Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1862-07-22

Rebeldom. Reports come thioK and fast, good
and better, At last we hear that Little Mac
has SAID, " II they will only attack ny right
wing | will show them something IN military
strategy that they never dreamed OF Tins
was cheering for they had attacked our right
wing The next day.
FRIDAY,
we were called under arms at about half past
two oclock in the morning and then We stood
in line Of battle till about five. Hot coffee was
served to US at tour, and IN less than hall
hour, as the boys said, they commenced calling
the roll On tho night again, and by the time
that the day had fully dawned, the battle was
two-told hercer than the night previous, our
anxiety was increased In like proportion. In
less than an hour it was evident that our lines
were falling back, giving away, but still the
roll Of musketry, and the roar Of artillery grew
more and more terrible. Our flank was turned,
there was no longer any doubt Of that, and be-
fore mid day regiment after regiment, brigade
after brigade from the rebel camp, Was seen
filing across the Chlckahominy, and taking
position IN the timber aud pasture lands near
Gaines Hlll Anon their batteries are there
and 10 position.
I rec or four o clock comes round and their
batteries open. They have ull command, and
perfect range Of our division and camp grounds.
With this position their batteries play upon Us
from three different directions, and IN fact from
thst time out I'LL tuesday night we hardly
knew which way to look lor the enemy Their
infantry, cavalry, or artillery were everywhere
Bat there was no CONSERVATION. no Bull Run,
BY i've clock the artillery tire became PERFECTLY
terrihc-uothug like il had ever been seen or
.rd nm hu said a. "A RI
From one u two hundred cannOns were playing
upon our camp with constant enhladlnk FIRE,
those demon shrleking shells bursting every
where, while our guns were returning the COM
phmsnt At sundown all was quiet again
though our brigade was n line Of battle and
Imwn up ~ support a re1oubt and prevent any
surprise All night they were under arms, but
nothing unusual happened, save a little quar-
rel with the pIckeis Early
SATURDAY
morning the ball opened again on our right. or
rather. as tnings we're now, IN our rear Mil
itary matters now began to thcken and mix
tte Order followed order promiscuously
the last being 70 pack knapsacks. But this was
hardly published before the batteries Of the
enemy again opened rs the day previous, only
with larger number, and from nearer and better
positions Whgtwas terrible and terrific yes
terday, was TO day superterrbe and terrific.
But few knapsacks were packed, and the gene
raj camp va, speedily deserted. As ali man
Kind dread the coil and hiss Of serpents, 50 do
all soldiers dread the death knell as II seems to
be OF these rted she'll by companies and by
squads the regiments move of wnlle amid the
roar and confusion, shells bursting IN ar, and
At his feet, We hear the voice of our gallant
Lieut. Colonel Grant. IS he stands upon the
camp ground suddenly deserted " Compa-
ules OF the 9TH Vermont, double quick round
the rayiue into line of battle below the timber.
Perfectly cool, be seemed proud Of the danger,
and his command The regiment, as also the
brigade was soon IN line, and after considerable
mAnens9rIug, was IN position in The timber IN
rear Of the lrst and third brigade, or where
they we're encamped.
From this place, as a sort of sasls Of opera
tons, they we're ordered forward and back, Il
mean now the jth) doub.e,quicaed here, then
there and now back again all day. Companies
We're thrown cut a., skirm,hers and every thing
that exhausted and hungry men could do they
were called on TO perform. Early IN tie day
the sick and disabled OF the regiment and the
brigade were notified thatall hospital aecommo-
datJus would be removed somewhere in the vi
entity of Mcclellan headquarters, but 10
movement Of the kind VAs attempted nlI Just as
the caunonadug began consequently there
was ud1uIlna. confusion ou this account. So
10 speak, tie hlsltul got lost as well as the pa.
tieHs bat as good luck would have ii we sjuu
elme around again all tight Being among the
disabled ones myself, soon, after q tedious
march, was able & report 70 the Trent House
Hospital and directly thereafter our surg on,
Dr. Russell was ou the ground u attend u his
patients. Securing Us tausl lortatluu ae for
warded us 10 Savage station, When be return
ed ru the regiment and the mothers and wives
OF Vermont will ever owe DR.. Russell debt OF
gratitude On the next day when the poor
boys wc,c LETT dying IN the heii. he gave ms
horse To wounded officer, to ride, wale he re-
manned behind t. administer to their wants
and meet with such a reception Us the rebels
might give hn
All night saturday there was constant alarm,
and though good portion Of the army was now
on the retreat our lines on the extreme left had
moi been fully abandoned
Early on the morning Of
SUNDAY
the army was astir and movements begun iu
good order. Although it was pretty we'll un.
ueloNuVe Nhae NuV UaNtcI WAS We NtIt III tHe
first stages OF u regular skedaddle. Still there
was no haste and no unnecessary alarm. All
the sick and wounded who were able To march
were ordered forward at da, break to the James
river. There were thousands OF wounded ut the
Station, and hundreds OF surgeons and nurses,
and, God bless the ladies OF tho Sanitary Com
mission, they were there administering to the
wants OF both sick aud wounded.
"A .T
stores and stuff as could not be trlusp TED. -
suehas provisions, ammunition, tents, eu,rench-
ment tools, mai matter, bushels of II, whlskey
wagons. clothing, ears, guns &u ,---thc trains
were fairly ON the move, as also the IN IN army
Smith and one other division were detailed as