Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-01-31
From tho Mtssengcr
From the Army.
BEFoRE PETERSBURG Jan. 10. l8G

DEAR BRO. EBsTKR ;-AnOkher rainy day
to day, and about as dismal as such days usu-
ally are in camp. Not very agreeable il ISN'T,
oHog on picket or on guard in q rain Storm,
in the winter season. We have had ore than
our usual share Of rough weather this winter.
Day before yesterday it was piuchingy cold.
Tho pickets kept very quiet. Not gun was
heard along the whole line Whether the cold
weather had anything to Dc toward making it
al! quiet along the line, Do not pretend to say
but when it is too cold to handle gun bare
handed, pickets unless they are more then usu-
ally belhgerent are not apt to indulge very ex-
tenslvely IN Inc sport Of firing at each other.
Yesterday It was a little more pleasant, but cUid
enough for respectable winter day in Vermont.
To-day it is warm enough to rain, but hardly
warm enough to melt the little snow and ice
there is on the wet, and mud soaked ground.
Bat II is pleasant enough in ones tent before a
cheerful fire, and the patterlng rain that is max
ng only mud and slosh in the streets, is making
music on the canvass overhead. Only be sure
the Orderly-Sergeant wont come around and
tell you that you are booked for u tour OF guard
ing or picketing, but will leave you alone and
unnolested, and you can take seat on your
bunk, and write or read as easily and comfort
ably as you please. We have no. had much
duty to do Of late. No drilling has been requr
ed Of US. 10 fact, there is no good place near
By where we can drill. II ia all stumps and
brush in our rear, and front, with no opening
anywhere that we can claim for parade
ground. Where the ground isn't covered with
stumps ard brush it is covered with pine trees,
50 that there is no chance to mann1yer a bat
talon or brigade, aud therefore, drilling is out
Of the question. But we veterans arc not
very much grieved that it should be SO. 90.
ing through tho various eyolutions Of brig
ade, or q battalion, may be very interesting to
a newly initiated officer, but for US who have
gone through them over and over again a thou
and times already, it has NJ interest at all.
The times here are getting to be very dull.
Not much to Do, not much to read, one can
hardly make himself busy enough to keep away
homesckness, and the time often drags along
heavily. have heard that the delegates Of the
Christian Commission were coming here with
their abundant supplies Of good reading matter.
We wish they would come. We certainly would
welcome them most heartily. Their religious
newspapers and books would be gladly read,
and thus mony an idle hour would be turned to
useful account But better than that to a reg
iment liz ours without chaplain, to have a
nving instructor to bring the OOspcl nome 10
our IN arts, and warm our souls with heartfelt
truth 5, by ono who feels be has Divine COM
mis- ion for this very work, If at tho same
tine he could supply a regiment with the very
be st of religious reading from the bounty OF our
knd friends at home, through the Christian
Commission, he would exert an influence in a
regiment more powerful perhaps than he would
be aware Of. 1t takes line upon line, and pre-
cept upon prSeept to keep religion alive any.
where IN this wicked world, but more especially
is this true, in a camp where evil influences
come in on every hand, and where the common
restraints Of civil life are not to be found. An
earnest, minister of the Gospel, to press the
truth upon all though it might not win all into
the Redeemer's fold, or even il it should not win
any, it would make much better standard Of
popular sentiment among the men, than to be en-
trely destitute Of such teaching. Il dosn't take
very keen observer, to notice very palpable
difference among the men, in the sentiment Of
right aud wrong, when they are daily brought
in contact with religious truth, in some form or
other, and where they are entirely without it,
1t is easy enough for any one to tell what ought
to be done and the need there is OF its being
done. But you know how it is in an army,
how natural it is to argue ones consclenoe into
silence, aud when n crowd to 80 along with
it, Things that once looked sinful, and gross
ly wicked lose that wicked look, and men stsI
down from bad to worse SO easily that they
hardly know it. Profanity used to be consid
cred wanton insult to the Almighty, but here
it's only burst OF recklessncss, and nothing is
really felt or intended by it. Jack plays cards
to Kill time, but Jack is perfectly honest. liz
uses his own five cent scrip to make his games
interesting, and has at he right to do 50 il he
chooses? lie has good excuse for what hi
does The DAYS are long, and it is very lone
some, how else can he do? As for wasting time
, his time is of no consequence at best. And as
) or money he makes as much as he loses, and
keeps along on the whole about even At hom,
( he would consider it as gambliug,, but here, i
4 has moro specIous name. Officers and others
E set the example, and it is so easy, aud 50 natu
raj TO follow while there is no warning voice tc
$ hinder, that there islbul little wonder so man,
are found trespassing upon forbidden ground.
+ suppose it is always 50 in large army
: Camp life is proverbally demorAlzius 10 another
c than military sense. Probably ChristlaI
a people never did Sd much before for an army
II or took 80 large an interest in its spiritual wei
e iare, as our people have done for US. In on
hours OF denesa whom Satan offers his temptn
|. amusements, the Christian Commission come
i along, and their delegates distribute with iit
|, erai hand, books, newspapers, tracts oil strrrln
i interest, and in many other ways seek to hay
our time usofully occupied. Little prayer mee
st ings are established, and on interest 10 reigio
70 Is soon aroused. An influence Is at one
/. awakened to counteraot tho opposing in0uen,
., of wckedness, aud this influence is felt, more
ii less throughout regiment, Disguised sin hg