Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1861-06-21

the left, we arrived ON the banks of the
broad, placid stream that divides it. The
greater part Of the village son thewest-
ern side of the river There the houses
were literally thronged with negroes; who
looked on in terrified astonishment at the
numbers of armed men tramping the
street. Black forms Of every sex, color
and size, and dark faces of every hue
might be seen at the windows and doors
and on the street corners. AS we passed.
the poor fellows raised 4rhcir hats in pro-
found respect, and the females bowed OBJ
sequiously. ] paused at the only store
in the place, to procure stationery for
notes Of the'expedition. i seated myself
ia write, and, in a few moments, the room
was literally crowded with negroes-the
most of them stalwart, able bodied men,
who stared at me most numerically,
though if [ raised my eyes they We're
looking, in quite another direction--the
sly blackamoors. Il could hear such
whispers as "No, hem no secessioner !"
g Hem Union sojer = and many guesses
or rather " reckons'' as to the effect my
writing might have upon them. Finally,
inquired how far it might be to Back
River. In an instant every hat was
raised. "Tree miles, massa p .rsyr
The throng were still indulging in
speculations as to my employment, ETC.,
when one of them approached me very
formally, holding down before him his
hat with both hands: ~, .rra IFS -.a
.'" Massa, desc colored peoples wants to
know if you belong to de Unioner Cat0a-
rye" My assurance to the contrary was
followed by many apologies for asking SO
important question, and assurances that
they were son the Unioner side" ,t. VI
At length a black woman came in very
much affected. "Oh," said she, the tears
meanwhile coursing down her cheeks, 81
hope and pray de Lord for desc sojers
and dat dey may go on from conquer tc
conquerw hfo7l 2Tei ~ .5i
When we arrived at Hampton the most
confused reports poured in upou us in re-
gard to the engagement at Back River
about three miles further on. Col. Allen
after forming them in line of march called
his officers apart, charged them to o'depend
upon their bayonets, and by no means tt
fire until the order came explicitly from
him. If accounts were to be believed tn,
secessionists had assembled in enormous
force, and we're hewing Colonel Townsend
regiment into pieces. Forty ofhis soldiers
had deserted and fled in confusion bach
to Hampton, where they were arrested by
a company of McChesney's regiment o.
Zouaves and their arms taken from then
and stacked by the roadside. Among thu
deserters was the entire band, and thu
widest excitement at the news of the bat
tie, and indignation at, the conduct o
Colonel iTownsend's,retreating prevailed
Colonel Aliens regiment pressed rapidly
on to the succor of those who still main
tained the fight. 2sizu 1fs r lafa
Three companies of each--from tn
Seventh, N.Y. Fifth, Mass, and First
Vermont-were to march in from Newpor
News, and join the Third Regiment anc
Fifth Regiment, New York, at the june
tion of the two routes, just beyond Bacl
River. The detachments of the Vernon
and Massachusetts, troops preceded the de
tachmcnt of the Steuben Guards Seventh
and arriving at the appointed place, pro
ceeded on toward Great Bethel Church
Soon after (about 2 o'clock in the morn
ing), Col Bendix's detachment, reache
the forks. Strange to say they hear
the Third Regiment coming up, and, in
stead of recognizing them or preparing
} hail them, Immediately commenced a
ambush in the angles of the road, plantin
their howitzers for q raking fire down th
: road. AS the Third approached, the
: were preceded by Gen. Pierce and his stat
In an, instant, without any premonition I
: the advancing regiment. Col. Bendix
men opened most distressing fire of mus
c kerry, and a few minutes, after poured ]
from the hoyitzers.e At the instant, Ger