Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-09-27
THE THIRD VERMONT MEN AND THE
FIGHT AT TOWNSVILLE.

10 the Editor Of the Bosfon journal
On sunday, the Ssh inst plan was formed to capture
body II cavalry reported % be- stationed ia the village
II Lcwnsyile. four miles distant. Three parties were
detached for this purpose, one consisting Of portion NJ
the Vermont Second Regiment, under command Of Capt
-, 70 occupy position half way between LcWius-
Vile aud Falls Church, 10 cut oil Tcinfnccncnt noh
consisting Of ono piece Of Grh's Battery, McLaucs
Cavalry, aud one hundred and nay Of the Vermont hrd
under command " Lieut.. Col Veazey, and third the
Wisconsin Filth. under command of Capt MUtt--thc
two last to be the attacking parties
Owing a false alarm IN camp, the expedition not
made Monday morning Moid day night the dciachments
left shout midnight. and accomplished their purpose
ceptng that the found 1T townsville much
smaller than reported All were killed or wounded but
two, aud they were taken prisoncs-one an Off cr They
turned out TO be portion Of Col NteNarts cavalry do
ing picket duty ia aud about Lewinsvile.
The next day-W edncsday-a accommodating and sur
YORK HighandeTs and portions Of other epinens, with
Griffin battery and two companies Of cavalry, ono Nc
Lanes. all under the command u Cob Baker, Of the
California regiment were sent 10 the same place Sew
erAl companies Of tho Vermont Sd went in advance ~
skrnisheri the ensmys p'ekets rered rapidly before
them, receiving few shots In their hNsty retreat
Our forces unk position in the village. aud remained
few hours until the engineers had completed their to-
biography NJ the country thcreabouts when sfmish-
ers called in and the return sounded, At this
moment just about to start on the homewaid
march, tire of shot aud shell was opened directly across
line by battery in the edge II thick growth of
wood The first shots passed over our heads, but they
soon got correct range and ,he shells burst all about
US making, how worse havoc IN she fences 10y ht
roadside than in our ranks But one shell burst directly
in line that fell in the centre II Co c. Of the Nu
~,
--unc moraily The rebels were beyond targc " tW
rifles and mostly crueealed, could do nothing hu
stand and receive their tire. Gfiihn's battery prumpt,
took position on our nght and ur'ued ON them huHkN
but Ia little effect, owing 20 iAc unaNnrahcHcss of th
position We were thus exposed for nearly an hour
when Gen Smith hearing the firing and receiving lidnu
that we were surrounded came dashimu up alone aut
took us round into open field into line OF battle, ant
raced Griins batter, and % rtiun Of Mntts with ON
81 FOUNDER IN 'front.' when they opened fire, and the TIC.
shot u Motifs big gun overturned two uf the enemy
pieces and sent the rebels scattering back into the wouds
We thus waited for them to make appearance aud re-
new the attack but nothing more was seen or heard ou
them aud we finally took slow march back camp
The encmy's fire enhladcd line for the spa.c NJ al
hour Nhhe our men could nos return thui' yet Ia
ranks nnhr1ken, and the utmost order and ptcrisu
n prevailed. Every order was promptly obeycd and th
marching was even better than the same regiment
% sometimes make on q er avn camp grounds They II
cci'cd the highest rucomiums from the regular officer
present. who had sceu service. The Vermont Sd, an
Indiana lah most Npn-td The 81 we're the mir
cpi sufferers. Their hkitmishtTs encountered some
the rebels before coming in and exchanged shots vii
them. and had one man wounded The "a and 81 Wei
mont were also placed IN rear oi The artillery, and thu
more especially were in s"puott of Co. report has -
4 into the papers that detachment OF ihc llh Indian
went around fur the dead and wounded afrr the nrta
ceased. lhiss mistake THIS honor belongs 20 Lieu
Nntcs If Co. G., Of the Vermont 3d. tie went with
men aud gu our dead bur 10y positive oidrrui the SUI
gron left one man MORALLY wounded in house b.,
aud he next day went again and brought ~ his hndy
having died IN the night aud also that Of one Of the l0t
q Indiana lie did hi, within view II company Of Icb,
cavalry. Our less three killed and hicc fiu
| missing. They wandered out uf our lines, aud wei
that the cnemy's force three regiments of nautr
d hOJ cavalry, and ala Ileces uf artillery Some officer
have been mentioned for their cuolncss and bravery b,
IL is absurd to select where an behaved we'll Gel
Il Smith, Col. Baker, and CApains Mon and Griffin la,
II all seen servicc and their names well known
receive nU~ lusirc nom any nnti,e n this simple state
ment ~ facts These officers I'll sy that Il the vnluf
tcers stand such cannonadng that MAS hardc
than any of the rcgimrns at ul Run received au
where they could not liz finger in defense. they IA,
NO fcnr Tor them when they have opportunity 10 =,
e tnrn the fire About the oly words spoken IN the iu
were expressions Of desire TO be led To tho rebel ba
- tctef.