The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1862-04-29
The aaair NJ Ees's nlns.

Tie recent c8aaie ~ Lees Mi3h -
whsef the troeps lrom ,lis State, except
srz sl.e suglery. were il.a only parieipa-
tors uroa III. feaerai ti1s, i Chg most ex-
rensise engagcmen, uh.eh has SCI oeear-
red II lie a4gaace II lbe army Of tie To
.or.c. Tl.e wsuiiy d TIC fsh'ios and
che loss al lstc on tlis occasion we're SUCH
Is 10 raak il viii froPriely as Jaiile.
Tie el.ivf ana indeed nc only object a.
ana. % Gar 81 we can gather from all lle
accounts Of lie a0tig which we have seen,
vas 10 prcsu; tie enemy from f'rcng.h-
enias 81 position q, Dist point Of lis de-
fences. For tic accomplishment Of lais
purpose, AioUs battery was brought 70
bear upon lae cuemy's works, ana aiier
two hours Gre The eneoy's guns were 81
leueed.
Here tile legitimate object Of 'he attack
aeens 10 ~ 20 have ended but i vas
subsequently determined to charge upon
tie cnemys works and 70 aitemp, 10 hold
tiem. This duty wits ussgnei 80 four
companies Of iho 81 Vermont Regiment.
Aiier wadng tie stream to their waists
our troops succeeded 10 capturing The tille
pits q tl,e enemy, and after holding them
some half an hour 10 The face oi most
terrific fire, they we're forced to fall back
aaa wade Tie stream again in fuli expos
IRE 10 The epemy's fire. The Third, II
appears, we're supported by The Sixth
under Col. Lord bat il does not appear
tia, tie latter advanced beyond the oppo-
sile bank 81 The creek. The attack Of the
infantry was covered by p pieces Of az.
tilIery, under the sAillful charge Of Capt
Ayre, and nothing but lis efforts prevent
"a HE almost entire destruction Of cur
troops.
We hardly know what % say Of the at
fair, no, having sufficient information e
form 4 decided opinion. There seems Il
have been n bhtnder somewhere. lh,
force Of the enemy, his position and
strength seems 10 have been moderated
There appears to have been lack Of re-
Inducements a, thg right timei and again
there seems TO have been negligence i
providing bridges for the retreat Of on
troops in case Of repulse
The N. Y. P9a after cbaracterizing ID
affair as JriHtonf and stupid, and highi,
complimcn,ing The bravery oithe Vernon
troops, continues as follows;
At seems TO have been another Bali
Bluff bmehery on a small scale and
AFTER all, il does not seem that the batter.
the vermouicrs charged was needed b.
our side, for after thiriy.iiye men wer
killed ana one hundred wounded, the plac
was lest IN possession Of The enemy. Di'
the General want to test tie courage &
his soldiers? He ought TO be satisfied. w
doub, Il they are bat we know that u
public. and those whose sons, husbands 0
brothers were killed In this seemingly Oh
iectless hatchery, arc not content. IL
reported that Gen. Smith is under arrest
SO j. Gen. Stone. Let them he tried
and let the men Who devise Balls BLU
affairs be known aud punished
As 10 tie conduct Of the Division Gen
eral, VIM. r, Smith, there seems 70 be
conflict OF opinion some stating that b
was grossly intoxicated and that lie FL
twice from his horse during ihe LAY 9th
ers stale that his conduct was exemplar,
and that he was thrown from his hors'
which Is represented rs a high blooded ar
imal Mr.. Morrill,, Of the 2d Dislrie
seems 10 have given eredence 10 The charG
Of iaioxieaiion by introducing II Cohgre:
last Tuesday resolution requesting II
President 10 strike from the rolls any o
Gcer guilty Of habiiual into1icaliOn Will
In service.
The Burlington Times speaking Of ID
matter says:
ave have private letters which CO.
robornie the statement Of the If,bga
They allege IN distinct and positive term
on tie personal know ledge Of the writer
that Gen. Smith was intoxicated on I'll
day Of lie fight. Further Than tbs V
we're Informed some TINE since that Gel
Smith was an incorporate man. lie vi
pat under arrest, as VIC understood, la
fall for misconduct 10 action, whcu, i vi
alleged by soldiers 10 tic Vermont Bri.
ale. be was drunk and not competent
perform ihe duties Of a commanding %
Ger. The statements Of the Pests CORE
pondeni or those q any o;her paper y
regard as untrue or IS mistakes.
We ,rus, tia, tie matter VIII be tho
oughIy investigated, and If Gen. smil
was really drunk during the action, III
be will not only be struck frOm the roll
bus also shot We have ia the arm