Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1861-06-25

fire. The tree under which laid, with two
others, fiat upon our faces, was a small fruit |
tree, perhaps ten feet in hight, and SO close and
and terrible was the fire, that the branches We're
entirely stripped from it by the showers OF grape
shot. AT length the welcome order to charge
was given, and away we went, through scourg
ing fire, across the field and Creek, until We
reached the line Of woods in which the enemy
were stationed The troops here broke and each
man was lighting on his own account. 1t was
here that the eliminating point OF this day OF
stupid errors and criminal blunders was attained
No one knows (saye the person himselD who
gave the command to advance. All we know is
when we reached the enemy works, and want
ed q leader we had none. Not an officer above
the rank Of a Captain could be seen and there
we were Ncrm0nters, Germans, Massachusetts,
boys, and Aouaycs, all mixed up together, act
ing without concert, and without head. 1t
Is not for me to judge whore the difficulty was,
but believe Others than the Rebel troops are
responible for the failure Of the expedition, and
the death Of the brave fellows who lost their
lives on this dismal day.
After the first rush. there was no concerted
effort to storm the entertainments. Each man
loaded his muskct, and when he saw rebels
head be " blazed away at it, After firing a
few rounds IN this way, the order to retreat
was given by Lieut.. Col Washburn, who had
arrived on the field. The order was reluctantly
obeyed. saw many Of the boys turn again
and again 10 have parting shot at the enemy.
At length they fell back, slowly and in perfect
order bringing of most Of the killed and
wounded. We soon rejolned the rest OF the
troops, and the tired columns turned their faces
toward home. Many a fierce threat was
brcathed against the traitors, ana many aa oath
Of terrible vengeance went up from those worn
and battle.sained troops, as they reluctantly
left the field where SO many noble fellows had
been slaughtered The Rebels although rein
forced until they must have numbered from 5000
to 1000, supported by at least - pieces OF ar
tlllery, did not see fit to pursue US Their mae
tiylty is wholly nexpllcable. In our weak and
exhausted condition they could have annihlla
ted us.
In ordcr to show in what condition we were,
when We arrived ut the scene Of action, let me
say. we had slept none the night before we
had marched since midnight distance OF from
twenty three to twenty i've miles, and some four
miles Of it at donble-quick step; our provision
WAS sufficient for not more than one meal and
IN most instances was eaten before daylight 1t
was next to impossible TO obtain any wafer, and
the small quantities we did obtain was unfit for
any living creature to drnk-tadpoles would
die IN IL the Leaf was suif0cating and we
were not allowed ten minutes actual rest during
the time Now, il this system OF training was
necessary to iit us 70 storm a battery, defended
by double our own force, strongly fortified, and
mounted with from II to Is heavy guns, why
then have learned another chapter ia military
history. saw strong, robus, men tall perfect.
ly exhausted long before we reached The enemy i
works and the only wonder is that ten times us
many were net III the same condition. 1t wa.
cruel, because unnecessary; bat 10 wac only
carrying out the Tragedy of errors COM
menced in the morning. No time was allowed
the troops to rest after the retreat commenced,
until We arrived within three aud one half miles
from the camp at Newports News. There we
were met by the Quartermaster, who had been
sent out by Col. Phelps, with refreshments
The main body Of the troops Nached the camp
about five clock, and most OF the sragglors
got in before dark,
Our loss has not been definitely ascgftained
but cannot be far from one hundred or one hun
dred and twenty-five killed wounded and Miss
ing. The heaviest loss falls upon Col Duryea' $
Zouayes The loss Of Lieut.. Greble, OF the
Regulars, will also be severely felt The Yer
mont Regiment have Only two missing, tone OF
them probably killed. none wounded. There
were many narrow escapes. Several coats and
caps were injured, while the owners inside Of
them remained unharmad, Many incidents
worthy OF note occurred during the fight, but
time and space forbid their mention. will,
however, at some future time give your readers
some Of the most noteworthy Our boys feel
that though they were rcpulsei, yet they lost
none of the glory oil the old Green Mountain
Boys. And all they want now is 10 be led by
Father Phelps" (as tho Colonel is called BY
the men, and we Will show the .. +. T. VS. .
that the Nermontors can be defeated without
disgrace to them, or any particular benefit or
advantage to the traitors. There are rumors
now that the Rebels have lett Behcl, taking
their artillery, and have moved on to Yorktown.
Ii so, before you hear from me again, we shall
probably make an attack on that place. In
case that event happens be assured that the LIST
Regiment will wipe out all memory of last
Monday or be left at the bottom of the trenches
: PRIVATE.
We nro ncrmitted IN nuhlisb ovtrocis from