Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1888-01-02
A Trip to some of the old Camp
Grounds of the 18th Regiment.
WASHINGTON. d. G.. Dec. 10. 'S7.

| Washington, ID. G. Dec. -. '07.
NJ Editor,-Since the close of
the war | have often felt desire to
visit the field of operations of the
Second Brigade during its term of
service. Last spring | found great
pleasure in trip to GettysbuI gh,
| where the position of each Vermont
| regiment on the field could be distinct
| ly traced; and where Ex-Govern-
or Proctor, DR.. Billiard and the writ
er (the 10Th men presently did not
| fail to visit the place where our regi-
| ment left the 18th in charge of the 1st
corps train and went upon the field
under an order from Gen. Sickles;
and then the wheat field where we
lay that night then the identical
place to which we were moved close
up to the Artillery on Cemetery Hill
and then our course off the field
along in front of the Sd corps, past
the little old house where the furni-
ture and family were being loaded into
hay rack and SO on between the two
round tops to the Taneytown road,
when ordered on the afternoon of the
second day to go again to the defense
of the train around which Stuart was
lowering with his cavalry. This visit
to Gettysburgh was full of interest,
and on my return to Washington this
time, my desire has been stronger
than ever to visit the old camping
places and picket lines of the Brigade
during the winter and spring and early
summer of 1863-and especially those
of the 18th regiment.
The democratic majority of the pres
ent house has thus far done absolutely
nothing except to meet and adjourn
and sometimes for two or three days
still in doubt, L suppose, how to manage
Cleveland's free trade essay. When
on Friday last they adjourned till
Monday, | at once rallied such 10th
men as could be found, viz, Capt.
Aver of Co. B., since then DR.. Aver
of Buenos Ayers, now of this city,
and Lieut.. Thompson of Co. X. and
on Saturday morning we undertook,
as of old, the invasion of Virginia.
Starting on the Virginia Midland r.
r. (the old Orange and Alexandria,
at :30,a. M, we crossed long bridge
| Oatelv built new passed Alexandria,
old and dilapidated, with its slave
pen still standing, and Burke's Station,
where Stuart crossed at the time of
his cavalry raid the night the 10Th
regiment was at Centerville, and in
due time reached Fairfax Station.
Here we stopped only moment, but
long enough to step up to the old
camp ground. Right where it stood
there is now quite thick growth of
scrub oak and pine. The little knoll,
a few rods farther south, at the foot
of which the regiment was formed for
religious exercises on Sunday morn
ings (methinks | hear the clear voice
of Chaplain Cummings now and the
lower ground between that and the
camp are now under cultivation. At
the station we found a single horse
conveyance carrying the mail to the
Court House, and were soon moving at
a snaiPs pace for that historic seat of
Justice. The little old church, on the
right as we leave the station is still
there, land the old cOmmissary building,
also, near the track. just above, to the
left, where the Pennsylvania Reserves
went through the suffers tent that
afternoon are three or four small
houses. In other respects the Station
with its surroundings is as it was
when Vermonters held it twenty-five
years ago. AS we approached the
Court House the camp ground of the
10Th was easily found. John Mortar
tv, the Irishman, who lived in the old
house opposite, alias the man with
the tame oppossum, is still there.
He remembered the regiment distinct
ly, and | expect the boys must re-
member him. He pointed out the
places Of the company streets and
and field officers quarters, spoke of
our elegant stockades and fine fire.
places; but he did not seem to re-
member the untimely completion
of the Adjutant's, nor the legend con-
nected Herewith. He pointed out
the field where we drilled, to which,
however, Capt Aver had already call
ed attention, and the large spring,
also, across the road where the regi-
ment obtained its supply of water,
now covered with brick building
used as milk house, while in
the field about it was herd OF
well bred and well kept COWS. The
old camp ground itself is now cult
waited field, Moriarty declaring that
he had plowed it a dozen times. We
reached the Court House at ! l o'clock.
The town is but little changed. We
cast a hasty glance at the Court
House, the old hotel on the corner
and the big brick house from which
Moseby stole Stoughton-meanwhile
securing the town for conveyance
to take us to Chantiiiy, Ceptreville,
the Bull Run battle field and Manas-
sas Junction. Fortunately we found
young farmer of the name of MILAN
with a rugged pair of farm horses, who
lived on the battle field of Chantillv,
exactly in our line of march, and for
a consideration he undertook to land