The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-06-18

The Rebels had evidently made CALCULATIONS tn''U
we would attempt to form in line ut TINS place
and were ready to receive us. The charge oA
the Zouaves in front, however, prevented 'nehi
from pa ying us such particular atteh1ion "s 'hoy
had Intended and the most of our detachment
had taken :, position somewhat sheltered by inter
yuning trees and bushes, before they nollced US
Your CORRESPONDENT was not of the lucky num-
ber that found shelter, and believing with fal-
staff, and many others, that " discretion is the
better part Of valOr," he ANONYMOUSLY
4. ducked " his head, at the foot Of small tree,
until the storm should slacken. In tact 1t Woulo
have been perfect madness to cross that line oi
fire. The tree under which | laid, with TWO
others fat upon our faces. was a small lrult
tree, perhaps ten leet in hight, and SO close ana
and to rib!e was the fire, that the branches were
entirely stripped from it by the showers o. grape
shot AT length the welcome order TO charse
was given, and away we went, through scours
ing tlre, 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 fighting on his own account ~ "as
here that the eliminating point OF this Gay "a
stupid errors and criminal bunders was attained.
No one knows (save the person himseli) VINO
cave the command to advance. All we kno" IL,
when we reached the enemy works, and want
ed leader we had none. Not AN officer above
the rank of Captain could be seen and there
we were Vermonters, Germans, M MASSACHUSETTS,
boys, and Znuaves, all mixed up together, acc
| ing without concert, and without !. heao. IL
10 not for NE to Judge where the difficulty was,
Init believe others than the Rebel troops are
resppnible for the failure OF the expedition, ana
the death of the brave fellows who lost their
lives on this dismal day
After the first rush, there was no concer'eo
fort to storm the entrenchments. Eich man
loaded his musket, and when he saw rebel
he,d he - blazed away" at it. After firing a
few rounds in this way, the order to retreat
was given by Lieut.. Col. Washsurn, who had
arrived on the field The order was reluctantly
obeyed. | saw many of the boys turn again
and again TO have parting Shot at the enemy.
At length they fell back, slowly and IN perfect
order. bringing off most Of the killed ana
wounded We soon reoned the rest OF the
troors, and the tired columns turned their races
towayd home. Many a fierce threat Was
breathed against the traitors, and many an oath
of terrible ven. eance went up from those worn
and bastle-s,ained troops, as they reluctantly
left the field where 50 many noble fellows hau
been slaughtered. The Rebels, although rem, rem
: forced until lhey must have numbered nom oooo
to 1000, supported by at least 10 pieces ol al.
tijerv did NOT see fiji to pursue US. Their mac
|
exhausted condition they could have annlhlla
ted US.
In oroer to show in what condition we were,
when we arrived at the scene of action, let me
saw, we had slept none the night before; we
had marched since mldnigh u distance OF from
. twenty thee to twenty hve miles and some lo"l
! miles of it at dou ble-q quick step; our provision
was sufficient for not more than one meal, ant
. 10 most instances was eaten before dayllght II
+ was next to impossible to obtain any water, aht
J the small quantities we did obtain was uhh' lol
- any living creature to drlnk-tadpoes "oul'
y die IN 1.-THE Leat was suHocating and W.
II were no, allowed ten minute actual rest during
!, the time. Now ii this system of training WA
/ necessary to fit us TO storm battery, defended
~ by double our own force, strongly fortified, an'
, ID mounted with from IL to 10 heavy guns, Wh.
l. then have learned another chapter IN military
% history saw strong, robust men tall perlect
|. " exhausted long before we reached the enemy
% works, and the only wonder Is that ten times
= many were not i'll the same condition. Ii wa
10 cruel, because unnecessary; but 1T was onl
q carving out the Tragedy " of errors - com
m.nced in the morning. No time was above
ii the troops to rest after tho retreat commenced
~ until we arrived within three and one half mile
t, from the camp at Newport s News. Ihere "
III were met by the Quarermaster, who had bee
sent out ny COl. L uclpo, WV" ioi'N
The main body of the troops reached the cam
u u about five clock, and most OF the straSSslel
- :, got in before dark.
T. Our loss has not been definitely ascertainet
but cannot be far from one hundred or one huf
81 81 dred and twenty-five killed, wounded and mis-
ol ing. The heaviest loss falls upon Col. Duryea
o. Zuaves. The loss Of Lieut.. Greble, OF tn
ar Regulars, will also be severely felt. The Vel
III mont Regiment have only two missing, Zone
e- them probably killed.) none wounded. Ihci
vs. vs. we're many narrow escapes. Several coats an
l ;h cals were injured, while the owners inside
'ir ; y, gsmailed unharmed. Many incident
,H worthy of note occurred during the fight, b'
nc time and space forbid their mention. l VIII
VI 'I' however, al some future time give your reader
u. u. some of the most noteworthy. Our boys ie
c 'st that though they were repulsed, yet they 10
'A j.. none of the glory of the old Green Mounta
\, Bows. And all they want now is TO be LED I
J." Father Phelps" Gas the Colonel is called
o0 the men J and we will show the " r. +. V. s
~ that the Vermonters can be defeated witho
n- r disgrace to them, or any particular benefit
h 'Dl advantage to the traitors. There are rumo
~ now that the Rebels have left Bethel, takir
81, e their artillery, and have moved on to Yorktow
s iS If SO, before you hear from me again. we sha
~ nu probably make an attack on that place.
~, case that event happens be assured that the
''e Rewiment will wipe out all memory of Ia
w. Monday or be left at the bottom of the trench'
ne PRIVATE.
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