Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-05-08
Eg o0RaEpgEDENCE.
" .aYAG + IN THE
VALLEY OF SHENANDOAH, VA.
Npw MARKET. Va An,

midnight and told to be ready to march by
four o'clock. We were then attached to
Col. Gordon's Brigade, which is the finest
brigade in this division.
On that day there was grand advance
movement, and we rode with the Brigade.
1t had been reported that Gen. Jackson was
intending to make stand at Mt. jackson,
about twenty miles from our encampment
Hence we all felt like heroes, when we all
started out. 1t was bright moonlight; and
as we came out of the woods, the band ofthe
Massachusetts, Second was playing splen
didly; and the music and the moonlight and
the long lines of bright bayonets, made fine
scene for one to grow romantic over. We
didnth have much time for romance, but hur-
ried along. Shields division was sent before,
and part of our regiment were with them
Our, e. Gordon's Brigade, came next. The
march was to us much like all the others
which we have made in Dixie-very differ
ent from riding around the streets Of Bur-
lington, or over the pavements in New York,
Here are no waving flags or handkerc hiets
or smiling faces; but every face is either
sad, sour or frightened. Almost all the men
have been pressed into the army, and none
are left here except few invalids and the
women and children and these all think we
are going to burn and butcher everything
that we come to. Hence it is but sorry
welcome which we get from them.
Our regiment, which were in advance
with Shields, came so near. to the retreahng
enemy, that they made charge upon some
of the rebel cavalry, who were burning
bridge and drove them from the bridge,
extinguished the fire, and took several pri-
soners. None of our men were injured.
This affair gave the VT. boys quite name at
once in Ahe Division. Our squadron being
with Col. Gordon, were not in this skirmish.
We were sent from the man road around to
the right, in an attempt to flank Jackson, or
rather to prevent Lis thanking us. We had
forded a river, and we're waiting fer the foot
men to wade over, when a messenger came
up with some mail, and received your letter
and one from cousins L. & S.
When we arrived at New Market, we
found that our old General-Hatch-had
| been appointed Chief of Cavalry IN this Di.
vision. He at once took us away from Cor
don's Brigade, which we had felt SO proud ct ct;
and ordered us back into the regiment. We
were marching along our entry into
town at the head of the grand column be-
hind us was the splendid band of the Second
Massachusetts, and then the Second Mas
sachusetts itself, the fines. regiment in the
Division. and the goth Indiana, and severa!
other crack regiments. We felt as proud
and sat as straight as Napoleons Body Guare
and it made our heads hang down to turf
aside and let the column pass us. But w
find that we shall not be without honor, or
s at least, hardship enough here. Last Sunda,
IS P. M. we were again ordered into the saddle
: and we rode off III the rain, not KNOWN
; where we were going. We kept on tn
al macadamized road which stretches fror
'e Harper's Ferry to Staunton. At dusk W
re halted, and we're sent around to the barn
ri and cornfelds, Qor the last years crop {
m corn stands stocked in most of the fields
n for feed for our horses. We slept in an OLE
r deserted store, whose owner was, we wer
Ut told, Colonel in the Secesh army.
70 We had advanced six miles beyond tn
farthest outposts of our troops, so we wer
obliged to send out large picket guard, an
the poor tired fellows had to 60 and sit al
Ii night in the saddle in the rain. We wei
IN none of us allowed to unsaddle our horse
is This was very hard storm and it lasted a
Ii the next day and night, during which we Il
re NAMED in the same place. There were SON
1t scouting parties Of the enemy near, and tv
is Of our regiment, belonging to Co. G, wi
n foolishly went beyond our picket in search
b, something to eat, were snatched up by son
ic fifteen of the enemy and carried away.
'n On the second night there was an alar
W or report at midnight, and we were call
- up and ordered into the saddle, where we $
= until almost morning. and then turned in
- the fire awhile. We now discovered that ,
~ had been sent out to clear the way for anot
:, er advance. Our party was the forwa
= one, and we rode quite rapidly for six
eight miles. We had skirmishers out on ca
=. flank, and as we were moving along, all
once--crack went the carbines. The coluu
halted. We refined out of the road and t
artillery hurried by us on keen run. TIL
regiment Of infantry passed us, and dr'
ne nm in line IN the brow of hill while ,