The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1891-10-30
Tenting on The Old Camp Ground
Or Co. g. 10th vt. Vols. to the Front.
- By Lieut.. T. II. WHITE.
MO. III

One OF the soldiers employed in removing
ammunition from the magazine diSObeyed
orders, and went into the magazine with a
lighted pipe in his mouth. A mans leg,
supposed to have belonged to this soldier,
was found hanging in a tree top three
fOurths OF mile away. AS far as known
the pipe has not yet been found.
The work OF removal was greatly facili-
tated by the explosion. The guns were all
removed with the exception of few of the
larger ones, and they were spiked. Soon
after the explosion occurred the troops were
in motion for Harpers Ferry and thence by
way of Sandy Hook to Frederick City
Halleck'S order cOuntermanding Hooker !;
had delayed French's movements just
long enough to prevent his reaching Gettys-
burg with his command in time to take
part in the battle Frederick was made the
base OF supplies for the army during this
campaign. The troops then guarding the
supplies could reach Gettysburg from
Frederick in time for the battle and they
were at once ordered forward to the scene
of conflict.
The base of supplies for great army
making a campaign of vital Importance
could not with safety be long neg elected
and Gen. French received orders to be at
Frederick with his command at the earliest
possible moment. Nearly all of French's
command were unused to long hard march
es even in slow time, and forced march
like this one, falf the tine in drenching
rain with wet clothes and loaded down
with wet blankets, was almost beyond en-
durance. Officers lab0red hard to keep the
men OF their commands in place, but many
fell out by the way some to come up after
short rest, while others found their way
to hostipals where the remained for weeks.
Happily for the Union cause, French's
command reached Frederick in time and
the base of supplies were safe from maurau-
ding bands or any cavalry raid likely to be
sent that way. The command arrived
there about noon June Both, the day before
the battle began. For four long days this
command listened to sounds of battle thirty
three miles away, and news from the battle
field was anXiOuSly looked for, but nothing
decisive came until the evening of July
4th, when it was announced that the battle
was ended and glorious victory had been
won by our army.
July 9th, French's troops We're on the
move taking the road leading to the
Antietam battlefield where we arrived on
the following day. Here we went into
camp in wheat field for about twenty
four hours, when we were again on the
move for South Mountain. Here we re-
NAMED for another twenty-fOur hours, I'M
proving the time viewing the battlefield.
We saw the long rows of head boards ex-
tending along the road from the foot of the
mountain to near the summit. Thuse were
the graves of the Union heroes who assist
ed in charging the long lines of the enemy
that extended around the mountain sides.
Mnay of them were with the column that
later on, stOrmed the heights and swept the
enemy from the field and hurled him down
the valley beyond. In the open field at the
left of the road as you ascend the mountain
Is rough granite slab that marks the place
where the gallant Gen. Reno fell. At the
house on top of the hill was we'll of clear
cold water said by travellers to be the best
tor miles round. This well was sixty
feet in depth and had been used at the
the time of the battle for burying ground
for dead rebels and it was packed solid full
to the top. At the time of our visit some
ten months after the battle had been fought
the bones of one foot and wooden shoe
were in sight.
July 9th, the order came making the
command of Gen. French the Sd division
of the fighting 81 corps. This corps had