The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1891-07-03
Tenting on The Old Camp Ground
Or Co. g. 10th VT. Vols. to the Front.
BIZ Lieut.. T. II. WHITE.
MO 3.

Or Co. q. 10th VT. Vols. to the Front.
By Lieut. T. FL. WHITE.
NO ..
Picket and out post duty was new to
all alike, and before we had been a
week in camp the excitement began.
l was in charge of the Camp Guard for
three nights in succession owing to the
scarcity of non-commissioned officers,
and the great amount of work re-
quired of them. Between one and
two O'Clock of the third night all alarm
was fired from No. 6 post. l had re-
lieved the sentinel about half hour
earlier and spread my blanket at one
end of the sentinel's beat where he
could call me at once should any thing
happen out of the usual course. When
the shot was fired Henry M. Tenny
was on duty. When he called me he
was considerably excited, and by the
time | was on my feet he had raised
his musket over his head an asked if
he should fire. Idirected him to quiet
ly walk his beat and l would attend to
routing the Company. Going directly
to the Lieutenant's quarters | woke
Lieut.. Blodgett and Newton and then
routed. every man in the Company.
AS soon as the Company could be form
ed in line it was at once marched to
No. post where the trouble was sup
posed to be. 1t was a very dark night
and as this was the first alarm it is safe
to say that every man carried his heart
in his mouth. We arrived at the post,
we found there had been no cause for
alarm and SO the Company was soon
marched back to camp, where the roll
was called, when it was found that sir
of Company CPS braves had hid in the
brush at the first alarm and had not
been with the Company at all. The
next morning they were summoned
before Lieut.. Blodgett and informed
that if they should repeat the conduct
of the night before they would be court
marshaled and severely punished.
1t was the duty of the commanding
officer to send messenger to Seneca
to inform Maj. Henry, then in COM
mand at that point, of the threatened
danger, but Lieut.. Newton saw fit to
60 himself and when he returned he
found he had but one shoe on, and had
carried the other in his hand up and back
a distance of more than two and one
half miles.
The following night l was by order
of Lieut.. Blodgett placed in charge of
the camp guard once more. About
ten O'Clock the Lieutenant came to me
and asked me to go up to No. and re-
main there until morning. AuthOriz-
ing me to take charge Of the post and
use my own judgment IN case the enc
my should attempt to cross the river at
that point. The Lieutenant was fear
full that 1 might not reach the post as
the only way open was to walk the
toe-path and the night being so very
dark one was in danger of walking in
to the canal. However reached the
post without difficulty and found it
quiet. Corp. Denison L. Hopkins was
in charge, and cooler head than his
was hard to find. He informed me
that nothing unusual had TRANSFERRED so
after giving orders to be called should
any thing happen out of the usual or
der l spread my blanket and slept UNI
til morning and then reported back
to camp.
While in this camp Lieut.. Blodgett
issued very stringent order in regard
to foraging, setting forth that this was
loyal Mary land and that any soldier
taking anything whatever from the in
habitants would surely be punished.
And further, any non-commissioned
officer knowing of any private taking
so much as an ear of corn, was direct
ed to report the fact to him at once,
and if he did not so report he would
immediately reduced to the ranks.
Very soon after the above order was
issued | was stationed at the lower
lock with nine men on for picket duty.
Soon after daylight the following
morning Charles Thompson one of our
best boys woke me up and said "we
have found kettle and the boys have
plentv of salt and | would like to 90
and get some corn and we can have a
good feast before the relief gets here"
/ though of Blodgett's order, and not
anxious to lose my chevrons | replied
HCharlie you know the orders as well
as | do and if hear of your taking
any corn that don't belong to you [
shall report you to the Lieut.. at once"
And then as his face began to length
en- out added "but if you want to go
and buy some corn it will be all right
and l will help you eat" Oh! he says
was intending to buy it. 1t did not
take him long to make the purchase,
and we had good feast of corn and
Charlie did not get reported.
The Company moved from their
present camp on the river back to the
stockade on the bluff overlooking the