Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1865-06-23
For the journal.
FROM THE TENTH VERMONT.
BALLS Cross ROADS, Va,
L.. ~ focE

Mr.. ED1roR I'll am once more with the
remnant Of the 10th VT, Regt., and my heart
grows sad as look upon it's decmated ranks,
and gaze up and down the short line Of faces
as the little handful Of heroes stand on dress
parade, searching in vain for the familiar
countenances Of 1868. Like the flag which
it has followed through so many deadly char
ges, and which now hangs in the Representa-
tive's Hall, at Montpelier, an incontestble
monument Of its vslor, nearly all us stars haze
set but the few that still remain have grown
brighter and more precious to US from the
absence of their murdered and mutilated COM
panions, for we are reminded Of the danger
through which merciful Hand has safely
guided them.
By consulting the rolls OF Co. B, | find
that Of the 12l enlisted men who have at va
rious times been members Of the organization,
only SO are left, and Of that number ! Q are
absent in Hospitals, and where are the rest I.
Thirty-two Of them are in their graves-some
few Of them beside their ancestors in the
quiet village grave yards Of their beloved
homes but by far the greater portion Of
them have been laid uncoffined in nameess
graves upon the battle field where they fell,
and in the potter's field of the Southern pris-
ots where they died the lingering death Of
starvation. The remainder Of this deficiency
have been discharged from service at various
periods, many of them msngled and disabled
for life, --incapactated from earning liveli-
hood, and dependent upon the charities of the
public for their very existence. Capt. Dill
bingham and Lieuts. Stets0n and Thompson.
have fallen with their faces to the enemy, and
the company is now commanded by Captain
Daniel Foster Of Wsitsfeld, who came out
with the company as Sergeant, and has earned
his present position by vigorous application
Of bullets and bayonets to belligerent rebels
wherever opportunity offered. lst Lieut. f.
J. Stickney Of Montpelier, has also risen by
virtue of hard knocks" from the rank OF
Corporal.
Upon the branch of pine tree in front of
Capt. Fosters quarters where am now writ
ing, sits game "rooster" Of undoubted bel
ligerent propensties-one which could he
speak, might tell some interesting stories in
regard TO the crushing out Of the rebellion
The Captain picked up this monarch of the
hen yard together with his now deceased
spouse" near Front Royal, in the Shenan-
doah Valley, last fall, and has since been con-
sidered and treated as member Of Co. B, and
has deported himself as though conscious OF
the honor thus conferred upon him. He par
ticipated in the siege Of Petersburg, rode a
pack horse to Danville and back, whipping
all the noted fighting cocks on the route and
in Washington, without ever once meeting
witt defeat, and is now patiently waiting the
completion Of the mnster-out rolls, when he
will accompany his comrades to Vermont, and
in the quiet retirement OF the Captains barn
yard enjoy the fruits Of his devotion to his
country, o'casionly varying the monotony Of
his secusion by little " scrimmage just to
keep his hand in, and to remind yankee roos-
ters that although JEFF donned the petticoat
and "Shotoed his heels" upon his arrival at the
" last ditch," yet there is more valiant sort
of chivalry at the South, that fights. as well as
crotus. that never shows the hite feather -
and dies game" if die it must.
Her majesty, " Mrs. Biddy," after laying
her master 81 eggs along the line Of march,
at length died from the effects of brutal
kick administered while she was foraging''
in the regimental grainery.
Every man in the regiment who can " sling
ink" with any skill is hard at work upon the
muster-out rolls and though the job is a
tedious one, yet, as the reward of their COM
pletiou is to be the long looked for return
home, every effort is being put forth to finish
them, and the regiment will probably be in
Vermont by the Fourth" Pr.