Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1862-05-02
CAMP IN THE WooDs NEAR
YoRKTOwN VA. Abr. 20.

| OAMP IN w OODs MEAN
YORKTOWN VA, Apr. 20.
DEAR FRIEND 1T is likely that before
this reaches you, you will have heard of
the sharp little engagement that the Vt.
brigade had with the rebels. On We'd
nesday morning our brigade left our tenn
porary camp and advanced on a point of
their lines where they seemed to be at
work on their Notifications. The Sd reg
iment seemed to have the lead, and went
to the left of an open field that fronted
the works of the enemy; the 18th took po-
stion in the woods on the right of the
same field, while our regiment with the
9th were posted in an open field to the
rear, in position to support either flank if
it should become too closely pressed. Two
pieces of cannon were placed within range
of little fort under cover of the woods,
and opened fire on the rebels. They re-
piled smartly and sent some shell over in
to the field where we were posted, but at
a safe distace from us. Two more guns
were ordered up, and still two more. Four
guns now seemed to open, holding a coup
lie of brass pieces in reserve. Soon the
practice of our artillerists became 50 good
that the rebels had to cease working their
guns, not, however, till they killed three
of our brave cannoneers, and wounded
some others. Then there was o lull in
the noise of battle for 2 or hours Gen.
Mcclellan came up and went to the front
to look things over. AS he passed our
boys he had to motion to the to be silent,
or he would have been greeted with the
usual deafening cheer with which he is
met wherever he shows himself to the
army of the Potomac. Things wore such
a serene appearance that our regiment was
sent back to camp to bring up our KNAPP
sacks and other traps. We had little more
than mile to 60. We packed up as
: quick as we could and started back.
When we got back the cannonading had
commenced again with double fury, and
J our regiment was marched into the woods
where we left our knapsacks. The mus
kerry began to open with quite rattle.
We we're told to cap our pieces, " left face, "
and take double quick. We passed into
! the open field in front of the fort, in which
two batteries were placed and were firing
briskly. The fort was replying briskly,
appearantly with two pieces. For short
, distance we were exposed to their shells,
but that was considered small matter
by those who had run similar gauntlet,
FIVE times its length yet one poor fellow
} was struck by piece of shell, and killed
J J Immediately. His name was Fuller, Of
Co. f. Our regiment formed to the left
of the artillery and marched to a position
to support it, where we remained without
T firing shot. aain. aai ~ baya
Y In front Of the Notifications of the en-
!. envy, is wide and shallow. creek ovcl
q which companies Of the 3D. crossed il
d the face of murderous fire. They drov,
). the rebels out of their rife pits. and tool
J, = possession of them, but not being support
G ed they had to fall back to, save them
5 selves from being surrounded. The,
: were forced to turn their backs to the reb
j. els and Iweroiexposed to- all the horror
d Of aretreat in the face of the enemy, A
. this juncture the slaughter was terrible
70 outIof l92Ithat went over, 81 we're hit
lcpAbout 80 believe have died. 1t is sai'
le that4 Of the wounded fell into the hand
!, y of tho enemy. The rest were brough
e over on the shoulders of their brave com
g panions. After thcrepulsc of the Sd TIL
y 9th made an unsuccessful attempt to tax
1t the rife pits, but they met with such
j sharp reception that they soon gavei it UP
IA having killed and nearly so wounded
IN Thcrcbcls brought our dead over ycster