The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-04-19
(Our War Correspondence.)
From the Second Vermont Regiment.

FRIEND w LIZARD "A week ago last Erlda
Major Joyce, Capts. johnson and Tracy, an
myself procured passes to visit oar old bat'l.
ground at Bull run, and reached there after
thirty mile ride from cur camp, then near Alez
andria, ut about four clock in the afternoon
AS we had not time thar night to make satisfac
tory examination Of all the localities and thing
there, we concluded to proceed on ;he Warren
ten Turnpike. and Try to procure lodgings f,
the night. We happened 10 call on The lid
who procured the inteiment OF Col. Cameron
but as she had not accommodations for us. We
called on a widow lady, Mrs Dogan, where W,
were able to get corn for our horses, and supper
and lodgings for ourselves. This Mrs Doga1
owns very large plantation, is surrounded by
slaves, and is q very strong secessionist. With
her was young woman, about twenty years old
who voluntarily told us her husband was in the
| secession army and SAID she could not help hay
ing her sympathiss on that side yet she mad a
very Intelligent view Of the subject. They
treated us very ciyilly, and as We were about to
leave, the young woman approached us and
said, " hope it my husband falls into your
hands you will use him WELL We assured
her We would use our influence to this effect
and she gave me his name, which was William
Joseph Birch.
We then proceeded back to Sudly's Church,
the place where our Brigade on the 2lst of July
entered what may be termed the battle ground.
although it is three miles from where we fought.
we went to this point, as we thought the
ground and objects would look more natural to
approach in the cid route. We then examined
all the things Of interest, found readily the
place where we fought, and where our mes w.ra
buried. They were buried in trench abou,
thirty feet in rear Of the right on the SPOT on
which our regiment rested when we tirst opene,!
fire. An old sled stands near, on which thay
were no doubt drawn to their final resting place,
The trench was thirty-one feet long and two
wide. By the eide of the trench lay piece OF
hard wood sit-work sharpened at one end, and
from its position and tie appearances, Is had
been used to pry up the bodies after their inter-
ment. am not able to say whether this wss
done by the rebels or others curious to know
what was there. | examined this diicn far
enough to know some hoGies still lie there.
suppose Goodrich Of my company, who was
killed at this place, wAs among them. We then
measured the distances from where our line resi-
ed to where the rebel line was VIII u We engaged
them. and found our lines were 1ilty. four rods
apart. | measured this, as our boys have diff
Tered widely as to TINS distance On the hill. d
few rods beyond the enemy's infantry ine, their
batteries were placed, ami little ways to tie
right OF the line was where Sherman battery
was captured. Here On this hill are the evi
dences OF carnage, counted over forty dead
horses, tho bones still lying where they fell.
also the graves OF men almost innumcrable -
The place where Col. Barlow Of the rebel armv
fell is marked by small monument, and most
OF the rebel officers and soldiers graves have
some board or rough stone on which the name
ID written Here is trench twenty rods long
Whlch was the common grave OF many t. poor
leloW. we examined the roads III rear Of he
enemy s llhe opposite U.s. and found sufficient
evidence that our poyg did not shoot 10 vain. --
many are the graves III the skirt of the woods. |
and the trees are literally hacked TO pieces by
the rebels to extract the Yankee bullets | au
satisfied those opposed to us Lost mere chan we
ala. we visited the pine woods on the left, where
tho Aouaves fought. They suffered severely
mere ana many were never buried until since
our soldiers have been there and done il. On
the hill above spoken OF was u house in which
family lived. An oldish lady was scK in bed, |
ana IN the tore part OF the fight they attempted
70 move her, but about that time things were !
taxing such u turn that it was considered more
sale Tor her to remain. Soon, however, our
men made charge up this hill and gained this
a cannon ball pierced the house, killing this |
woman in her bed. Near the garden fence Of this
house Lieut.. Ramsay fell lie has been taken
up and buried by a relative who lives about sew.
en- miles from there. The man who assisted in
this was on the ground and gave US this as well
as much more valuable Information.
Alter completing ourexam tons, we started
on our return 10 our camp at Alexandria, and
On reaching 1t in tho evening, we found our
regiments had gone to Fortress Monroe. So we
had nothing to do but walt for the next trans
port which we took the next day Sunday and
arrived safety at the Fortress Tuesday NOR
ming ana found our regiment, as we'll az the rest
OF the W. regiments and great many more
troops ABOUT four miles from here on the route
to Newport News. We Joined them and on
" edneSday Zen. Smiths Division made Il re-
connolssance up the river to u creek, scattering
What lew rebels there were after q brief fire -
we returned to camp che next day and on Fri.
Jay we again started, and We are now near
1orktoWn and IN front of very strong rebel
WORKS. Inc great battle is TO be fought here
probably Ihelr lines as well as ours extend |
from the York to the James river distance of
tell II lies. we are in terrible lonely, muddy,
'Wampy, pine wood ana our main line only from
One hall II mile to two miles from the forts.
chain OF which seems to extend across the ne
nnsula. We iound, ut place called Youngs
mills Six miles back, strong Publications which
they abandoned after II little skirmshing and
Tell back On these works. We have been ex-
changing shots, both cannon and infantry, with
hem for three days and general engagement
8 imminent.
Five companies from the Vermont Second were
placed on picket the night after we discovered