The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1898-06-03
Letter From Chfckamauga.
Co. G, 1st, Reg't Vt Volunteers,
Camp Geo. H. Thomas,
Chickamal1ra Park. Ga. MAY 26.

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We left Camp Olympia at about 10 o'clock
Saturday morning, May 81, and the trip
through Vermont was eventful to an eX-
tenSiVe degree. Few stops were made, |
but wherever we did stop we were royal
ly received. Eatables of every descrip-
ton and cigars were voluntarily contrib |
uted from all over the state. There was
no apparent abatement of patriotic ar
dor shown US through Massachusetts, and
Connecticut. We arrived in New Lon
don about 8 o'clock and at II we were all
on board the City Of Lawrence and pull
ing out into the Sound. After getting a |
breath of fresh air on deck while going
out of the harbor everybody turned in to
sleep. All were up early Sunday morn
ing to see the sun rise and it was perfect
ly immense. Soon we entered the harbOr
of New York and while we cautiously
picked through mines and tOrpedoes and
frowning forts on either side we were
greeted with cheers from both shore and
boats in every direction and as we passed
the receiving ship Vermont in Brooklyn
navy yard we were cheered, and cheered
in return, until all other sounds were
drowned to insigniticanCe. Jersey City
was reached about o'clock and we were
transferred to our trains, which consist
ed of a baggage train and three sections
of passenger coaches consisting of IA cars
each, one car of each section being Pull
man for the officers. Only two or three
stops were made until we reached Wash
ingtOn, where we stopped for about an
hour. The officers were met by Senator
Proctor and Congressman GrOut and
given a reception in the Pennsylvania
depot The boys entertained themselves
with the spectators, more especially the
young ladies of course, who by the way
swarmed around the trains looking for
souvenirs in the shape of buttons, etc.
In consequence of the rush for such arti-
cles all along the route there were hard
1y buttons enough left on the fellows
clothes to hold them on when they az
rived in camp. There was hardly any
limit to what a young lady would pay for
a souvenir, fans, bracelets, hat pins, IN
fact anything they possessed.
After leaving Washington we passed
through nearly the whole length of NIr
ginia in the night, and the next place OF
consequence was the Blue Ridge OF the
Cumberland Mountains in North Caro-
lima. This part of the trip is simply won
derful. In order to get up the mountains
the track is built in loops and near the
top there is one place Where one can see
the track in IA different places, one track
right below the other. To'gain distance
of one mile up the mountain in one place
the train travels u miles, and BEFORE
feachlng rfSe top il pasAes thA0ugh seten
tunnels. After passing over the tor OF
the mountain we encountered rain
storm and hard one. Up to this the
weather during the trip had been per-
feet The rain lasted but a short time
and the weather has been good ever
since.
Asheville, n. G., was our next stop of
any length. We stayed here about an
hour and then went to Knoxville, Tenn.
After leaving Knoxville we went to bed
and when we awoke were in the railroad
yard at Chattanooga. where we arrived at
o'clock in the morning. This was the
first place where the boys had been al
lowed 10 leave the cars and the privilege
was gladly welcomed. We were not
moved down to the Park, distance of y
miles, until afternoon.
Upon reaching the Park the first ques-
tion put to the boys was, Where you
FROM" "Vermont." was the answer,
The very first boys we met were the 3rd
New Hampshire. While marching over
to the position of our camp we realized
for sure that we had, as an old darkey
told us, struck "a hot place down here"
Our camp is located pleasantly in among
the trees with the 3rd New hampshire
and the Sth New York, who came in yes
terday, near by. There are at least 40,
600 troops within four or five miles in any
! direction of us, but it is hard to realize
when we have only seen four or five regi-
ments as yet. Equipments have not yet
been issued, but rations are plenty,
though some of the boys find it little diff
fcult to get used 70 cOnsOling themselves
with hard tack. There are none of the
boys of Co. in the hospital and they
are all in pretty good condition so far,
considering the change.
E. H. SLEEPER.
In an article announcing the arrival of
the Vermont Regiment the Chattanooga
Daily Times pays the following compli-
ment:
Col. Clark of this regiment, in addition
to being an experienced military man,
enjoys the distinction of being first
cousin of Admiral Dewey. The men of
this regiment are all fine, stout fellows,
resembling in many respects our own
! hardy mOuntaineers. 1t appears that
after leaving Washington on their trip
south they received one continuous oYa-
! tion clear to Chattanooga, which so i'm
pressed the officers and men that all de-
cided to be on their very best behavior
! in a country where they were royalty re-
ceived. And it goes without saying that
this regiment is the most gentlemanly
body of volunteers that has arrived IN
this city since May 10.
Before leaving Camp Olympia the citi.
zens of Vermont fairly overwhelmed the
regiment with large boxes and hampers
containing choice lunches, and the result
has been that this regiment has feasted
! all along the line, tOucnlng none OF Jnell
field rations so far. They arrived yester
day with all of the field rations they
started with, as well as six large boxes OF
cake, sandwiches, pie, etc. This regi
ment had, as usual, a mascot, a very un
usual one at that. 1t was no other than
a very black cat, named Little Dewey
The band gave pleasant evenings
entertainment in village hall Monday
evening. The concert selections were
all good and the promenade was much
enjoyed by all.
Mrs. B. S. Hooker and Miss Alice
Bacon are drilling a number of the
young people for the presentation OF
the operetta RED Riding Hood" The
entertainment will be for the benefit
of the Village Hall Association.
Col. John c. Stearns is making eX
tensive repairs on his residence, put
ting in steam heat and bath room
enlarging the cellar and making ;
number of alterations. When thcs,
repairs are finished his residence viii
, be equipped with modern improve