Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-04-08
Our armp Correspondence.
For the Journal
A CONSCRIPT'S LETTERING. 7.
CAMP NEAR BRANDY STATION, !

Va, March 90, 1864.
Mr. Editor.--Too much time has already
elapsed, since your correspondent last APP
peared in yonr columns; his only apology
is Discrimination and the pressure of other du-
ties more imperative in their demands, for be
1t with others it may, since he entered the
service be has seldom found his time unem-
ployed. Our last expedition might have fur
nlshed him with theme, butanything like q
detail OF its events, now often and well de-
scribed by others, would fail to interest your
readers. Suffice it to say that the order to
move came Unexpectedly, and supposing that
something ike the late nnoisance in force
at Morton's Ford was afoot, the most of us
expected soon to meet the enemy, and had
occasion for the exercise of those feelings
which naturally arise in the breast of sol
der at such times.
The following verses which ! find in
newspaper so we'll describe the events which
usually precede battle, and the emotions of
brave men when called to the post of danger,
that think they cannot fail to interest such
OF your readers as may not have met with
them before
Our van had pressed onward the whole weary way,
The boys were all hopeful and some few gay,
As we neared the thick wood which covered the foe;
We battled at last,
Aud pulses throbbed fast
As each felt the cold dread
That before the DAY had
Some one Of our number in death might be low.
Soon the artillery passed by at full speed;
soon followed the horseman urging his s,eed
Ihen while We a, the front stood waiting the sign,
Up rose the souls prayer
a. q God my life spare o.
Now shoulder to shoulder
Zach brave heart grew bolder
As forward" came laundering along the line.
We had heard the order the long march through
But now II was heighted with impor, anew,
The snSe' was ours who the end could fcretelli
All death-fear gone,
Az thought Of self flown
And not step ALTERED,
And not eve altered
As We closed In the track Of our pioneer she'll
How the command thr us "Advance and Are 90
With the enemy's shot uhizzing faster and higher,
One sole duty was ours--to hear and obey.
We chaTgd aud fred
We loaded and fred
My good limbs did their part,
But my spirit dspart
From the terrible conflict sped far away.
with you dear friends in the old bAllow'd sDo,
trace each lot'd feature, each scene unforgot;
You were sad, my heart was o erhowing with ioy--
My smiles met your tears
Hopes mingled with fears
You dream'd not, dear brother,
Dearest father aud
That near you was lowering your own soldier boy
On the I'd of March, the fifth day of our
absence from camp, we received orders to re-
turn, which we did, between sunrise and sun
set, marching (many say distance of TWEEN
ty-eight miles, but should judge twenty five
miles to be nearer the truth. Again in camp,
its old round of duties are resumed with but
little to vary OF break their monotony.
Last Tuesday the 22nd, we made prepare
tions for grand army review, to take place
at Brandy Station the next day, but il was
prevented by the heaviest snow storm that
has visited Virginia this winter. The ground
was covered to the depthIof five or six inche,, .
and afforded every facility to those who were
fond of -balling. During the day our bow.
received a challenge from the 9th regiment
which was accepted by squad of about thirty;
these deployed as skirmishers advanced open.
ing upon the enemy with voley of snow
balls, who replied with spirit aud soon drove
our boys back TO their support, where they
rallied, formed in line Of battle, and with the
accession OF reinforcement from oamn. adj.
vanced again. driving tie enemy before them,
but they IN turn being reinforced charged and
compelled us to fall tack. Al Ibis iunctuie
! our officers appeared with reinforcement,
BON camp, when We at once ass umel the Of.
feDsive, charged, AND heehemy being an, bic
TO withstand our onset, we're driven before
US. From this time we had il all our own
way; the enemy rallied and charged upon US