The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-03-18
From the Old Vermont Brigade.
BRANDY STATION, Va, Mar. ), 1864.


BRANDY STATION, Va, Mar. ), 1864.
Mr.. EDITOR: Your readers have undoubt-
edly seen ere this reports of the operations
of the force that spoke of in my last letter,
going out from hereifor a reconnaissance,
composed of the sixth corps, one division Of
the third and about 1900 cavalry under Gen.
Custer, which was an independent command
he was ordered to, while Col. Sawyer of the
LIST VT commanded his old brigade, with
Gen. Fitzpatrick. The result of Gen. Kilpat-
rick's expedition We are waiting impatiently
to near, but the demonstration upon the left
wing ofthe enemy is plainly visible,fo besides
the three hundred horses and fifty prisoners
captured and brought in, regular stampede
was raised among the colored population to-
wards our lines, and have been coming into
this station by scores for two days past
mostly upon foot, though in some instances
they have appropriated the teams of their
masters, by way o. balancing accounts. In
such cases the wagons are we'll packed with
women and children, and a sturdy negro
teamster upon each horse These people
are generally we'll supplied with confederate
money, which they say is vely plenty with
them. nothing selling for less than two or
three dollars.
Yesterday a captain, lieutenant, sergeant
and FIVE privates came in, off picket. Their
three years term of enlistment expired the
It'll of this month and they were told they
must re.enlist or they would be Immediately
conscripted. They said they chad honestly
and faithfully fulfilled their contract and had
no desire to enter upon another, especially
under their peculiar voluntary system; too
much like Napoleons free suffrage - vote
70. him or be shot" Most of the conscrip,
deserters report in very few days, in many in
stances they never enter their regiments at
all.
Our brigade were all out in the reconnois-
sance. excepting very few detailed as camp
guard. They marched % miles, were out
four days and five nights without tents.-
though they found plenty of dry rails to
burn-and returned 10 camp with ev-ry man
all enduring every hardship and privation
like heroes the veterans too proud TO grum-
bic before the recruits, and the recruits
plucky and too proud to be out-done by the
veterans. All are now well rested and feel
ing like boys again.
The veterans continue to re-enlst by regi-
ments. The 9th Penn. left for home yes,
,erday on furlough. Gen. kilpatrick's raid
has accomplished perhaps all that was ex-
pected Of it-he has gone where he pleased
through the enemy's country, every where
excepting into RichmoGd which could not
reasonably be expected OF cavalry force
merely. unsupported by infantry or artillery
The con,raband whiskey trade Seems "a
flourish, greatly to the disadvantage of the
soldiers, notwithstanding the efforts Of the
provost marshal. But suffers understand
very well who among the under officers o:
the examining police force, are in need OF
stomach bitterS,"" schedam schnapps,' and
"old binninger,' and bes,owing their remedies
quite generally, they produce an immediate
effect; though occasionally a 10: Of liquor
falls into the hands of the provost, there to
ne recontiscated, many times, by the sol!iers
stealing and getting drunk on it. Here
might be great field opened for temperance
reform and occupied by the Christian Com
mission, in which great good might be ac-
comp'ished, if some Of the money expended
in furnishing reading matter for the army
which is thrown away as soon as the agents
back is turned, could be appropriated to pay
John B. Cough and such men as he for lee
turing few weeks among the soldiers this
winter.
The weather continues very dry and pleas
ant; at Alexandria las, Monday they were sow
ing oats, but well protected inside the fortiiica.
tons, SO the crop would be safe, even If our
troops should make another advance on
Washington" We expect the reorganiza-
ton of the army will be completed and an
nounced soon as Gen. Meade gets through
before the committee at Washington. There
is no doubt here but Gen. Meade will be
continued in command, and the belief is that
Gen. Sedgwick will have command of one
grand division, Gen. Hancock another while
Gems. Couch, Warren and Howard are prom
inent and popular candidates for the other.
Yours, &C., +.
| LIEUT.. .GEN. CRANE.