The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-09-20


Essex were sent forward as skirmishers.
Arriving near a small place called Langley,
they were fired into and our guide wounded
and his horse killed. We Immediately do
p!oved across the fields, and after some re-
connoitering discovered that it was an ad-
vanced picket Of the n. Y. SD Regt. that
had fired. We lay in the road, in rain, till
re1t morning, when We were relieved by
other companies.
From Wednesday morning until Friday
night some 1000 men were constantly kept
a work upon Notifications. l would tell
whore they are stationed, describe them, and
tell the number OF men situated here, but it
!. contrary to orders from the War Depart
mrnt. From that time till day before yes
.prt!av We have had alarms and few Skin
ushes. Our boys have camped without
,rats or WOODEN blankets Uhey having been
lei. at Camp L. and had rather hard food,
Int there has been very little complaint. 1t
Las rained about half the time, and you can
tell something about what sort Of time it
las been for US.
As YOU have probably heard before this
me, We have had small battle. Day be-
ore yesterday We had orders to be ready to
march at a. m. Accordingly. parts Of three
or four regiments, Gritfn's battery and some
c,yalry marched to a small place some
niles from Chain Bridge, called LewnsviIe,
y reconnotre and cover surveying party.
Arriving nearly there We encountered some
Of the enemys picke,s and drove them in.
,.irmishers were thrown out and, with the
rIception of slight skirmish, lin which
>erst. Farnham of Co. was wounded) all
passed off we'll until the skirmishers were
.ed in and the column started on the re-
,I-n. When about 100 rods this side of
lew.nsvie the rebels opened fire on our in
,aalry from battery concealed in the woods
me half mile from the road. They had
,..rcted their position well, for it was at
point where Our cannon could not be brought
. bear upon them for some time. We re-
rated until We got suitable place for our
Guns, when our boys soon slenced the bat
:-ry for them. have no time to give you
-. particulars of the affair, but you will pro-
ably get them in the daily papers. The
m-n stood fire tirst-rate, and wanted to
large on the re bel battery and take it, but
ne officers in command had good reasons
!or not letting them. 1t is reported in the
T.pers that large number of the chivalry
we're killed. Our loss was small, owing to
:aeir firing too high, their balls and shells
,,iDg little over our heads. The 10Th
adiana regiment lost one or two killed and
few taken prisoners. All the loss our
5ys sustained was in Company c, there be-
NJ two killed and seven wounded. The
aiI!ed are priyates Amos MeServe and VIM.
Coburn. The wounded were but very
slightly injured, with one exception, and are
getting along finely. The same Company
$50 lost two more men, taken prisoners
Their names are Jacob Goodell of Barnet,
and Robinson, new recruit that arrived
as. Saturday from Vermont. Colburn was
buried to-day at Georgetown, and Meserve's
BODY has been sent to Vt. to his friends
The dead were left where they fell, for they
could not be brought off under such a fire.
L.! the column had got four miles this side
0. the field, when Lieut.. Moves OF Co. {,
went to Gen. Smith and asked permission to
return and get them. The General told him
!: was madness to go, but gave him leave
The Lieut.. called for volunteers to return
and eight men from Co. returned with
him. He got to the spot about five minutes
after the rebels had left, taking one wounded
man back to Lewinsville with them, but haG
he good fortune to bring Of the body OF
Neserve and TO place Colburn's where i,
could be recovered the next day. The mex,
Jay ne, with party Of the Vt. Sd, mot the
Ind. 10Th, as the papers have it, went GU,
and got Colburn's body, and also the body
Of the wounded man whom the rebels hat
carried off the day before, he being brought
Jack dead with his shoes stolen and the but
IONS cut off his coat. He was private IL
TIE lad 10Th. Nearly all the time during
'ae engagement heavy rain was falling
and with the smoke rolling up at every dis
charge of the guns, the shells bursting, ant
he ball. lying overhead it was not yer!
pleasant sight. More anon.
In haste O.