davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-04-25

If this paper is without its usual variety of
news this week, the fault must be charged to
the non.arrival of the mails. We have re-
ceived but one full mail since last week on
Friday. For war news the attention of Yer
monters is all absorbed in the brave but in
efectual charge Of or gallant Green Noun
tain Boys at Yorktown. But little has been
doing besides this in the fighting line. A
letter which We copy elsewhere gives pretty
good idea of the obstacles to be overcome
before Yorktown can be effectively bombald d.
ed. AT Corinth they seem to be getting rea-
dy for another conflict. The criminal STU
pidity which prevented the Union troops
from gaining an overwhelming victory at
Pittsburg Landing is commented ON with
great severity by Westerners, and Western
men, if any, have a right to say in this mat
ter. Appalachicola, Florida, was taken by
our gunboats under Com Stellxagen on the
Sd inst The inhabitants were in starving
condition, which is the best proof in the
world Of the efficiency Of the blockade. The
Merrimac lies at Norfolk yet, and effectually
blockades the James river.
President Lincoln has signed tn. District
of Columbia emancipation bill, and it is now
a law. The capital Of our government is
now on Free Soil; let the people rejoice at
this one step forward. In his message an
nouncing the signing Of the bill President
Lincoln expresses his qualification that the
principle Of compensation and colonization
are recognized in the act, and suggests an a.
mendment extending the time within which
compensation may be claimed in the case OF
absent or insane persons, minors, and mar
ried women.
The rumor that was about a few days ago
to the effect that Secretary Stanton was a.
bout to resign has died away.
The Fort Pillow which Com Foote took
last week is 10 miles above Memphis, instead
of the one at Memphis. 1t seems that there
are several forts by that name on the Missis-
sipp.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-04-25

opened fire at about five hundred yards
This again woke the enemy up, and he re-
sponded warmly for twenty minutes, and
then once more lapsed into silence. Not de-
ceived by this our three batteries continued
to play upon his position for some minutes
longer, when word was brought to the Cen
eral of the Vermont brigade that the creek
was easily fordable at the right of our bate
ries, and Colonel Hyde, in command of
four companies of the Vermont Third,
WHO had skirmished in advance of all 9TH
ers, was ordered to send two of his COM
pauies across the creek at the point where it
was said to be only knee-deep, to advance,
then, to the enemy's left and charge the
work in the rear He accordingly sent
across companies ID and F, and supported
them very closely with companies + and X.
Meanwhile our batteries became silent
Companies ID and F were led BY Lieutenant
Whittemore. No sooner were they in tie
stream than the water was found to be much
deeper than had been stated; the men went
to their armpits, and every charge of their
ammunition was. of course, thoroughly soak
ed. This attempt was made below the dam
and it is possible that the enemy, when he
saw the intention to cross, let in more water
| bv loodeate than had been in the stream.
While the men were in the stream. large
/ body of the enemy, estimated at three regi
ments, opened upon them from rifle PIT, Oh
the very bank. and this terrible fire cut down
nearly half their number. Never, however
was fire received with greater steadiness Oh
more glorious in,repidity. Except those hit
not a man of the magnificent Nermonters va
yered, but all finely pushed upon the enem,
with the bayonet, and fairly drove them ou
in utter rout and confusion but the contes
was too unequal. No supports were il
proper distance: and though the enemy Wa
driven away from the first line Of pits, ant
the other two companies of the Third were IL
the water to cross, those On the other silk
were ordered to retreat, and did so, very re
luctantly, however. and fighting tenaciousl,
at every step.
Once more our batteries reopened, AN
kept up their fire with great vigor until dark
Meantime the blood of the Green MOuntaii
Boys was up, and at dusk the Vernon
Fourth. Colonel StoughIon, and the Vernon
Sixth. Colonel Lord, made brave but inef
fectual attempt to pass the stream on III
dam but the enemy had the gun in his on
gun battery trained particularly upon thi
point. and they were swept back by the com
bined fire of that gun and the enemyis rifles
There was considerable loss in the Sixth
which was in advance. The Division Gener
al at this time ordered the fire to cease, an,
our men slept upon their arms in the posi-
tions they respectively held. All agree tina
the loss of the enemy has been severe
Many were seen to fail, and they were oh
served to be very busy in the removal of mel
on stretchers."
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-04-25

"rabid abolitionist"; of medium hight and
not thick set. His head is large, with the
moral and intellectual faculties well develop
ed-in short has an intellectual head" This
head is thinly covered with light hair. In
deed, his head is nearly bald on the top. A
long lock of hair on each side of his face
turns up by the cheek bone, as though it were
hook to hang an idea upon; his nose is
aquiline, with good point to it; his eyes
and mouth show no signs of cowardice. But
what makes his face SO yellow? Surely il
cannot be caused by being hit with SO many
eggs at different times in his life? His gest
ures are moderately few, and made principal
ly by patting the open palm of his right hant
with that of his lett.
Daring his lecture no disturbance wa:
made, though anxious looking individuals
with big canes looked fearfully about them Il
the least unusual sound, as though they ex
pected to hear the yells of a mob, and to SCI
the rotten eggs fly at Phillips. The lecture
ranted not, but spoke respectfully of the pow
! ers that be, and many brilliant ideas, ant
many that contained much food for though,
were enunciated. Many who had never seel
or heard Phillips before, went away, with
different idea of the "ranting fanatic from
that which they had gained by reading tn
pro-slavery papers. Phillips is an extremist
but he did not here utter his most ultra idea
as he has done in other places. Why he di
not, do not know.
But the magnet has gone, and the pugna
cious little iron filings have quietly lain dow
again. NILS.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-04-25

wounded mortally; Chas. Ingraham G.
VI. wounded; Chas. Dunklee e. 1t
wounded; VIM. Henry Co. {, do - !: o.
James kunreil, Co. X, do, killed. + 4 -
gait, Co. B 9TH Vt, wounded serersi, D. A.
hew, Co. b, 4th, wounded; Jas. Ham NJ
wounded; H. Davis, Go. G, 18th VI m e
ed. arm badly fractured; A. Person 10 o-l-
do, in thigh, severely; G. z. Bixhr ~
do. wounded; f. Jerrolds, captain "a - !
9th VT, killed; b. Mason Go. f Gu t G1, +
X. Blakeslee, Co. A, do, killed: Lev 80 p
burt, Go. ID, do, killed; Geo. PARK / u
Go. Caswounded severely; Bailey % b.. T. 7.
{, wounded severely; Davis, orlerlr = ~, : O.
Co. ID. wounded severely; Silas VIM Z
II, wounded severely; NJ. c. Sbenbarfs :. q
H., wounded severely; n. h. Danker r. + /. =,
wounded. (Sipnea, = =
G. b. NoClnl,x
In Motifs Battery three we're kiIaa
eight wounded '--
VIM. Z. Morrill,, Isl Lieut. [. :. F.,
Corps, wounded in the right arm S4rsr.i.
Killed, 81 Wounded, loO-Missn, :.
Total, l6i.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-04-25
In Brief.

Rev John Wheeler, d. D., died at Burling-
ton On Wednesday of last week.
England has fifteen iron-cased vessels in
course of construction, eleven of which will
be ahoat the current year.
Our navy department invites proposals for
building four iron-cad boats, with two tur-
refs after the plan of the Monitor
There were nearly 5000 slaves in the Dis
trict of Columbia previous to the passage of
the emancipation bill. Many have now been
sent out of the District for safe keeping.
Forty of the disabled Vermont soldiers,
wounded at Yorktown, have arrived at Wash
ington.
Gen Sigel, reported few days since as
dangerously i'll, is now said to be recovering.
Gen Grant is reported as under arrest at
Pittsburg.
Gen Scott has gone to reside for the pres
ent at Elizabeth City, n. J.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-04-25
The Monitors Impression on John Bull.

From what we see in the English papers
we judge that Johnny Bull is evidently dis
turbed at the long step that America has ia
ken in the matter of war vessels. The con-
test in Hampton Roads, has opened his eyes
to the painful fact that the boosted British
navy is not worth straw 70 cope with the
iron invention of Mr. Ericsson. The London
Times of April l, after virtually acknowledge
ing that the Monitor has proved "a warning
to Downing street, and that this last Yankee
notion merits all the attention claimed for it, n
says Ct the fight between the Merrimac and
the Monitor:
"Of course, the Americans have built upon
this achievement with the decision character
istic of the transatlantic mind. At Washing.
ton, says our special correspondent, the COM
mon remark is that the naval supremacy OF
Great Britain is disposed Of We don't
think it will be disposed Of quite so easily
and yet the conclusion has really better war.
rant than usual. After what has now been
actually proved of the efficiency of single
iron-cased frigate against any number Of
wooden vessels. it is quite impossible to dis
semble the fact that nine-tenths of the Brit
ish Navy have been rendered comparatively
useless"
After recapitulating their entire naval force
the Times says:
"Of all this force there are but two vessels
that could be relied upon to meet such shiI
as the Monitor. The Americans ordered
three iron-cased vessels to be built last Au
tumn. One of these is the Monitor herself
and another, as she was to have been com
pleted in four months time, is probably now
atloat also. Now, suppose these two vessels
had encountered division of the magnificent
fleet under Admiral Milne; what would have
been the result? Would our Ariadnes OF
Orandos have Jared any better than the Cum
berland and Congress against an invulnera
BILE enemy? True, they might have availel
themselves Of their speed and escaped de
struction; but if they had chosen, as they nc
doubt would have done, to fight, what would
have been the end of the battle?"
This paper urges upon the English govern
ment the Importance of an immediate and IA
dical change in the navy department:
Nv hat is the use of the 8 line-of-b battle
ships, 4 corvettes, and Il sloops, forming on,
Mediterranean feet, if a couple of "cupola'
vessels could destroy them all one after an
other?9 Is it not obviously our duty to look
upon wooden ship as no ship at all, and te
replace our squadrons as fast as possible by t
few iron-cased vessels? 1t is of no Use min
cling the matter. Our fine screw line-of
battle ships and frigates have gone the way
of our fine old sailing AS. They are good
for nothing against an iron-clad battery
They must be struck off the list of electives
if We wish to save life and escape disaster
and We must concentrate all our efforts upon
i new class If vessels"
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-04-25
The Charge Of the Vermont Troops.

We give elsewhere an extended account of
the skirmish before Yorktown on Wednesday,
i'll which the Vermont troops took a promi-
nent part. The galantry and bravery of the
Green Mountain Boys was fully tested in this
fatal charge, and they came out Of it, as we
supposed they would, with honor to them
selves and credit to their native state.
From the information we now have We
consider this engagement as brave but in
etfectual attempt Of less than two hundred
men, with wet ammunition, to drive superb
or force from an intrenched position. And
although the persistent courage of the men
drove the enemy from their works at the
point of the bayonet, they were not properly
sustained, and were obliged to retreat with
severe loss. The movement was rash and
unfortunate at any rate, and if ordered by a
superior officer it was more than that. The
after attempt of the 18th and 9th regiments to
regain possession of the enemys battery was
no less Intellectual, and scarcely less fatal
We sincerely hope that the true account of
this affair will give some show of reason for
sending two or three companies through a
river to their arn-pits to attack an intrench-
ed position, guarded by at least one battery
and two Or three thousand rebels. If it was
to try the bravery and fortitude of our boys
under fire, the record of one hundred and
sirty,tor killed, wounded and missing, will
bear abundant testimony to that. But We
object to this kind Of bravery; it is worse
than useless, it is wicked. Give our boys ar
open field and fair fight and they ask nc
odds; but we have already had enough Big
Bethels and Balls Bluffs.
The list Of the killed, wounded and miss
ing which we give elsewhere is probably very
incorrect as reported by telegraph. 1t seems
that neither of the companies recruited il
this county were in the fight but the loss ii
the Third comes heaviest in companies !
Charleston, Capt Harrington, f johnson
AhS"' " H'tleuolC, S1pl DlduCudTu udNlIl}
resigned), F Hartford, Capt Pingrey) ant
n Calais, Capt HammonD, who forded tn,
stream and drove the enemy, but who wer,
exposed to the fire of the enemy's battery ane
riaemen all the time they were crossing ant
recrossing.
Those who have friends in these regiment
will look over this list of casualties with tn,
deepest interest, and happy will tley be il
they do not find the name of husband, broth
er, or son, or some more distant kin, in th
long list of skilled, wounded and missing"
Some names in the list are evidently 81
changed that no one can recognize them
For instance, among the seriously wounded
we notice the names of Capt z. Pruzzenl ant
Lieut. L. Chandler We cannot divine VIVA
captain is intended, but undoubtedly tn,
lieutenant is Edward A. Chandler of tn,
Hartford company. The Austin Boneu;tsor
of company +, reported killed, may be Ans
tin Boynton, whose name We find in the npb
lished roll.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-04-25
4 GREAT FRESHET.

The few warm, summerlike days of last
week melted the vast quantities of snow then
on the ground, bringing on one Of the great
est treshets ever known upon the Connect
cut river. Many of the smaller streams in
this state were swollen to an unprecedented
hight, but the damage done to railroads.
bridges, mill dams, nc, was more severe up
on the Connecticut than elsewhere. A.
Windsor, Bellows Falls, Brattleboro, North
ampton, Hadiey and Springfield, the river
came into the houses, driving out the occu-
pants, who, in some cases escaped in boats
from the chamber windows. The delay to
trains anG damage done to railroads is in
some places considerable. There was nc
Boston or New York mail received at this
place from Sunday until Tuesday evening"
We understand that the Vermont Valley and
Connecticut river roads are badly washed
and that the Northern and Passumpsic are
somewhat damaged. The Springfield Re
publican says OF this Hood -
Up the river the food is prodigious.-
Chicopee street at Chicopee is nearly siA
feet under water. The Hadley meadows are
again swept across by rapid current, caus
ing the lower stories of lnany houses to bt
suddenly evacuated. A similar calamity ha.
befallen Northampton. The dyke which wa.
built some years ago for the protection of
Maple and other streets has ''caved in" be
fore the force of the torrent, and scores of
families are drowned out.
A special train on the Connecticut rive,
road was run from this city Sunday after
noon, with party of invited guests, as fa
as Holyoke, and the spectacle was one of un
rlvalled sublimity. A sheet of water, ~ fee
t inches in depth pours over the dam, being
9 inches deeper than 1854. Clouds of spra,
are raised and the thunder of the might,
torrent is heard to great distance. Trave
on the road above Holyoke is suspended, tn
track being some IS inches under water a
the bend of the river. A temporary dan
has been built across the track to proven
flooding the village A brick building on tn
South Hadl y side was undermined and ov
erturned Sunday afternoon, and an empt
building. formerly a carriage shop, was Car
ried bodily down stream.
The Windsor Chronicle says -
The freshet ofthe past week was the high
est which the oldest residents in this vcinit,
have ever witnessed. The water has risel
some one or two feet above the marks mad
In the great freshet of Sept, 1923. At Bel
lows Falls the railroad bridge, which is TWEEN
ty feet above the ordinary flow of the river
was two feet under water-eiving q rise Ct
twenty-five feet to the river, and that by tn
melting of the snow without any rain.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-04-25

v We have received. too late for inser
ton this week, a lengthy letter from our cor
respondent at Yorktown. 1t was written the
day before the Vermont troops were engaged
and contains description of the position Of
our troops before Yorktown, with little in
sight into the fatigue service our boys ar.
doing there. 1t is much such letter as WI
have copied elsewhere from the Freeman
We may give extracts from it next week.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-04-25
The Surprise at Pittsburg.

The Western papers make strong case
against our officers at Pittsburg Landing
They undertake to prove from men in
Grants army that there were no pickets
posted above two hundred rods from camp
that men were allowed to fire their guns just
when they pleased, SO that the crack of mus
kerry was not note Of alarm; in short that
while the officers were in their tents playing
euchre and drinking whskey, Beauregard
came down upon them with complete sur
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-04-25
The Vermont Cavalry Regiment.

\ letter in The Bradford T,degraj.g IL,
one OF the Cavalry says, In passing ,!!-o2s
thariesteSr. Va, q woman showed hers.
strong lilionist, and kept waving htr han
kerchief as We passed. There seems 10 be- a
distinction here between 4 woman and p
dy- We asked seoesh youu-s,er i ia,
was | MON lady wonder? No SAD It,
she amt a lady, she's rroaaaa-a la.oa
woman"
The LamOille Nems.iegler SAWS tia; C4ic
Sawyer Of Hydepark, al home on tar.o2-2
last weeh, reported two of the cavalry reg
meni siek-M. 6. King of waierri.,. ana d
Young man by the name Of Fletcher, enlisted
IN Burlington, but thopghi 10 be from M
terriile. Mr. King has not recovered isa@
the effects of his Jump from the cars, On Tx
way TO Washington, and viii have TO be o.
charged. Mr. Fletcher WIS left in the hosp
tai at Poolsville, and when last heard from
was getting better.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-04-25

6 A tragic incident of the battle Of
Pittsburg was when portion of a flying
Ohio regiment took their way directly across
the range of federal battery. The enemy
were pressing upon the artillerymen whose
supporting infantry were thus in flight. The
officer in charge of the guns saw the dread
necessity and was equal to it, and four OF
our flying soldiers were actually blown in
pieces almost from the mouth of our own
guns.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-04-25

prise, numbering men in their tents even be-
fore they were aware that the enemy had at
tackled them. A captured rebel AYERS that
they were encamped SO near our army on
Saturday night that they distinctly heard
our tattoo for roll-call, and that they chuck
led over the surprise they would give land
did give) US in the morning.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-04-25

u Sunday night, Lieut. Col llalliaay, d:
the 9'th New York regiment, in the amy
before Yorktown, took small boat VIZ
four men and landed on The rebels shore.
leaving one man to guard the boat whit '!'f
rest went On little excursion. iae nor
picket of twenty or thirty men made =
appearance, when the boat haslilr III, vi
lis sole occupant, not waiting for TIL sa..Aii.
colonel or his guards. HALLIDAY sel'aT1,r-
from the Others, came 10 the beach, aud, i2'
flndlng his boat, took TO the water a,.G swan
to the Rip Raps, two miles distant, WitA :
strong tide running. The three men ~H}
were left doubtless fell into the hanas 81
the rebels. The escape OF Col HALLIDAY vs.
pluekr and fortunate, but the trip was mat
without authority.
"a We learn that Gov. Holhroaok, -
connection with the Var Department II
made arrangements 10 have the wonna'
Vermont troops brought 10 Burlington
HE Marine Hospital in that place : 10 TX
made Immediately ready for Their recel l,oi'
e. Poor Lieut. Fitz James O'hrtn Was
sacrificed by an ignorant Office seeA'E
who had received an appointment as surgeon
Through some political influence, an4 "a0
dressed his wound SO unskillfully thai ia
more than month the gallant soldier W2s
suPpurating his life away. A re-section o.
the joint of his arm BY a competent perso1
caused tetanus, from which he died.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-04-25
By Telegraph---T

CHICAGO, April %.
The Times correspondent from For,
Wright says Gen Pope's division has been
ordered to reinforce Gen Halleck. The
whole force left for up river on the 18th.
HARRIsONBURG, Va, April 22.
A reconnaissance consisting of two compa-
mics Of the Ohio cavalry, the same number of
the Vermont and Michigan cavalry, Hamp-
tons battery, and the Connecticut 9TH, was
made towards this town to-day. The cavalry
now occupy the town.