New-York daily tribune., 1862-04-21
FIGHT NEAR LEES MILLS
ATTACK ON TIE ENEMYS RIFLE PITS,
Splendid Bravery Of the Green Mountain
Boys.
Inion Loss 50 Killed, 1928 Wcunded and Missing
REBEL LOSS OVER 100 KILLED AND WOUNDED
From Our Own Correspondent.

/ From Our Own Correspondents
LEE's MILLS Va, April II, 1862.
/ A reconnaissance was made about a mile north
east Of Lees Mills yesterday, which, in the severity
Of the lighting it involved, may be properly ranked
as a battle.
At 81 o'clock, Companies f, +, ID, and X of the
ID Vermont began the work ar skirmishers, Motifs
Battery supporting them with very accurate IRE
of shot aud she'll The Nermonters skiIinished until
noon. when they were relieved. Their fire had been
very accurate. The Rebel brsggarts, who began
dancing on their ran parts, and swinging their hats
and defying our troops in the customary Southern
military fashion, were dropped so rapidly by
the sharp-shooters as 70 be soon cured oi
this etyle of warfare. TOE four compa-
nies Of the 81 laid down after dinner aud thor
oughly rested themselves. At O'Clock IN the AFTER
noon, they were called up, formed into bne, and
told by their Colonel in pitby speech that the work
expected of them was charge the creek ana
take the enemy's ntren,hments. Ayres's guns-all
of the batteries. numbering - pieces, were under
the command of their occom pshed artillery officer
covered the VeImonters' advance. They marched
seaoily at the quick TO The edge Of the creek, and
plunged in. on the run. The water deepened nnex-
nectedly, The men were soon wadng to their
breasts, their cartridgo-boxes slung up on their
shoulder and their muskets held M high The mo-
mept thew entered the stream, the Rebels swsrmed
oa the edge Of theil riee-pit. and rained nre OF
bulets ON the advancing line. The stream,
% damned. was abou; twelve rods wide. The
Yermoners loaded and fred as they wsded. Their
killed and wounded began to fail from the instant
Of entering The water Many Of The latter were sns-
taned by their arms and the collars CT Their coats
and 40 Lelued across sni Laid down on the opposite
side TIE 81, as soon they emerged anf got FOOT
hold received the order 10 " chGrge!' With yell,
with true Green Mountain ring in it, they dashed at
tley extended nile Vit Al least a regiment OF
Rebels broke from behind i, and ran into tbe redoubt
in tie rear, leaving the Vcnnonters in the pit For
at least an hour they fought from here against over
wbelming numbers, receiving re-en'orcemcnis in
that me first Of four companies OF The 6th Vermont,
and aitorward OF four companies Of the 4th Vermont
They shot their foe principally through the head, and
20 superior ic and teirpuck 60 impressive
that the Rebels moved two additional regiments into
the fort and into fsnkiDg position on the ieit OF
the rife pit. Exposed now 70 a crossiire as Wei
as an increased FIRE il front, the Yermoners, though
they wanted to stay bad 70 20. Ia good order, COW
orng themselves behind trees, and lighting az they
went, they recrossed the sIeam, carrying with them
all their wounded wbose condition a. e., lI2ni,ed
survival Of their hGds Many were low shot in the
water, and drowned beyond all possibility of help.
The language of Lamoe County boy, not l6 years
old "Why, Sir it was just Ike fap.boling IN
lat strean-the bullets fell so thick is expressive
that use it as measure Of intensity. These brave
men having backed ont Of the deep water, formed
on the dry land and began the fight anew,
while many, not detailed, but volunteering
through impulses of soldierly devotion and
personal affection, dashed into the stream again
and dragged out the wounded, who were cinging TO
the trees and sitting with their heads just out OF
water Julian A. Scott Of the Sd Vermont Com
pany T. under sixteen years OF age was one Of these
heroes he pulled out less than une Of his
wounded comrades. He twice went under fire way
across the stream, and brought back from the slope
Of the rifle pit John &. Baokum Of his own company
who was shot through the lungs. Ephraiin Brown,
who was helping him, was himself shot through the
thigh IN the inside, and disabled Scott waded back
like the bOy-hero he il, and brought him faiey
over.
IL was sight to come all the way from New-Yorl
10 see-the mastery manner in which Capt Ayres
saved tie 4th Yermons four companie from the FIRE
| Of the Rebels who sWarned moie than a regiment
full in their ridepit. The moment he saw them form
or charge, he rodeso every and directed il To- be
sighted SO as to shave the Top OF the beastwoik and
then, in the magnetic manner which distinguishes
him in the field required his command to serve tho
- pieces with the utmost possible rapidity. This
lire was literally bosom Of destruction. The
shells brIst with precision within few inches Of the
top of the parapei, and over it. The 4ths COM
panes were saved 10y Il. The Rebels dared not lift
themselves, or even elevate their heads above the
edge Of their breastwork to fire down on the Yer
Inontcr in the creek. Their guns necessarily were
discharged at an upward angle, and their fire almost
wholly thrown away.
As an evidence Of the terrible accuracy Of the Gre
ei Ay'ess battery, which sleneed every Rebel gun,