Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-05-23

stand HAD they done so, there can be doubt but
.au 49, n, a. could b,ve beeu r,-ll,se Al fcst
nj price The fort and i's runoundiugs Vre immediate
ly occupied by tracrs n large force, uu der the
mand Of Gco. Smith. Al muniuplsu ~ var had been I
previously removed by the rebels, ana M fottcadons
and barracks were entirely empty and Hcf rted Ihslo-
calty IL kuowp and goes ly She ~ Nuungs Mills.
The omN, n the day march hrng accomplished inc !
division encamped upon INC GROUND oi inc mfht thepo-
on 81 the 9th being about 1870 sards 10 The right Of the
fort IN the woods skrng the pond 20 which auson has
previously been made. The next day, the 9th Of April
st about nine O'Clock A NJ resumed our march ia
violent rain storm The rain poured down in torrents,
ACCOMPANIED by tremendous pcals OF thunder, and sharp
and vivid flashes u lightning, which continually rolled
and flashed ahwart the heavcns, with occasional stun
ming reports during The entire prevalence of tho storm,
which lasted about four hours II WAS such thunder
storm "a had rarely witnessed ia The northern lat-
tudes from which we had come. still onward
notwithstanding were drcnchcd through 20
the skin, and were compelled TO plod OUT way through
n mud frequently going iu Knee deep through the
soughs and mud holes which ever and anon we had 70
cross Tho longest shower however VIII nave an end
and finally the storm abatcd iu its severity giving way
struggling clouds and eventually the sun broke forth
shedding the grateful warmth Of his cheering beams up
Passing through dfaplAtcd, one horse, rry-look.
ing, sort NJ place dgnihcd with The name " UmWick
Court House, which place consisted OF court house
about as large as goodszcd country school mousse ln
Vermont, jail Of about the same size, one tavern and
half dozen other dwellings, Of various sizes and descp
tons we pur'ued our way hudng most ~ tne MAZE 'n
habtants gone 90 join the rebel army b. Yorktown and
ourselves fast vcrgng upon The rebel hnc'i which our
in ad brought n word was not very
FAR IN font Of our advanced column Coming out into
large open field. line Of battle formed aud the entire
division 30 solid column advanced through an adjacent
forest the line extending from the bank " James River
70 point nearly reaching across ihe Peninsula. Our
division emerged from the woods above named, into au-
other large field on the ei of tho centre Of the advance
column Directly IN our front wasa large swamp, cover.
ed with dense growth OF pines and W undergro"h ~
lanrcls On the other side of This swamp was nrge
pond intervening Our skirmishors found the rebels IN
large force and strongly fortified, man stine e1si-
on to strongly resist further progress u thar dircc
ton. Captains Mous, Ayrcs's and Whcolrs batteries
swamp near the pond, with suitable support, with di-
recuons TO open fire upon the rebels as soon as pracuce
BILE, With view 20 feeling the ttrcrFth OF the enemy
position. Under these orders about hc middle OF the ar
tetnoon brisk fire was opcnc1 upon the line Of rebel
deienccs from the three batteries above named which
continued WIN undated ahd lnccsHint activity through
ou the afternoon and Tate in the evening The Vermont
Brigade meanwhile vas deployed through the swamps,
changing ne position several tmcs during the course OF
the afternoon, and finally slept upon heir arms through
the night in close proximity 20 the artillery In front
Sunday April 9th found the relative position fittings
unchanged. Heavy firing on both sides again re-
sumed but with small loss however 10 either party;
side on the day preceding having lost Only man kill
ed aud three wounded On Sunday The fire slackened
along towards noon aud was confined principally 70 our
own and the rebel pckets Under orders from General
Mcclellan the 9Th the building of corduroy roads and
other military operations necessary 10 the moc rapid and
vigorous prosecution Of the campaign this peninsula
was engaged ia and have been continued with ncessAn
activity day aud night up 60 the date Of this cnmmuu
cation Our lue Of approaches towards the rebel f0r
cations, have been gradually but surely extending; and
within few DAYS at frthcst must necessarily be com
plce when combined attack Of all forces upon the
rebel lines will unquestionaly be made.
From the 9Th up to the lon Of April the united euer
gics ofihc vast host Of the Union army concentrated up
this peninsula has been mainly directed 10 the CON
sruoton ofmiitary works constructed under the super
vision ofthe most scientific and sNl'u engineers, look
ing 10 the reduction and capture Of the extensive and
formidable rebel iorfcatJus which stretch across the
entire peninsula.
Between the dates above mentioned, no regular attach
made upon the rebel lines but desutury fighting
between our own aud the rebel pickcts and srmishers
were kcpt up with greater or less activity day and npht
Cutr A.
walls with the booming of shot and shell fro marks of
tillefy stationed At various ponts aotp he line IN
which the rebels have replied more ftfu and at Longer
distances apart in time.
Our Brigade in the interim has changed its position
about half dozen times and finally dehled 10 the rpbt
OF the lines, moving usual in rain storm, about
miles from the point where we Brst s,ereed f-, the
woods dircct, la front Of the rebel lines At H. RIGHT nr
On the morning Of the 18th under orders fom Gen Me.
Clellan, the W. Brigade proceeded on reco,po,anea
Of the rebel position nearly in front Of the centre Of
army. At early hour in the morning a brisk
FIRE upon U rebel forts which was mainly In view was
opened from Capts Mots Ayers and Whceer'g batter
los and which f,r ti,ns tho' ,eini. 49, hi ~ ,
from two heavy pieces " artillery mounted npon their
fort One " these pieces was shortly d.n,oun ed Nv
well directed shot from one Of the pieces nntrted Win
Capt Motifs Battery and the other was silenc,d by the
middle Of the forenoon by sharp shooters detailed from
the VI Brigade fof that very purpose The 6rin, nom
small arms Increased as the ay advanced and no H,,
ade was gradually brought forward up into exeeeJingy
close quarters with the rebels who Warilv Ven, ,bsn
selves concealed as much as possible from view suupy
ensconcod behind trees or hid away In bei, rRe ps o.
y venturing forth when the fire slackcned nom our
skirmishers About o'cock p NJ tbc nr.,,da No. ,
vanced through large open field INTO noTro pieco N
woods skrtnp small stream ruuniu, directlv aim, l.,
front Of the rebel lines small openup near the cen
Of the large ded above named extended down IN tb
bnnk ofhe stream before referred to- and through VIII
the rebel fertilization could be distinctly seen IL was
through this opening from the cover Of Tie woods where
the FIRE VI our artillery was directed in the uornin nm
the sun assembled 10 his zenith the Bltete. have c
fore named were advanced into the omen field within
800 yards Of tho rebel lines and poured in takpg and
iucessau FIRE upou their works ON both The yif ma
left Of the opening through which the fire ~ o,r Sr,
directed tho stream which In Tins region /, don't
fed with the name VI Warwick River ia frinrrd wiz, A
narrow belt OF pines into which our uripade entered
The positions OF the 3D. 9th and On brir ou tb. In
and ID and Ali on the riaht OF the oncnip Gefre ar
Later In the afternoon no saiisfctory re.,ts ba,,
been obtained charge was ordered with view 20 fc Il
ing the onemys strength aud disposition to tight Ac-
coidingly the 3D. which was in advance ON the lcn de-
filed through the pines ON their fout dashed INTO the
stream and up the opposite bank with daring aud inn
pctuosity thai did infinite credit 10 ii lin ,aor aud pir
/ pdity But unfortunate, the strength OF he zoe Inc
lager portion Of whom had ali the while lad concealed
was here fearfuly deycloppd A most frous nd IN
cossaut FIRE met the gallant 3D. when midway Of tho
stream from apparently ten thousaud uks Aud ia,
levelcd by rebel hands who now crowded the annars
Of their fnrtdcations Onward stiu uressed the datt
less 3d. who aainfd the opposiie hank and drove the RON
els lIon the outer line Of their works But under The
galing and murdcrous hre Ia viii "A thev ,vcr. exnd
thy we're compelled 10 IAN back 90 their former posit
suffering great loss in both killed and wounded The
rcOcls also must have suffered fc, .a an th lime ss
/ tI,r, ..rs ny,.s..i o., t,.. C.fl 80. IN.