Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-05-02
INCIDENTS OF THE FIGHT At
LEES MILLS.

TIE CHARGE OF The GREEN NoUSriIs EoYs.
Companies and .. Of the 81 Vermont, were
ordered to charge bayonets tho left or on their
/ right rife pits. Down out Of the woods they
| came marched through tire bog, some 80 or 800
feet wide; all sank from their knees to their
waists in mud and water, but on they went.
The WORKS CARRIED by TWO COMPANIES.
When they reached the shore, up they rushed
to the rifle pits. 4 glance at the fort showed il
/ to be empty. A ditch at the left was found to be
full Of men. Our men then poured one dead
| ly vollcy into them, and all fed who could. 4
second pit was found empty, and they stopped tC
load.
REINFoRCEHESTs CONE Up.
Two more companies followed up q and X }
To their horror they found their cartridges were
spoiled by being wet e~crossing the bog. A few
had dry ones, and they divided them among one
another, and charged the third ditch, when all
at once, along the whole line, the rebels swarmc i
out by thousands, and, with a yell, hoisted for
the first time the stars and bars. A whole pla-
toon was marching on our men, when Mott fired
three guns into them. which must have killed at
least fifty from the one di-ch irge. The Vermont
ers held the second ditch, and tie artillery poured
in the shell and canister at a terrific rate, firing
over the heads Of our troops.
The HEROIC uAyD RETREAT.
menccd to fall back, trying TO carry their dead
and wounded; they reached the bog, when the
rebels again filled the bitches they had left, and
commenced CALLING fire upon them. The water
had been let out Of the upper dam, ani as it is a
very low fat it had now two feet more water
than when they went over. number Of the
wounded could not get through, and fell exhaust
ed to strangle in the mud; many stuck fast and
we're shot through he head, while many were
killed and wounded before they reached the shell
ter Of the woods.
rHHmLiNG ROMANCE.
Never until we stood by the grave Of the g reen
Mountain Boy did, realize how much stranger
is truth than fiction. Your readers will all recol-
lect last sumner private was court-martialcd for
sleeping on his post out near Chain Bridgc.on the
Upper Potomac. lie was convicted; his sentence
was death; the finding was approved Of b. the
general, and the day Fl ed for his execution. lie
was a youth Of moro than ordinary Intelligence.
he did not beg for pardon, but was willing TO meet
his fate. The time drew near; the stern nJccssi-
ty Of war required that an example 81 uli be
made Of some one; his was an aggravated case
But the case reached the ears Of the President; he
resolved to save him; ho signed par ion AMI sent
It out; the day came. suppose thought the
President my pardon has not reached hlm. The
telegraph was called into rcquisitioa; an answer
did not come promptly. Bring up my carriage
ordered. IL came, and soon the important state
papers were dropped, and through the hot breilins
sun and dusty roads lie rode 90 the camp, about
ten miles and saw that the soldier was saved He
has doubtless forgotten the incident, but the sol
dicr did not. When the Third Vermont charged
upon the rifle pits, the enemy poured volley
bullets in hi. b9dy & fri was SA2 ,5s,, isi " with SIX
ny X. Ills comrades caught him up, and as his
life blood ebbed away, he raised 20 heaven, amid
the din Of war, the cries Of the wounded and dy-
ins, the shouts Of the enemy, a prayer for the
President, and as he died he remarked TO his COM
rade that he had shown he was no coward and not
afraid TO die.
He was inferred in the presence Of his regiment
in a re,el fort, in tie centre OF a group
Of holly and vines; a few cherry trees
in full bloom, are scattered around the
edge. In digging his grave a skull and bones
were found, ami metal buttons, showing
that the identical spot had been used in the Revo-
lutionary war for our fathers who fell in the same
cause. The chaplain narrated the circumstances
to the boys, who stood around with uncovered
heads. lie prayed for the President, and paid the
most glowing tribute to his noble heart that we
ever heard. The tears started in their eyes the
clods Of the earth were thrown upon him in his
narrow grave, where be lay shroulei in his coat
and blanket.
The 1rcn separated; in a few minutes all were
engaged in something around the camp, as
though nothing had happened unusual; but that
scene will live upon their memories while life
lasts; the calm look Of Scott's face, the seeming
look Of satisfaction still fingered; and could the
President have seen him, he would have felt that
his act of mercy bad been wisely bestowed. But
the cauuons roar is 10 be heard toward Iorktown,
and we must be of 90 the scene.