The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-11-01
TIL f. " \ X
Further Particulars Of the Edwards Ferry
Battle.

Wilson Siblev, company q. Fifteenth Mas
sachuSetts. swan the stream by advice of an
officer who plunged in and went ahead,
When they got half way across and in the
strongest OF the current. some twelve rcbt IS
!ired i, hinl lie saw their movements and
,iived at the flash, thus escaping their bullets.
The officer was shot through the mead. gave
one loId cutlery and sank 10 the bottom \
Young man who, a moment before. appealed
- tAr captain TO help him. on seeing his
.rleId shot, sank exhausted. Charles Head,
OF company ID. Fifteenth Massachusetts,, says
nat WHIT he was swimming across, he saw
at least one hundred persons also making
tie same effort to escape from the tender
'a,rcies OF the rebels. Among them he OBJ
>rived Co! Dcvens. There were many
Cying for ''help, but ne thinks not more
t.4n tsothIrt!> reached the island in safety
H.. himself CAV cut when several rods from
shore. and sank to tie bottom. bat con-
ed to walk ashore.
Lieut. Messer OF company ID, Twentieth
Massachusetts regiment, gives the following
description Of the localities. The landing.
winch was made III hatteau carving only
a.lA ten feet high, very slippery. Having
-,..ned the top OF this muddy bank, they
struck path which they followed to the lett
Tor about one hundred Yards, when they filed
i.sh'. vent up over the hill at al angle of Is
degrees. the top OF which was some 100 feet
above the river level. Here they came to an
open space 100 yards wide and 800 long.
which was surrounded on the ri ght. left and
..ont with dense forest in which the enemy
were strongly posted. but entirely protected
rom view. In the rear was the steep hill
which they had assembled. On the center of
;ur opening was gully, and at the lett a COW
path thus, with the river behind them. tie
troops fought desperately. To think of re-
treat was equivalent to death BY bullets, by
,r,wnin-. or of torture and Imprisonment
among the rebels. The belief that Gen Stone
Int crossed al Edwards Ferry with strong
lce, with the Intention of attacking the re-
tc.s II the rear, gave them great courage
How dreadful must have been the suspense,
wt.Ng-w,.iting with such fearful odds a
s..a>t thenl-tsnting in momentary expecta-
Ion that they should hear the roar of friendly
cannon IN the enemy's rear.
me ldnhanE regiment covered ltSeIl With
sow Capt O'Neara often rallied his COM
m2n!, throwing defiance into the very teeth
u tie enemy. and showing the rebels that he
could 1Fl;b equal to the worst of them
p; q Aieara TOOK charge of the lai.dirS,
al. refused to let any bit wounded men en-
e.: tie boat ordering the sound troops to 20
lex and pepper the rebels. His conduc.
VS. very gallant throughout, evincing a true
and lofty courage. Lieut. Messer took COM
mand Of the scow. and continued to ferry
yer the wounded, no poured down the
I'LL. Several times the rebels fired upon him
q he was crossing with the wounded men,
The fourth boat-load was capszcG, by the
#.rn rushing into ii in too great numbers
nj lie whole party, about fifty in number,
vel and wounded, were precipi;ated into the
STRAIN. Zen Of the party. II least. were
drowned. y great many tired to swim the
ryer and sank from exhaustion. One halt
@. those who are missing were drowned in
;l.> manner. Tie destruction of lie ha,
nan f,u grenter. N proponton 10 tie numJe,
,45,4-i, than Al bal Hpn.