Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1862-06-24
lour War Correspondence)
From tho Vermont Cavalry.
CAMP NEAR klARNsTOWN, "


CAMP NEAR NEAFNSlOHNi ' i'f
Gen Slgels Division June ~, 1907 !
EDITOR FREEMAN Your readers have, no
douhs. bsen informed Of Che disastrous retreat
Of Cen Banks armg from the Shenandoah VAL
Icy, though perhaps they may NOT have neafa
ali the PARTICULARS and nasmuca aa we nave
noticed some gross errors and Measurements IN
regard d. tha movements 81 D3a bahk' army
10 il. retreat, | propose 20 write short cuaP-
Tor If incidents which came undo my immcdl'
ate notice. Wherever blame may be a ubu-
ted for this disaster, u should not be allowed %
rest on Gen Banks, VINO, after having pu'hea
on into the very heart o. rebe.lious virginia,
until lie was ready 10 drive the enemy on to
Richmond, was compelled to part with l0,OU0
OF Ills troops, thus obiilng him 10 retreat with
Ms Itte army reduced % about 5'00O elective
men. to Suasburg Besides, be was encountered
witn an the heavy baggage, and the sick lett bg
the troops which were ordered away " men IL
this situation. he IL said to have received ieiabe
information tina. jackson army was threaten
iug bin, and he requested that ha might b. AZ
lowed to retreat. This privilege, however, was
denied him the result Is already known Lhe
first animation thag we received OF any move
meut was on the mornins % tte IAN oi May,
when we were ordered 20 strike tents am pre-
IRE lor march This order came about t@o
O'Clock a. NJ At daylight the cavalry was or
dercd TO make u Reconnaissance towards Ho1J-
stock, 10 ascertain whether there was any en-
eny in that dlrecu n. We went az as lar as
Woodstock, ara seeing no forces oil the enemy,
we returned to our old camp, destroyed a lot OIL
gram which We could moi carry with as, ana
started on the retreat about noon soon alter
We left Strasburg We heard the guns OF the
enemy at Mddieown, and we were ordered tor-
ward double quick, by Gen. Hatch. We were
soon in the town, where we were ordered TO halt.
The rebels, who we're on The right OF the town,
soon opened fire upon us from their batteries.
Most Of the shells passed harmlessly over our
heads, but il was anything but pleasant, as
sure you. Tor us, unused as we were 10 the
(" smell of powder, to SIT quietly on our
horses TO be banged away at without having
tho power to return fire. One she'll burst just
over our heads, and severely wounded Captain
Of the Maine cavalry another wounded Lieut..
Danorth OF Co. g. How long we remained
here | do not know, but ! should think about
fifteen minutes, when we we've ordered 10
- charge This was a welcome order, and was
promptly ob.yed As soon as We were out Of
The town which mad sheltered US, the rebeh
poured in volley after yolley INTO our ranks with
4 their musketry, while their artillery kept play
! ing into as. Companies aul G were bIdl,
cut up. l'he Maine cavalry als0 suffered ~
veraiy We were exposed TO d akiag fire 'o
more than halt a mile. but we kept Oh m a.
good order as possible under the circumstances
and finally tnrned to the lelt, gaining the shell
ter OF piece of woods Shell and round sho
came crashing through the trees but iortu
nately did US but little injury. We then cjn
tinuad our retreat over by-roal to Newtown
where we found our infantry and artillery en-
gaglng the enemy, who was posted in stroni
positions on the right OF the town Our force
held the enemy in check until near dark, whel
they began to withdraw from the town Ih
enemy came on as soon as our troops began {
retreat, ana took possession OF the town. In
cavalry remained behind to cover the retreat
Considerable time being occupied in getting on
infantry into marching llne the rebels IN
proved the opportunity, and soon had their ba
teres IN position TO throw shells among on
ranks Some OF them bursting among the RAM
created some disorder, but We could not mo'
because the infantry had not all yet passe,
Growing holder, they came on, making chars
upon us, but they were driven back with grei
loss by few well directed yolleys from our ma
kerry. All this time the rebels kept up an il
lerna yelling, making night hideous. We 10
quite number OF horses, and quite numb
of our men were wounded, but think the
was no one killed at this place. Lieut.. llold'
of Co. & had his horse shot under him, ~
Lieut. Page Of the same Company was throw
from his horse. At length We were ordered
move forward, which order We obeyed promptl
Our batteries being placed in position, a e
well directed shot silenced their batteries qu'
effectually, and we marched in good order
Winchester without further moestatOn, arr
wing there about midnight Here we rested
our arms for few hours, but early the ne
morning we were awakened from our slumbC
by The thunder of the enemys artillery VI
were coming down on us from the west OF t
town. We we're soon in our saddles, form
ia line Of battle awaiting further orders. &c
dons brigade engaged the enemy on the rigi
and Donnelly's on the left Our men loug
well, but were oyerpowered by greatly enperl
numbers, the rebel force being 20,OO0, VIII
our force was but about 5000. At length
were ordered to charge through the town. l.
on by Gen. Hatch, we charged through the 10Y
at Il furious rate, but our infantry lines W.
broken and tho men were retrea,ing IN dlsorc
through the town, but were quickly iorme
good order as soon as they came out OF the tow
The retreat now commenced in good earnest,
cavalry covering the retreat. The rebels /
lowed us, throwing shells at us whenever III
could get chance, as far as Martnsburg, /
they did us but little harm, and the retreat "
conducted in good order to Wlliameport. l
cavalry arrived at the iosding place oppos
Williamsport little after midnight, but
not cross until daylight the following mornlt
when we all came safely across Friday ey'
ING of the same week, one squadron (the 1t
OF the Vermont cavalry, together with a I
tachment of the New York 5th cavalry, na'
command of Col. De Forrest, started to ma
an expedition to Martnsburg. We entered
town at daylight the following morning a
"a, hal -telnts pantuttnu nivhI