Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1862-10-07

After describing the disposition Of his troops,
and the fighting up to nearly noon, the report
continues.
From the earliest moment OF the attack it was
an obiee, n deep oIicitude to establish a conuec-
ton with me troops in my immediate neghbor-
hood on The Yorktown road, and as that had been
accomplish, and as ! saw no signs OF their adj
vance, at ll20 A. NJ, addressed the suboned
note to tta Assistant djutant-General Third
Corps, under the impression that his Chief was
still there. Il is as follows; have had hard
contest all e morning, but do not despair Of sue
cess. Mymea are hard at work, but a good deal
exhausted. !. IS reported to me that my com
municaron Wit. you by the Yorktown road is
clear Of Inc enemy. Batteries, cavalry and in
fantry can Ike post by the side Of mine to whip
the enemy This found Gen. Heintzleman alb
sent, but il sls returned opened, and on the en-
velope iadosed, Opened and read" by The
senior officer On that field. 4 cavalry man took
over the not, nd returned with it, by the York
toxin road, aeer an absence Of twenty minutes.
10 return, was now after o'clock, and the
battle had sgo.en into one OF gigantic proper
lions. The eft had been reinforced with the
Seventy-thitCind Seveuty-iourth New York Reg
Enthusiastically remaining ones of my reserve
under Col. Tgor, and all were engaged yet its
fortunes wod ebb and flow despite the most de-
termined coange and vaor Of my devoted officers
and men. 1ree times the enemy approached
within eighty Yards OF the road which was the
centre Of nv peralIous, and Us often were they
thrown back k,h violence and slaughter. Every
time his adyai e was made with fresh troops, and
each succeedf one seemed to be in greater force
and determine 90.
4gain The ea.y eerc reinforced by the arrival
OF Longsreet} division. His troops had passed
through WilmsOursh, Oh their retreat irom
/ Yorktown, and we're recalled to strengthen the
rebel forces {, te Wtnms0urgn. no sooner
had they jod4, than i wa, known that they
were again moving 20 drive in our IeIt; after a
violent and pr acted struggle they were again
IepuIsel with goat loss.
Between ali 5 o'clock, Gen. kearney, with
oil hi, Characteristic galIanuy arrived on The
ground at the head OF hi, division, and after hay-
ng secured lhei positions, my division was with
drawn from the Jnto,t, and he'd d, reserve I'M
oil dark, when VIZ battle ended, after prolonged
and severe coniIi agajns. three times ms number,
directed by the mos. accomplished General Of the
re1el army, Mai Gen }. i. johnson. assisted by
Gems. L9ngstlt Pryor, Gohsou and Pickett,
with commands elected from the best troops 10
their army.
The list Of killed and wounded attests the char
acier OF the conl lest. The killed Of the enemy
must have been Double my own; OF the wounded
We cannot estmAe. Eight hundred were left in
hospitals at WDimsburgh and others were dis
tnbuled anon. l,he private houses in the city,
while all the avlble tenemebts IN the vicinity Of
the field of batts are filled with them. Three
hundred prisones were taken.
4 have omitted 10 mention the arrival, early in
the afternoon oABrig. Gen. Ileinzeman, com.
handing the Thid Army Corps, with his staff
and To exuressns ye~. s--.~s',' '~""g "lea5ms"
for he c..soarSgenent inspired by bis presence
and for the aid aud support he gave me by hi
counsel and condua.
As soon as darkrtss concealed then movements
the rebels retreateC|in state Of utter demonl.
z,tion, leaving behind artillery, wagons, &c 6c.
History teW not b believed, i0heR Il is told thai
the noble officers and men Of my Dirision Ioen
permitted 10 carry on nus unequal Struggle iron
morning until nigH, minded, IN he presence O
more than 10000 Of their comrades icih arms ii
their hands, Nevertheless, II is true.
Ii we failed to capture The rebel army on the
plains Of Williamsburg, it surely will not be as
cnbed to the wan. d copduc. and courage iu my
command.
The very grave chara against some officer
winch The closing part OF hi, repot, makes i
certainly ser.oa. enough "a demand an in,esigl
ton, but We presume none iei., Or will be had
As it vas, lIookers hard hghing amounted to lit
de good n the end, The dioW which he wor
wa. not followed b. oay parrtoi the enemy.