy, we probably shall not advance. The
cavalry have gone around TO attack the enemy's
/ flank The enemy have got position here and
are evidently waiting for something to turn up.
Perhaps they are not expecting it will be Sheri-
dams cavalry, ANTI-REBEL.