Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1864-07-29

meant anxiety occasioEed
Again, there is spirit of determination,
which is half in any cause, in the South that
we look in vain for at the North. Let any
Northern army invade any part of the South as
populous as was the region around Gettysburg
last year, or as is Maryland from Hagerstowr
TO Baltimore this year, and see If every man
would pack up and run without any attempt to
turn the tide against the invader Such facts
suggest their own conclusions.
The CONSUMPTION law recently passed by Con-
gress and under which the President has called
for half million more men looks like husi.
ness and il it is carried into full effect it will
furnish pleasing evidence that our people are
in earnest in this work. If men can he pro-
cured by honest volunteering all the better, but
to fill the ranks Of our soldiers with insane,
crpples, fools, jail-brds and bounty-iumpers--
and within two months all these classes have
been represented in this brigade by recruits
from Vermont, Ne~hampshire and Mane-is
an insult to officers and fraud on governm ent.
Every citizen Of the proper age owes his first
and highest earthly duty to his government
There is no qestioning this statement, it is an
axiom. A draft. which is neither more nor less
than deciding by lot who shall go, is the most
impartial and just way to determine who, if but
part is wanted, shall save his country. It's
operation is equal and fair and no one can rea-
sonably complain if the steps to put it in force
are fairly taken. II is hoped out here that I'M
der the call sufficient men will be raised TO fill
our thinned regiments and enable Gen. Grant
to finish up the Job in hand. The South have
now every one Of their available men in their
ranks. have not met nor seen in Virginia
single sound man under sixty years of age ex-
cept in battle or as prisoner of war. Those Of
our cavalry who have been out on raids have
the same experience.
cannot write you any military news. The
9th corps with others Of the army Of the Poto-
mac is in the trenches before Petersburg, sub
stantially as it has been for a month past We
have erected forts and mounted big siege guns,
and so have the rebels. There has been daily
artillery and mortar practice and constant pick.
ct firing on some portions of the extended line,
and there have been slight losses daily on both
sides. Some other things have been done look
ing TO the great result, but these are contraband
of publication.
The weather has been hot and dry, the sur
face of the ground one mass Of impal pable dust
and water very scarce. From the I'd of June
to the 10Th of July not a single shower wet the
parched earth in this region, while every day
the sun shone with melting fervor. We have
since had beautiful rain which has temperate
" quoted the dust, but not increased the sup
ply of water. Yet this dry weather has beer
favorable to our earthly operations.
A large portion of the army is on the sick
list of diseases due to a malarisl origin. But
thanks to the Christian and Sanitary Commits
sions they are well cared for and supplied with
all flat can conduce TO their recovery or com
fort save the pure air and water of Vermont
and the kind attentions of loving kindred
Those on duty also are greatly benefited by
the supplies of fresh vegetables, pickles, &C.
received through the same sources. Ii any one
has doubts of the usefulness Of these agencies
I III Ici'-'h'S NV hNShH vi Jul TOiNlSI0' hc Ioo
only to visi, City Point hospitals and our camp
to have his doubts dispeed.
The 18th VT regiment now numbers but 80
men present for duty, and its roster of o1ic ers
is proportionately small. OF Co. A, Captain
Brown and I'd It. Gilman are at home wound
ed and LIST 1t. Brown recently died of fever.
OF Co. b, Capt. Davis died of wounds, Lieut.
Donforth has resigned from disability, and 1t
Hubbard has not joined the regiment yet but is
daily expected. Of Co. c, Capt Kenfeld has
returned to duty, Lieut.. Guyer was killed on
the 18th ult, and Lieut.. Randall is reported
absent without leave. Of Go. y, Capt. Eaton
is ad-de-camp on Gen. Gritin's staff, 1t. Glib
son died Of wounds, and Lieut.. Pierce is with
the company. Of Co. f, Capt. Robinson has
not yet returned to duty, Lieut. Martin is al
home on leave of absence from wounds and
Lieut.. Burbank is on Gen. STANDARDS staff
Of Co. f, Capt. Knapp is detailed on Court
Martial, Lieut.. Hicks is acting Adjutant, and
Lieut.. Kingsbury is at home wounded. OF Co
G. Capt. Hartshorn and Lieut.. Bingham are
with the company, and Lieut.. Branard is al
home wounded. The officers of Co. II, are al
on duty. Co. l has not yet arrived
QUoD.