The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-05-12
GREEN MOUNTAIN FREEMAN, MAY -, 1862.

reach Il distance safe from our lm,neulat6 pur
suit.
The first impression made On any sensible mai
on entering that field from the east, was, tina
the whole plain might be flooded at any momen
with rebel troops issuing from the dense tlmbe
on The Richmondward side that they nigh
have thanking forces as well as we and that
they did come out in any force, we should b.
completely hemmed III, cut OFT, and forced t.
surrender Although Hancock, as have omit
ted to state, had regiment with him besides
his own, yet his force was scarcely five thousane
and totally separated from tho main body. l.
overpowered in front, retreat would be no les'
impossible through the narrow gorge behind us
Gen. Reyes happened on the field at this mo
ment, and told Gen. Hancock that he did moi
visit him to assume the command as ranking
officer, but see him, Hancock, "carry the left. ,
Gen. Reyes was impressed with the absurdy o.
de'aching 50 small force ON 50 dangerous d
movement, and at once sent back for support
Ell cavalry and artillery. This WAS about one
o clock in the afternoon For some reasons, tc
me unknown, Gen. Sumner declined ordering
the renforcemonts forward. There is also some
trouble, 1T is said about reinforcements called
for in other quarters. Mention is made Of quick
words between the chiefs Of corps d'armee. Of
all this ! know nothing personally, but this
morning learn that an officer of high rank has
been sent to the rear by order of the ma or-gen-
eral commanding.
However, Il regiment was soon in the enemy s
deserted works, mo. from the York river. j.
The old flag was raised with wild cheers from
It's parapet our eight cannon We're quickly un-
llmoercd in the field beyond A smaller inter-
mediate outwork was still held between this
and Fort Magruder. In front OF IL line of
rebel skirmishers dcpoyed, bat were quickly
dispersed by our own and forced to retire. In
i've minutes our guns were playing, some ON the
great fort, at 60O yards distance; the rest on
the woods to the north, through which the reb-
els were retreating on their main body. Gen.
Hancock placed his infantry in beautiful battle
order at various portions OF the field. just then
the clouds broke away III the west, and IL flood
OF light Came in upon HE whole panorama.--
Nothing could be more beautiful and inspirlting
II only the thought of It's dre;ti meaning had
b. en- absent. The deserted rebel l.rts sur
mounted with our colors; Hancock $ infantry
awaiting orders Ia battle line; u signal officer
WAVING to the center his hag-sgnas from the
paraper OF work No. 3 the long tire-belching
smuke-cluopled curve OF Fort Page in the DIS
tance; s1IIl further beyond, whte flashes, aud
huger clouds Of smoke appearing from Hooker s
battle-ground on tho LETT OF whose despera tie
contest the stunning roll OF musketry and roar
OF cannon gave true token-ail these combined
IN such "a broad and fascinating battle picture
is 1t had never previously been my ch.uce TO
EGe
Hancock $ artillery fired with precision and
rApidity for an hour. the for. answering gun
for gun. But The rebel infantry seemed to have
thelr hands full managing Hooker, and SO our
own, II not yet being practicable to storm the
fort, found nttie to 90, and stood under fire of
the artillery with small loss, awaiting tueir
share il the business. Ii was not long coming,
and ii came in the shape which invre than one
observer mad feared from the outset. 1t was
preceded at o cock BY one Of thusc dead, ON
lnous halt hour pauses which SO often make the
decisive turn OF an engagement. Both sides
ceased ;her fire on the right, and few echoes
came to us On the left Many thought the enc
my USED up ana re'reating. Others, Yho have
had occasion 10 dread such 8!ill and awful lap
SEES from the bloody work of field tay, prog
nosticated an unknown danger impending close
lit hand, suddenly.
There burst from the woods Oh our right flank
right and lett of the horse, three regiments OF
ihi"'' ) ouEPoi' Why ~.
y terrible moment Four thousand infantry
marching in at the same period OF the BATTLE
turned and routed our eighteen thousand at BIZ |
Run. But year has passed since then Yam
KEGS have learned how and when to fight.
Gen. Hancock was equal to the crisis. Form
ing his infantry in a minute against this sudden
attack, he held them in magnificent order, while
the rebel foot and horse came on, cheering, fir.
ing, and charging in gallant and imposing
style. Our artillery wheeled and poured no,
volleys into them us they came, and over five
thousand muskets riddled them through and
through. But they kept Observation-Disclosures
closing up, and cheering, and sure of their pow
er to sweep us before them.
Thus, swfter than can write it, until their
line, now broken and irregular, was painting
within two hundred yards of our own unw;.-
vering columns. Then Hancock showed him
self the coolest and bravest of the brave. Ia
king OFT his hat, and using the courtly prefix of
the oden time, he said Z" Ready noV !! Gentle
man, CHARGE Our whole line swept tor
ward, as the reapers sickle goes throu sh the
corn. Its keen edge had not yet touched the
enemy, when the latter broke simultaneously,
fled in confusion to the rear of its stronghold
and the field of Williamsburgh was won.
The Court of Inquiry instituted to examine
the charge of drunkenness against Gen. VIM.