Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1861-10-04
LETTERS FROM THE SEAT OF WAR.


We publish the following, in place of
any other account of the dreadful blum
der made by our troops on the night of
Saturday last: N
Chain Bridge, near Camp Advance,
Monday morning, Sept. 80. J
Mr.. EDITOR: Anticipating that the
country will be flooded with telegraphic
dispatches, containing exaggerated re-
ports of the catastrophe near Falls Church,
Saturday night, and knowing that among
the readers of your paper are many who
will be looking with painful anxiety for a
detailed account, venture to write you
brief statement of facts, as they have
transpired within my knowledge. l can
not write particulars, as was not with
the regiment.
It appears that about or 9 o'clock on
Saturday evening, orders were issued for
the men to provide themselves with two
days rations, and prepare to march.
At what hour they left camp. am not
informed; probably not far from mid
night. Our force had been increased by the
arrival of seven regiments since four o.
clock on Friday, including theVermont 4th
and 9Th also regiment of Pennsylvania
cavalry, which figured cOnspicuously in
the disaster. &
Having arrived near the enemy, the
troops being scattered about on different
roads, and advancing 30 as to make
combined attack, two divisions came un'
expectedly in contact,-the LIST California
regiment, Baxter's Philadelphia Fire Zou
ayes, and Motifs Artillery, on one side
and the Pennsylvania Cavalry on, thu
other. The cavalry being totally igno
rant of the country, and knowing thai
they were near the enemy's camp, very
naturally supposed the other party an en-
my, and at once opened Calling fir
upon them, which was promptly returned
by the infantry. The artillery was hur
ried into position, and was just ready tt
open with canister and grape shot, upor
the supposed enemy, when Gen. Smith
aid galloped up and ordered them not tt
fire, for they were our own men.
The Vermont I'd was fred into by ou
own pickets and returned the fire. Sew
eral were wounded, but | think none wer
killed. Our regiment, the Sd, was no
fired upon, but one man who got astra,
was fred at, four balls passing through
his clothes and one through his hand
This I think is about all the shooting
which was done. Icannot learn as arebe
gun was fred. The extent Of our los
| have not been able to learn definitely
Yesterday morning it was reported her
at the bridge, to be five or six hundred
but it is now reduced to about seven @
eight killed and about the same nnmbt
carried to Georgetown Hospital wounded
The number of wounded in camp cannt
learn. ....... ....... ...r. .t
, The enemy took alarm at The firing an
evacuated Falls Church and Munson
, Hill; leaving their prisoners and spikin
their guns. Both their positions are no
occupied by Federal troops These stat
ments / submit supposing them to
:, plain, undisguised facts. Being statione
on Chain bridge, | have heard and site
: all the vague floating rumors from Il
. first, and think these may be relied upc
as facts. Although there was no engag
ment with the enemy. there was decide
: advantage gained, which once gained, "
:. may rest assured will be maintaine
= Hoping that ere long you will recei
news of still greater Importance than tn
= l remain. Sir. very respectfully. Il
% G. @. FRENCH.
u Go. E, Sd Vt. Regiment.
81 P. s.--There is heavy firing up the ri
ar {t;c rnnrp;no IN tha direction of Ge