The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-09-23
Our War Correspo ade1ae.b
From the Eighth Vermont Regiment

ALGIERs, La, sept. -, 1907.
| had hoped to give you a little history of our
ln!sfortunes for the last few days, but am get
ting too tired but will give you a few facts.
Look on your map and see where Dies Alamands
1872 miles up. There you know is where
three companies have been stationed sometime.
Some two weeks ago the Major and I, with sew
enty men went to Boutles, - eight miles below
and marched straight to the river, and then UP
the river five miles to Taylor's plantation,
bringing in horses, mules, cattle, sheep, car
riages, &c. In a few days the Colonel started
out over the same ground, but went four miles
above Taylor's on the river bank. A company
Of Massachusetts cavalry accompanied him.
They had "a little brush with about 400 guerril-
las at the {" Webb place, four miles above
Taylor's, took over q hundred thousand dollars
worth Of horses, cattle, &c, and returned. Ia
two or toree days after we heard that our train
Of cars was to be- attacked at " Boutles " by
this same band of 400 from Webb's,-and a
company from Des Alamande with one cannon
on a iat-bottomed car were sent down to
- Boutles " to clear the rebels out, while an
other company was sent on from here to meet
them there. The train from DeS Alamande ar
rived near g Boutles " first, and found the
switch had been changed to run off the train.
They went on to the side track at about full
speed and were fired at by about 500 double
barrel shot guns. On the track was an old car
which they struck with great force, and many
men We're thrown Oft by the collision. These
were all shot but twu-oue of whom ran for the
woods and esca ped, while the other ran for the
next switch and turned it, 80 that the train kept
on and did not come to "a halt. This thoughtful
act, so bravely executed, saved many a life, and
saved us the train, all Of which must have fallen
into the rebels hands but for this most gallant
and dangerous feat.
Proceeding but TWO miles they met the up
tram but as they had found the force 50 large
1t was madness to return and attack them. and
they all came immediately here. And how sad
the sight The wires were cut 50 we could get
no news by the telegraph, and the first W. knew
OF the result was when the train arrived bear
ing the bodies OF I of our noble boys, who had
been so cruelty and inhumanly murdered, and
IL Others seriously wounded. OF the expedi-
ton OF sixty men, but l6 could be found but
since u few more have come in. You canno,
Imagine the rage OF our boys at this cowardly
act OF these traitorOus murderers, and immedi.
ate preparation was made for an early advance
upon them, fearing they might make an attack
upon the liltle force at Des Alamande, before
we could reach them. So at 3 o'clock mex
morning, we all started-400 OF our men anC
IL section of Massachusetts, artillery. The car,
were ranged as follows four fat bottomed car
with the artillery preceded the engines, ant
passenger cars following.
In this way we started out-looking aheaC
sharply for the tracks, being torn up. Wher
10 miles below :" BOTTLES we ran over an OK
and having no,cowrcatcher on to guard us, car
No. =, 8, and We're thrown entirely from til
track, badly broken up, the track torn up an,
again, must sorrowful to write, . of our boo
fellows were killed and 7 wounded. THIS ioo)
upon as II providence, for only 2 miles far,he
on, the track was torn up and ~culvorts burned
while men with loaded guns were lying in an,
bush. As it was entirely impossible to 90 fur
Their, we immediately returned and desired to o
by boat by the river, but Gen. Butler ha
learned in our absence toat the force at De
! Alamande had been surrounded and had surrer