Ransom W. Towle to Family
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Tonight I Recd letter No. 8 which did me a great deal of good It was such a good
letter full of news &c. Hope poor Willie is over his Rheumatism it seems
worse for such a little Chap then it would for a Person of Riper judgement
especially so painful a Disease. I shall lay awake nights thinking of the little
fellow. I write tonight on the impulse which your letter gave me for I was
feeling decidly tough not homesick that dont trouble me at all but yesterday
morning I went on Picket at Six and came in this morning at Eleven Picketing in
favorable weather is bad enough but on this occasion it rained all the night
before and all Day, which in addition to mud occasioned by the frost in the
ground caused an amount of mud that would surprise a Vermonter. In no case was
it less than Ankle deep and from that up to the tops of our Boots. The distance
from Camp to the Main Reserve of the Picket
Station is about three
miles from there to the Outposts two more the way Picketing is done two hundred
men are sent out by Reg. each day. It comes our Regts turn once in five days -
to the main Reserve where they are divided into two Reliefs, one staying at the
main Reserve all the time, relieving once in four hours. the relief that is on
goes to the outposts or near there where it is also Divided into two Reliefs,
relieving in two hours. Every man while on is required to walk his beat -
challenging all who approach and fire on any who may not have the Countersign. Such a set of fellows you never saw as came in
from Picket this morning. Sleepy, dirty, and covered with mud from head to foot,
wet and soaked, and some so unfortunate as to be with shoes. They might as well
have been without them entirely for every step took us in over Shoe and boots
would soon soak through for there was no getting out of the mud on Picket Today
many of the Boys came in sick as might be expected. My Duty on Picket is to call
out the Relief at the propper time number them off when the Corporal Posts Them
and I have to visit the
Sentinels on their Posts to see that they
walk their beats properly, challenge right have the correct Countersign &c.
Last night I found some of the Boys frightened half to death one fellows voice
trembled so that he could hardly challenge me. Every bush and stump was to him a
skulking Rebel just ready to fire upon him I pitied the poor fellow so that I
stopped half an hour with him on his beat Some Dozen of the Boys fired at these
imaginary Rebels and made quite an alarm. But the weary night at last wore away
and at nine this A.M. we were relieved by the Vt. 5th About the boots if you can
get them into some box that is coming to some of the Boys you need not send much
else now - a little Stationary if convenient - if there is no chance to do this
send some Thurowort Ginger, Butter Dried Apple and a little sugar to sweeten it,
Brown bread, a little Corn Meal and what you please, one pr woolen Socks would
come in handy. If you send Butter send fifteen or twenty lbs well packed If it
is not convenient to send some of these articles you can omit them. I am now
relieved from the Orderlies Duties
which is quite a relief. My
health is quite good with the exception of being troubled with Virginia Quickstep which is equivalent to back Door trot This is
very prevalent in the Reg some dying with no other apparent cause This Co. has
buried three within the last ten Days. Geo Chase from Barnard Curtis O. Fisher
from Bethel and Nathaniel Leavitt from E. Barnard this five in all Volney
Flanders is quite slim with Lung Difficulty, he never will be any better here if
anywhere. The no. of Deaths in the Reg I think has been 45. Jared and Harry
Simonds are all right also Dan Rob W. Benj. Wood and most of the Boys Harry
Washburn went on Picket last week and had a pull back but is now gaining slowly
Capt. Terry is unable to do Duty and is troubled with a Chest & Lung trouble
that may require a change of Climate. Tired and Sleepy I will stop
Good byeRansom