Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-01-22

For the Journal.
FROM THE TENTH REGIMENT.
CANT NEAR BRANDY STATION, VA. !
Ian 9th 1894

Dedr OoundL- our paper Is very wei
come visitor in our camp, but more special,
to Company b, (it having been raised in you
town and its vicinity y we read it with grea
interest, for it contains our home news from
our own town and state, and also, as to tn,
whereabouts ana condition of our other Reg
iments in the field. Knowing that two o
your correspondents &C. A. c } who was cap
tured near Brandy Station, Va, come time il
October last and taken to Richmond, and also
Serg't Hiram NJ Pierce, who lost his left arm
in the battle Of Orange Grove, and is now il
the hospital at Brattleboro, VT. are wher,
they cannot give you much information con,
corning our Regiment, thought would try
in my feeble way, thinking that perhaps YOU
might be able to form something of an idea
of how we are getting along.
A detail of about three hundred men from
our regiment went on picket last Wednesday
and we expect them in to- night, making -four
days job of it. l understand that it is be-
tween eight and nine miles from here to the
picket line, which makes quite a pleasant
walk
Lieut. stetson of Co. B, has gone to Yer
mont on lurough of fifteen days. Recruits
are coming in almost daily. about fifty for this
regiment, not one for To- b. Sergt Davis OF
Co. II, and Corp. Stckney of Co. b, are de-
tailed to drill them. We have got our quar-
tiers fixed up so as to keep us quite comiorta-
BILE, with good FIRE places in them, and with
plenty of good wood see no reason why
we may not enjoy ourselves this winter, mot
withstanding the clear cold and frosty wealth
or that we have had for several days past, and
which was preceded by several days of rain
and snow,) excepting when turn comes to
go on picket.
The express comes to our camp every other
day, and the boys are having boxes come from
home. fresh and good, packed full of eatabes
such as pies. cakes, butter, sugar, cheese, &C.,
just suited to the taste of the soldier
Lieut.. Col. Henry, who has been home since
November last on account of poor health, is
expected in to night. Sergt. Foster of Co. b,
who was sent to Washington, thence to Brat
tleboro, Vt. some time in September last, to
recruit his health, arrived in camp the Odd
ult., looking hale and hearty. He is now
acting as Orderly of the Company +; we like
him well he appears to give his whole atten-
ton to the welfare and benefit Of the Compa-
ny, showing no Partially whatever. and, as
heard an officer say the other day, " he de-
serves the place"
Before closing, allow me to give you short
history, as | am able, of your correspondents,
&c. A. CO. and III. NJ. P.) Curtis A. CO.
burn was appointed Regimental Postmaster
at Brattleboro, Vermont, and also Brigade
Postmaster while in camp near Washington (;
we all liked him much He was always very
anxious that we should get our mails prompt
ly and daily, if it was to be got at. He was
transferred to the Signal Corps in August
last. and was captured by the rebels while on
our retreat from Culpepper to Bull Run, in
October.
Sergt. Hiram NJ. Pierce, (of whom feel
more particularly interested, he always being
with the Company has been good soldier
and done his duty well in every spot and
place, and by his coed conduct has won the
esteem Of every member in the Company, al
ways cheerful and happy, scarcely speaking
to any one without smile. While detach-
ment of Cos. b, G, and X, were doing picket
duty at Conrad's Ferry, Md, one year ago,
he was detailed as Acting Quartermaster and
slso Sergeant Major OF the detachment. and
in those positions he was found fully compe-
tent. BY his gallantry at the battle of Orange
Grove, he proved himself to be an earnest,
brave and noble champion to the cause Of hL-
manity, liberty and his country. In the pro-
gress of that battle as we were ordered to fix
bayonets and charge, on approaching the
rail fence he spoke so loud that he was heard
by every one in the Company, Come on Co.
B." and was one of the first to climb the fence
He had been over but moment when heard
him erclaim-" am wounded, my arm is
broken" The next time saw him at
Brandy Station, Va, several days afterwards /;
as soon as heard that the wounded had ar
rived, went down to see them, aud ! found
Sergeant Pierce he appeared quite glad to see
me, as l was to see him, but felt very sorry
to see him with but one arm, (his left arm
was taken off above the elbow. He told me
that it had been very painful, for on account
OF the hAsty retreat of the Medical corps from
the field in light marching order, his arm was
not attended to until two or three days after
The battle.
Lieut.. Stetson, who has been in command
of the company most of the time since we
have been in the service, drew my attention
at the battle Of Orange Grove. He stood
bravely at his post. remarking boys, keep
cool, and do not shoot until you can see
something to shoot at Lieut.. Abbott Of
Co. ID, (then acting as lst Lieut.. Of Co. b.
was doing all he could to keep good line,
and also TO preserve good order in the COM
pany. After Gilman Storrs was shot, boy
that we have missed very much, Lieut. Stet-
son Nwhom you all kho" 10 not very casl'y
scarea). gr-sped musket and asking the
boys if they had any ammunition for him, l
gave him some caps, and some one else some
cartridges, when he loaded and fred fast
as he could, remsrking that he hoped that
each bullet would do good execution, for
they had killed his boy "Gim." Lieut.. Alb
bott came out with us as Orderly Sergeant,
and after he was promoted to ID Lieut.. of
Co. d, the Co. very generously presented
him sword, belt and shoulder-straps, cost
ing about $50 90. as testimony of their re-
CARDS for him. 1t is now getting late and
will close by asking you to accept this my
frat effort. p. +.
The ice has rendered Johnsons Island no
longer an Island and fears have been enter
tanned of new attempt on the part OF the
rebel officers at that point 30 effect their es-
cape. To meet any movement of this kind, a