Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1862-07-11

with Stoneman and staff and Casey and
staff, who are here, it is said, under spec
ial orders. You have no doubt been ap-
prised of the great confusion existing here
and naturally attendant upon the crowd
ing of vessels into the harbor from White
House Point.
The affair of Saturday last partook more
of the nature of battle than the en-
gagements of Thursday or Friday. Gen.
Fitziohn Porter has covered himself with
glory. He selected a very strong position,
and having posted his forces in an admir-
able manner, he was prepared to hold it
against any force of the enemy. The
brave men of this command all fought
with heroic courage, and the volunteers
wed with Gen. Sykes regulars in making
steady movements, and carefully execu-
ting the commands of their officers. Time
and again the vast hordes of rebels moved
up in solid columns upon our troops, but
our regular batteries as often moved them
down in most destructive manner. Stes-
dy discharges of shell, grape and canister
in regular salvos seemed to sweep down
whole companies. AS soon as confusion
in the rebel ranks was apparent, Porter
ordered Meagher's Irish brigade to charge
bayonets, which they did in the most gal
liant and heroic style; bare-headed, in
their shirt sleeves, occasionly with these
rolled up. The charge had an excellent
effect. The rebels were driven back with
great slaughter, and Porter was preparing
to move upon them over the piles of the
rebel dead and dying when the enemy
again advanced steadily, strongly rein
forced. Now the Pennsylvania gave them
the benefit Of all their splendid rifles,
while the batteries played upon them as
before, creating sad havoc. Indeed, the
slaughter upon other fields during this
war has never been anything to compare
TO this. The rebels staggered under their
losses, and our forces were advancing
steadily upon them, driving them back at
every point when staff officer rode up
with an order from the commander-in-
chief to Porter, directing him to fall back
with his command, and cross the Chick
ahominy. The order was executed in the
fine style, and our troops did not miss
man, the enemy being too severely pun
ished to follow us closely. The only diff
fculty was with the Pennsylvania reserves
and Meagher's Irishmen-their comman-
ders exerting all their power to induce
these brave men to cease firing. They
saw the advantages gained by hard fight
ing, and were anxious to follow up the
success.
All the troops must be praised for hero
&c gallantry in this affair, but the regu-
lars must have especial notice. Sykes,
the lamented Major Russell, the Third,
Fourth, and Fourteenth infantry behaved
admirably. Porter thought he would be
and be ordered to advance on
Richmond forthwith, but it was not so
designed, and he fell back, as ordered,
promptly.
Four trains Of cars, loaded with forage
were ordered to Despatch on Saturday,
but meeting the enemy's pickets on the
road, the trains were backed down near
the White House, the cars were burned,
and the four locomotives were blown up.
This was a great loss, but it was enhanced
by the destruction Of stores, &C., at the
White House, everything there being in
flames. Elegant ambnlances and loaded
baggage wagons were rolled down to the
niver bank, and there being no time to
burn them, they were cast into the river.
I embarked, with many others, on board
Of the John Brooks, but owing to the fact
that our vessel was too large to move down
the river with safety at night, we dropped
anchor in sight of White House Point.
The houses burned on all that night. The
nebels were not in sight on Sunday morn
ing when we moved down the river. The
gunboats dropped down with us some
miles, and anchored under bluff, so as
TO allow the rebels chance to come as
far as they chose.