Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-12-30
FROM THE SEVENTEENTH REGI
MENT.
HEADQUARTERS 18th VI. IsFAsrRY, ,

HEADQUARTERS 18th vi. INFANTRY, !
Fort Davis, Va, Dec. 10, 1864.
Editor of Journal Our friends in Ver
mont may have u little interest in kaowin
some particulars OF our regiment more tina
is obtained in the general news. Fort De
Wis, which we garrison, is the first fort to tt
left of Fort " He'll, as it is popularity know
here, but the true name Of the fort is 81 Sedk
wick" after the lamented General. FoI
Sedgwick is on the Jerusalem plank road,
well as Fort Davis. This road leads int
tersburgh, but curves around the city 0
the east side, so that our line follows tn
road for half mile or so, and Fort Dsw
and Fort Sedgwick are both in sight of ID
city. and about one and half miles ther,
from in direct line. In this fort is the III
VI, 3lst and SD Maine, and eight pisces
artillery. We nave also line of rife-pil
connecting all the forts, and just to our rigt
is a small redoubt of four rihed Napoleons tn,
are also under our command, and act in con
cert with this fort. This tort is about squai
and each face abeut four hundred feet lont
The rebel forts in our front are about twenty
six hundred yards from us, and the pickets
both armies between, and they are about iv
hundred yards apart, but in some places neal
err. OF course under these circumstance
they have to be protected by earthworks,
pits, as the boys call them. These are yer
formidable, and can be held against any as
sault except columns in mass. Our front,
picket line, covering this fort, is about on
third of mile long, and send out out on
hundred and twenty men daily on picket
which makes a very strong line, and as
have but three small regiments to do this, a.
well as all other duty, it puts our men OF
picket duty once in three days, which is pref
ty severe in cold. wet weather. There is y
tacit understanding that the pickets are no
to fire on each other in the day time, but thi
understanding ceases at night, and then tn
clamor commences. The inoessant roar o
musketry for miles all along our lines, mucl
Of the time, 10 about equal that of line o
battle, and then occasionally the artillery get
restless and belches forth its double bass T.
play accompaniment to the musketry. Tn
rebels recently got in the habit of shsllin,
our pickets as they were relieving, but thinl
we have pretty much ended that. / applief
to Gen. Grffiu for some rihed pieces Of lon
range, and since we got them we can reacl
their batteries, and have pursuaded them b.
this argument to keep cool.
The 18th regiment is now in fine condition
Our numbers are not large, [between tire
and four hundred) but the men and officer
are in good health and spirits, and ready 70
anything that comes. The old brigade j
about four miles from us, and they visit u
daily, and passes to go TO their camp are at
premium. am sure there is no man in thi
regiment but has got father; son, uncl,
cousin or brother in some one OF the old req
ments.
One hundred guns we're fred here yester
day in honor, | suppose, OF Thomas gre,
victory over Hood. but we had so much goo
news yes erdsy that we concluded to make
general application VI our sslute, SO we cnee
ed for everybody everywhere who are striviu
to restore this glorious Union, and who al
At this time carrying Old Glory into the Z,
hottest corners OF the doomed confederacy.
Truly, X.