Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1862-07-17

and cannon went FLASHING through the creek,
our teams whiened all the hills on the south
ern side, and the weary soldiers, having torn up
the bridge, laid themselves down to rest.
IL was now eight o'clock on Monday, dav
orld dusty and closer than the painting but in
domitabe northerners could well endure. MANY
OF them were hungry; the water in the swamp
wss such that the stomach turned at it with
loathing, and the wounded hobbled here and
there with dry eyes that seemed to plead for
drink. White Oak creek runs through belt
OF swamp timber, precisely as the Chickahominy
nows through its encompassing morass. The
creek is not more than four or six feet deep,
and had been made passable by the engineers
brigade, who built a good corduroy bridge
across it.
Hancock's position was a strong one, and it
would have taken a strong enemy TO disodge
him. The fire commenced at this point on
Monday, when the bridge that the engineers
mad constructed for the passage Of our army,
having subserved its purpose, was removed
from White Oak Creek. Previously the rail
road bridge had been burned, the cuverts blown
up, and lot of superHuous ammunition and
cumbrous baggage run by train into the Chick
ahominy.
The rebels appeared on White Oak Swamp
in strong force and directly opened from some
twenty masked batteries, that blew up several
OF Captain Motifs cassions dismounted his
pieces, and raised hubbub generally among
teamsters, wagoners, cannoniers and infantry.
However, very soon our light batteries re-
covered themselves and vigorously responded
to the enemy, who was soon at pereeptabe
disadvantage, so far as accuracy and effect were
concerned. Our infantry, too, fell in line,
ready to support the batteries or meet half way
any attempt of the rebel infantry to push
across the creek. Thus the battle progressed
till late in the afternoon with serious loss to
both sides-more wounds from cannon shot
pereaps resulting than at any other time in any
battle.
The rebels made some desperate efforts to
cross the creek, but General Smith brought his
men up TO close quarters with them whenever
they dared the contest and although in each
case some of our best and most beloved sol.
diers bit the dust, there were no signs of hold
ing of. The cannon firing was incessant here,
some of the deepest and closest of the war,
and the infantry fire extended along whole col
umns.
THE ENEMY AT CHARLES CITY CROSS ROADS.
The cannonading had continued several hours
with fearful effect among our baggage and ar
tillery teams. We had however, prevented
the enemy from crossing the swamp in our
ilOHtj anu loHuiy HOISu lIldl he WOuNi DC uIl-
able to pierce its Businesses at any other point
of our right or left. That this hope was i'll
founded was soon testified by the appearance
of the enemy in great force at Charles City
Cross Roads, which lies about four miles from
White Oak Swamp, due south, and about
mile and a half or two miles from the James
river at Turkey Island Bend. He had advanc-
ed direct from Richmond eight brigades the
first under command of the redoubtable Cen
eral Henry A. Wise, and when discovered at
the Cross Roads was erdeavoring to work
quietly down the river road between our trains,
our wounded and the army.
Two hours previously such an attempt might
have been successful, and utter ruin and con-
fusion would have ensued. Porter and Keyes
were ordered up TO repel these new comers
the troops Of the former still suffering from the
battle of Friday in so great degree that many
regiments had no organization at all, and many
brigades scarcely a regimental organization.
At five O'Clock they engaged the enemy hidden
by woods and the swelling of hills, and the
firing from musketry and field batteries was
soon intense. The rebels did fatal execution
among us, and some OF our most valuable off
GERS fell here, wounded and dying. The men
fought well, however, though half dead with
heat, thirst and WEAKNESS. Some broke for
:he river and plunged in the cool water for an
instant, then, emerging, rushed back to the
fray and fought like lions.