Washington Correspondence of the Boston Journal.
In my school-boy days one of the most pleasing pictures in my geography by Malte Brun, was that intended to illustrate the character of the Green Mountain boys. It was simply a picture of a regiment of men on the march. An explanatory note said that they did great service in the revolution, that, they were tough, hardy, steady fellows, or something to that effect. The note is not half so well remembered as the long line of soldiers, marching over the hills and through the valleys, is to me the most vivid of all the numerous pictures in the book. I cannot remember what illustration gave the character of any other State. I remember only the Green Mountain boys.
The picture was recalled as I visited the Green Mountain boys of to-day in their encampment located in just such scenery as you may find in Vermont. There I found the 2d Reg., Col. Whiting, and the Third, Col. Hyde. My visit was to the last named. Every thing was neat around the camp, everything quiet. The Provost Marshal’s quarters of the brigade are near the guard tent of the Third. As I entered the camp I saw three soldiers of the New York 33d standing on pork barrels as if they were about making stump speeches, yet all three were silent as if waiting each for the other to begin. Occasionally they turned round as if to survey the scene, and catch, perhaps, the significant gesture of a soldier off duty, but they were dumb orators and were only paying penalties for slight offenses taking green corn without leave of the owners, or offenses of similar turpitude.
The 3d Reg. was raised through the exertions of Col. Hyde of Hyde Park. He is a West Point cadet—the son of an officer who did long service in the army. The regiment went into camp before leaving for the seat of war, and under Col. Hyde’s instructions became very efficient. Although raised by him mainly, he modestly declined the colonelcy in favor of Col. Smith, an experienced officer of Gen. McClellan’s class—now a Brigadier, and in command of a brigade composed of the two Vermont regiments, Maine 6th,. New York 33d, with cavalry and artillery attached. Upon the appointment of Gen. Smith to his present position, Gov. Fairbanks placed Col. Hyde in command.
I had no opportunity of seeing either of the regiments on parade or in drill but a body of men recruited from a community as intelligent as that of Vermont, composed of farmers, mechanics, schoolmasters, doctors and lawyers, must be an efficient one. They have done a great deal of work in raising obstacles not to be named, to prevent the approach of Beauregard. They are hearty and, in good spirits. Col. Hyde remarked that the effervescent feeling which usually animates all volunteers fresh in service—the desire to be led on—to make a dash to “pitch in,” as it is generally termed—has given place to a calm self-reliance—a desire to do their duty, such as you see among soldiers of the regular service. I can see a great difference between the new and the old regiments in that respect. The new regiments are eager to get at the rebels they talk a great deal of what they will do. The regiments which have been here longest have but little to say as to what they will do, but they will be a great deal more likely to obey orders—to stand fire—than those lately from home.
Lamoille Newsdealer, Hyde Park, VT