The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-05-27
The First Man that Fell IN Co. A.

How clearly, brightly the various figures
of the pictures, or which the miaGs eye
dwe.ls tonight, appear; how distinct the
memory OF the cool, spring evening, the
scattered camps, the fires and the noisy gab-
bling group of blue coated men.
A number Of US had been sitting round
the cooks fire, smoking our. evening pipe in
a circle, seated upon ends of wood, inverted
camp kettles and what not, and talking as
soldiers are wont to talk in evenings Ia
camps.
1t was the Sd Of April, 1862; the camping
round was the village Of Hampton, almost
beneath the shadows Of Fortress Monroe,
and the blue coated men are the soldiers OF
Porter's marching division" Manassas
had been evacuated and 'ho l"rr sroii -
winter camp life had been broken. Suddeu-
ly We had deserted the canvas house which
had been our home upon the Potomac. and
after short visit to the mud forts of sece8-
sion, in their abandoned stronghold, We en-
barked on the river at Alexandria, and q
week found US at the foot Of Yorktown Pc
ninSula, stripped Of supertluOus luggage, Ia
toned and trimmed out for a campaign Ike
pugilst from his trainers hands, waiting
only the word Forward !" to 90 to oul
work.
lever was an army Of men in better
spirits or better trim " than that let Ioost
suddenly from the irkSome confinement o
camp ljfe and thrown at once into the move
a.l exciting scenes Of field campaigning
The men w-.e burning with impauenee tC
prcss OIL and grasp the realities Of a sold.e.'
HE and participate in those glowing scene
Of The fed that their minds had pictured /,
them IN ti.e long, winter camp at night 4
camp.
Il was of these We talked around the glow
iug ire, On that COOL April evening, with In
hlcheg.ns ..ght playing on our features an'
Curing from our lips in the air. We talke
of the way which lay all untraveled betweel
US and The toe; Of the works at Yorktown
whose existence was known to US only throug
vague report; and of battles and victory
only victory and joyful retnrn to our tal
away northern homes. Then we talked {
those homes and cI these who dwelt there
parents ana brothers and sisters and sweet
hearts, until y9u would have thought v
were al! Of US brothers, 50 kindly did th
sentiment 0! confidence and love prevail.
While we were thus converSirS fellow
soldier of the gnard came hastily mp, in IA
lling cartridge box and knapsack, JUS, r.
lieved from post, and scmewha cooled b
, Two hour duty ont in the nignt; but h
does not stop TO warm himself. He
breathless With excitement, and cries as h
comes,-
"hurrah boys. news news
i dozen voice, cry out and all start vi
while some, who are near by, hurry up T
learn what it is. As for me, | moved nl
: from NY seat. A vague feeling of uneas
= ness, that had felt hundred times in sin
; liar circumstances crept over me, and dre
: my pipe from my mouth and gazed into Il
I fire as the guard continued:
v You know was on post and at the col
e nel's tent-the headquarters
v Yes yes :" said several.
n "Well, just before was relieved up roc
+ an orderly on a white horse, as though o
:. Nick was after him, and he delivered di
: patch to the adjutant, who was standing ou
h side, and he went into the tent to the colon,
!, and heard the colonel tell the major tn
r we are to march tomorrow morning."
2 The hubbub that ensued can only be a
is preciated by those who have seen simil
e, ones aud heard them. Presently down can
-e the orderly sergeant with an authoritatiy
d " Attention, company A." and the insta
= dead silence of the boys attested their an,
d ETY..
"We march tomorrow morning at Ga
light in full order, three days rations al