The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-07-27
Che DaiIp 4;reenlan.
MONTPELIER, Va,
SATURDAY, JULY n. 1861.
Correspondence Of the Freeman-From the
Second Vermont Regiment.

ALEXANDRIA, July ~.
EDITOR OF FREEMAN You will hear gener-
ally of our sad disaster before this will reach |
you. but not the particulars more particularly !
affecting our company We advanced by night |
marches mainly to Centrevilc near Bull s Run,
and after several skirmishes as have been hereto
fore described, we found ourselves, night before
last, ready, as it was said to advance on Manas-
sas with the whole army. We had positive in
formation that the enemy had from fifty to sixty
thousand men t1ongly fortified and we bad, as
we were told, forty thousand, bat | am now
certain that not over half that number entered
the field. At one O'Clock; at night we started
and proceeded distance OF some ten miles and
halted. When say ace proceeded, mean the
Sd Brigade consisting of the ID Vermont and
3D. and 4th Maine Regiments under Gen. How
ard Other Brigades and Divisions had their
positions at other points At little alter
daylight the battle commenced, the artillery
opening on both sides, and from that time until
about eleven clock the contest was mainly be-
tween them. At about that time we had orders
to advance to our position in front by u circuit
Gus route, which gave US about five miles travel
to oct round the woods to the proper point.
Our troors had, up to the time we were order
ed forward, IA general advantage IN the tight, and
had driven the enemy from their position but
their position was so chosen that they could re-
treat TO a high and favorable position on the
brow of the hill. When we came in sight they
lad fairly gained this point, and our ARTILLERY
had nearly ceased firing having exhausted its
ammunition, while the enemy We're well IN po-
sition with heavy batteries. On our arrival all
other infantry retired, and We formed IN line OF
battle. Our troops were very much exhausted,
AS we had gone round to this point on run
We were quickly formed at the foot OF the OH
A.,~ lnH n
a Gradual slope through an undergrowth of oak
trees quite difficult to pass. We passed entire
ly through this hedge, and when we emerged
the encmy's lines were before us and IN muske
Il shot. Their fire opened on us at once, but or
account of the miserable guns we carried, We
were unable to respond until we gained moro
advanced position This we did promptly, anc
at the instant we come to the right point: I
blaze of fire rolled from one end to the other
our line. The artillery was sending volleys o
iron hail among US, and we had none TO respond
The Vermont Second were on the left wing
which brought US directly opposite portion
IN the enemys line stationed behind fence pu
- in about ten minutes we had the pleasure o
seeing their lines give way, and they fled to tn
woods But at the same instant L discovered
movement Of a large body of their troops to
, wards as. with the evident design of outfankn
l. Immediately before US, and the necessity OF
change of position of our Regiment was appa
rent to ALL We had nearly ceased our tire
when noticed Capt. Walbridge, who was
y nv right, and on the right Of the Regimen
= facing his men 20 deploy to the right. lntel
yod from this that the general order had bee
in owen TO doploy, although heard no such OF
Der Bat it wac impossible to hear, and v
had to 90 by signs, and guess our way through
Immediately gave orders to my Company
face to the right and We marched around SO
to nreyent their outflankipg Us | discovered ;
this time that Capt. Walbridge anu myse
were alone in this maneuVer, ana nave slh
learned that 90 order was gwen TO THIS e1ec'
but the movement saved part OF our arIilleF
1T least All concerned had by this time Oh
cry covered that on account OF the superior nun
hers of the enemy s reserve, we should not
ahe to hold the ground against them but Il
Fonrth Maine, which was now ON our leit' al
the Vermont Regiment-part on the lett III
mart on the right-held the position d iol
III time retiring slowly, while our wounded, "a
case and artillery mostly gained the line OF
pc treat. 1t was now nearly night, anu tIod s., 81,
me- from another such scene as fo!lo"e"'
Ground where we were, was go situated thau
could only retreat along one road WHICH pass
- tbrnnoh a dense wood, and that vast army
wounded and whole, baggage ana ar'll1e'
all rushed for this pass Why we were not
cnt to pieces, do not know. The heoeiS
"a IDENTIFY did not see our entire defeat ana ala
pursue as promptly as they might nave o93
and we gained " very fair start on them
r night was setting in and we could not get 20 20
vest Se nanies together much less Regiments ana ev
one retreated on his own hook Horses
unhitched from baggage trains ana turl
It. hack. covered with riders, and the wagons W
TO block the already narrow pass Horses d
wagons were often overturned and lett pi
nell-mell "ll In the cutters At one place we
= bridge to cross, aud never sa" such con
sion, There we lost most of our baggage,
your ct, counted as many as twenty dead horses,
c,. wagons innumerable, piled in tins raVl"e'
oI- ,roopy actually crossed over this mass OF h'
s.sb ,D and wagons boxes and barrels, cam
a. rather than over the bridge. had I,
' far kent the most of my Company tosess
and % from the fact of our being last of the Il
- and in the rear, was every moment e1Peo'
an am attack on our retreating columns; But
ou de,av here was so great that rallied my
oN and we passed to the left into the woods,
riber nont @ above the bridge some few rods wher.
Also, % crossed by wading the creek, which was az
-" oio.' fo:S.1o., 1,his carried us to about the I