Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-04-24
ueraId'Army correspondence.
Camp in Front Of Yorktown,


A. Il II, 1862,
The Affair Near Lees MH.-Successive As
saul on a Rebel Fort The Brilliant Con-
duel. of our TroopS.-S5eagh Of the Rebel
Works, &C.
-Four batteries OF artillery and two regl-
ments OF Vermont troops mad sharp en-
gagement Yesterday in front Of one OF the
forts which form the chain Of de'ences out
sde the interior works at Yorktown The
scene of the engagement was on the estate OF
Mrs. GsIrow, between Lees Mills and Winn's
Mills, Oh a branch of the WarrIck river.
Al point on the Warwick road where the
enemy had blocked il up with fallen timber,
and on the right rs YOU 90 towards War
wick Court House, there opens quite an ex-
tensive field, with woods to the right and |
left and in the rear OF road. In front, at the |
foot of gradually descending slope, runs
branch of the Warwick river. This spot, adj |
mirably adapted by nature for defence against
an attacking force, had been chosen by the
enemy Tor one of the outer works in its line
of Notifications, across the entire peninsula.
at this place the stream had been damned
up between the two mills already mentioned.
The water was, at different places, between
two and four and half feet deep, and thirty
TO forty rods wide. The dam formed mar
row cause ay across the water. The ground
On either side was marshy. On the opposite
bank there was deep rifle pit of indefinite
extent, and above it, on the gradually rising
activity, large breastworks, with embrasurrs
for guns, rose to the rear, partly cresned by
timber For several days past the enemy
had had large numbers Of men at work
strengthening still further this position, as
vii as other points on tie line 1t was de-
termined on our part to drive the working
parties away, especially at this point, and
prevent them rendering their intrenchments
more impregnable. Capt, Motifs battery was
Immediately ready for action, and an ade-
uuate number of infantry was ordered to the
front 10 support him. Skirmisher were
thrown ont in front and TO the right and left,
while a sufficient force was kept in the rear
as reserves.
Subsequently il was determined to throw
body o. troops into the work and hold the
position, which seemed to be vacated. -Four
batteries of light artillery, commanded re-
spectively by Capt. Ayers, Mott, Kennedy
and Wheeler, Captain Ayers the senior OF
6cer. being in charge of them all, wheeled
into line in the open field, forming almost a
semic,rcle, and being on either side of the
gWO taIl CntnuS4S "ulth lhoiN NV AN'i'' W
Mrs. Garrow's house. This residence hat
been burned by order of the rebel Genera
Maeruder more than two weeks ago. The
batteries were then within about six hundred
yards of the enemy's works. with no obstruc'
tons for artillery in front Six companies o
the Third Vermont regiment had been pre-
viously deploSed as skirmishers IN the woods
the line forming larger semicercle, about
mile in extent fro the batteries to the road
They were continually exchanging shots wi
the enemy, who had similar skirmishers on
in front in the woods. Ii should be observed
that while the work was apparently deserte'
the enemy lay concealed under cover, an
had received numerous relnforcements dur
ing the few hours previous. The other fou
companies-D, E, F, and X, of the Ihlr
Vermont es ia.ea;:: had oeen placed in re
serve to the tight, little in the rear Abou
throe o'clock Colonel Hyde was ordered t
take these four companies, advance unde
cover of our guns cross the creek and storI
the work 1t was arranged that when the
should have entered the fort signal froI
them would indicate that reinforcement
should be sent to bold it. The four batterl'
opened a continued fire on the fort, thro wiz
shot, she'll and spherical case into it in rap
succession. lNBn luUSj iOui SclEp hhiSS
the Third regimeet advanced, dashed into Il
water, which in some places came up TO the
armpits. and proceeded the work At ID
moment an immense force of the enemy, wi
had laid low all bis while, confronted o
men, shoo ing them down IN the wafer. II
brave ht,l- band stood their ground nobl
and Notwithstanding that many had the
cartridge boxes soaked in the dam, the GRO;
10 nat pFfh h.
rife put or lower line of entertainments. II
position they held against murderous Fl
for perhaps twenty or thirty minutes.
length large body of rebel reinforcement
consisting of two or three regiments, was sc
advancing frem the rear into the fort, and
some unaccountable reason, our reinfor'
nents not appearing at the proper nome
the brave battalion was compelled to
back before superior numbers. We susta
cd considerable loss both in crossing and
crossing the dam. but to what extent 1t is
possible to tell at present.
Alter the remnant of these companies
turned, our batteries, which had In
meantime ceased firing, opened in full 70
again. Then the Sixth Vermont was
dered 10 storm the work by the left fla
Led by their gallent Colonel Lord, the 81
regiment rushed into the water. Sc
companies had gotten in and some
reached within about three rods of the bre
work, when, being in three feet of wa
they were Immediately met by the fire {
long line of rebels which were pc:
above the parapets running fire frol
thousand small arms was poured upon
men. 1t was returned as well as the Giro
stances would warrant. The breastw
was lighted up with a continuous sheet