Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1865-01-13
rRoM me rENrH KEa1MENr.

constructed two new camps, the last of which |
it now occupies.
The weather has been quite cold, and there
have been several severe storms of snow and
rain. Having to lie upon the frozen ground,
and in the mud while the houses have been
building, and with no wood except green
pine which the men brought upon their
shoulders two miles, we have suffered more
from the cold than ever before.
But our quarters are nearly completed, and
we are comfortable. We are situated close
to Gen. Grants military railroad, about one
half mile west Of the old Weldon road, and
four and one half miles south Of Petersburg.
Our camp faces the north, is but few rods
from the line Of works, about half a mile
from our picket line. and little more than
a mile from the rebel line. The Vermont
brigade is about a mile west Of us.
The country, as far as we can see, is al
most dead level, and there is but very little
timber except pine. Our wood is OF very
poor quality, and the teams have u haul it
long distance. There are no stone, so our
frepsces have to be made OF sticks and mud.
The soil is mixed sand and clay and water
is near the surface and quite good.
Before the war this section was thinly set
tied, and there we're few marks Of enterprise
and industry to be seen. A citizen told me
that the best land could be bought for ten or
fifteen dollars per acre. Much Of the country
has been exhausted Of its richness, and sui-
tered TO grow up to old field pines, which in
thirty years attain large growth. The soil
is quick, easy to till, and with proper care
can be easily restored and made quite pro-
ductive. Vermont farmers in ten years would
q tbaso d,t, - Ia ,,tt l.
handsome cottages, and reap wealth from the
regenerated fields. Still, there are more in
vi ing fields for their enterprise south of Ma
son and DIxon's Line than these.
During the month of December 1864, the
regiment has lost six office'o Disease, which
as we'll as the leaden storm of battle, lays
low the ambitious and brave, old wounds
which disq uAlify for future service. and the
stern hand of justice, are the agents by which
these CHI ingee have been wrought. Captain
c. f. Nye o. F, and Lieuts G. =. Wech and
Austin w. Fuller OF X were discharged on
account OF wounds received at Cedar Creek.
They leave the service with a well-eRrned
reputation as soldiers and gentlemen, and
their scars will testify to their valor.
Major l.. T. Hun, was compelled to leave
the service by an I'D wound received at Coal
Harbor, June Sd. Before the Mexican war he
served private five years IN Phil. Kear-
ney's regiment Of Dragons, under Captain
Philip ST. George Cook, now General Cook.
lie came out with this regiment as Captain OF
Go. II, aud such was wounded at Coal Har-
bor As soon as his wound was healed he
returned to duty and calamity commanded
the regiment at Opequan and Fishers Hill,
and fought with the regiment at Cedar Creek.
He was then promoted to be Major in the
place of the lamented Dillingham;, but his
wound was so troublesome that he had to
leave the service. A man OF mature years
and large experience, of discreet and quiet
ways, of clear judgment and courage which
shrank from no necessary work, he was an
ffieer highly valued by all who knew him.
He was our fourth Major, and now we have
got TO have our fifth.
| Charles G. Chandler, our fourth Lieutenant
! Colonel, has recently been dismissed the SER
vice for mis- behavior before the enemy, and
conduct unbecoming an ficer and gentleman.
VIM. W. Henry, our third Colonel Gen.
Ripley and Colonel Jewett being the two first
has been compelled to leave US on account
of chronic and growing illness, the seeds of
which were sown in the carly part of the war
while he was an officer ia the Second kegi-
ment
He will be known at home, and his inAu-
ence will De felt there, the same as before the
war. But we think of him as our leader
through many discouraging hardships,
through many scenes of peril, through many
u dark hour Of trial
The fighting men are proud to tell how, in
the charge at Coal Harbor, in which he was
wounued, be advanced ahead of his regiment
and demanded this surrender Of rifle pit full
of rebels, which demand was complied with (;
how at No nocacy he fought the rebels until
every other regiment left the field. and retired
only when moments delay would have rem
dered capture inevitable; and how at Cedar
Creek, when the enemy had siezed Me
X nights Battery, he ordered his retrealing
| line TO about face, called his Ulcers to form
a line with him in front Of the men, and then
ordering charge rushed forward, seized the
captured guns from the very hands OF the en-
envy, and sent their advance fleeing wildly to
the rear Col. Randall did a similar shing
at Gettysburg, and battles afford opportunity
for few more brilliant deeds of heroism.
lie has watched the interest of his boys
with fathers solicitude, and his uniform
kindness under circumstances of great trial
has won him the love of all.
4 In recognition Of his merit and in honor of
the service which he has performed, be has
been recommended by his superior officers
for the brevet rank of Bugadier General
The regiment lis now without field officer,
and under command of Capt. Geo. T.. Damon
Il Christmas and New Years passed without
much celebration in this regiment. Some
of the regiments around us had fine dinners
which were sent from home, and there were
several flag presentations. We are grati6ed
TO learn that the people of Montpelier, Bur
lington and Rutland have resolved TO give W.
a new flag. Ii will be borne as bravely and
be as well defended as the flag of any other
Vermont regiment. G.
CANADIAN ASNExATIoN.-The Pays, an
influential Canadian paper, reports that the
following question was lately dscusse at
LInstitut Cdnddlen "Would not annexa-
ton with the United Statas be preferable to
Lower Canada in every respect to legisa-
tive union disguised under the name of Com
federation OF the British Provinces, such as
adopted at the Quebec Conference :" The
argument OF the speakers in the affirmative