Year: 1863




agne it must have taken an "eagles" eye to
have discovered it. The same paper went on to
give very hattering account OF the "roll of hon
or " that the war Scared veterans of this reg
iment had by their bravery won. 1t gave short
history of our career during the war SO far; ofI
the thirteen battles we had fought, and compl-
niented US upon our personal appearance. 1--WE
had BACKED our shoes that morning according to
orders, and have drawn our new clothes as | told
you before, so | expect we do look first rate. The
ladies say we do,and their opinion is worth every.
thing in Sach matters) The daily Poguhkeep-
s'an tried to puff for us little but it came far
short of the Eagle. This excited their envy and
they turned upon the Eagles enthusiastic re-
porter and showered upon his unsuspectng head
a Scorching TRADE of criticism. His grammar
and rhetoric was wickedly ridiculous, and to close,
the Poughkeepsian thought if the brave Green
Mountain Boys could stand such fire OF ungra-
matical stuff as that, we certainly deserved great
credit. Well, Mr.. Poughksepsinn, we think we
can stand it. We have no objection to being
spoken of in that style and even if the reporter
should fb little when facts run short we believe
we could stand it all very well. We sincerely
wish the Poughkeepsian to be relieved of any
further distress in this matter on our account.


We have had the finest of weather since we
have been here, and we have finely enjoyed it.
A number Of the soldiers telegraphed for their
wives as soon as they got here and as the papers
said next day, many had already arrived, and
happiness beamed upon the countenances of all"
A great many had their parents and friends from
Vermont come here to see them, SO that coming
here was almost as gratifying as furough. Our
Colonel one of the finest of men, gave these men
privileges to be absent from camp all that they
could reasonably ask for As for our new A
tents that we had received at New York Just in
eason to occupy for day and night,were brought
along here, some of the married soldiers pitched
them just outside of the camp and gave their
wives practical instruction to a soldiers life in
real camp style. We never have been in camp
that has seemed cheerful aud pleasant as this
one. So many neatly dressed ladies and gentle
men so courteous and civil, mingling constantly
with US, it makes the soldier forget his roughness,
and the wholesome restraints of civil society are
strongly felt.


We drill here two hours each day ; company
drill in the forenoon and battalion drill in the af-
ternoon. The order specifying the hour for these
drills and the hour for dress parade is published
every day in the daily papers, and large numbers
of the citizens are always present to see us per-
form our military maneuvers. Every afternoon
as the hour for drilling arrives, a stream of car
riages of all descriptions begin to pour in until
at four o'clock there is quite concourse of peo-
pie collected in camp and on the hillside that
overlooks the parade ground below. The boys
take pride in drilling before so respectable an au-
dience of spectators, and know Col. Walbridge
was uot dissatisfied with our drilling on the last
occasion; his smiles of approval told us plainly
that he was not. 1t has been some time since
we have drilled any before, but we believe we
have not quite forgotten how. We gave our
audience some practical illustrations of few Of
the maueuvers,on battlefield. The Colonel de-
uloyed one Company as skirmishers in front Of
the regiment and ordered them to lie down and
load and fire. They went through with all the
motions az we have been instructed in such things
except actually fring-loading on their backs
then turning on their face, fre, and Immediately
reload. The skirmishers being sorely pressed, he
ordered them to fire in retreat, while the regl'
ment behind.supporting them pitched in few vol
| ~. i, -, =. -I....l W;th q shout vot n,,;ts