Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-04-11
FROM THE FIFTH VT. REGIMENT.

CAMP on THE MARCH, March %.
Mr. WILLARD Il will give you an hour,
more or less, of my time, and write up, IN a
condensed form, the journal of the Brigade
for the last four days.
We arrived at Fortress Monroe late Mon
day night, the 9th inst, and disembarked
carly in the morning. We found the beach
and the country round about the Fort Gov
cred with troops, all of them busy in making
preparations for a march. We moved oil
about noon IN the direction of Newport
News, passing the burned district of Hlamp-
tOn--a city in ashes. That night we en-
camped some eight miles east of Newport
News The whole division lay there in full
view upon one plantation. We were about
a half mile back from the beach, from which
with a glass, tho encampments of the enemy
upon the opposite shore were in full view,
and if their camps are not counterpart OF
wooden gun batteries at Centreyille, then
they have a large force about Norfolk.
At midnight Of the 10Th inst we received
orders TO be ready at O'Clock in the morning
10 march, with blankets and two days ratlOns.
There was forthwith a terrific assault upon the
stores Of the Commissary, and all his raw pork
hard bread, sugar nj coffee, was quickly in
our havers4cks Before dawn every man was
under arms, and long before the march OF the
infantry the artillery and cavalry were on the
move, the column taking the main road to
wards Biz Bethel and Yorktown. After a
march of about five miles on this road we
moved in two columns-Porter' division to
the right on the road, OF rather roads towards
Yorktown, and Smith division TO the left
up the James river towards Warwick. The
roads were in excellent condition, and the
day warm and pleasant. We passed our pick
cts in line about ten O'Clock, and at one
O'Clock our skirmishers fell in with the rebel
pickets, their posts beng IN heavy pine
forest IN the rear of a large opeu field Of some
three or four hundred acres. Tins field was
surrounded BY dense forest of pines. |
have said that our SkiTmSiers met their
pickets, and as have seldom met with CIV
ilian who understood the skirmish drill OF
march. let me briefly explain the same \
column Of troops are moving on the main
road towards the enemy. Through the in
formation of mounted scouts, it Is known
about where the enemy Is in force. This
being known, when the column arrives with
in one, two or three miles Of the enemy,
one, two, or three companies, as the charac-
ter of the country may demand, are deployed
as skirmshcrs, taking intervals OF several
PAGES between each other, - that one com
pany presents a front equal to a full req
ment in line Of battle. As skirmishers they
march forward, through forests and across
streams, always keeping their proper inter-
walls BY bugle calls they can De made 70
'' rally in groups Of four. or in force upon
the centre, their right or left flank. In this
way they prevent any surprise, for some OF
them are sure 10 fall 10 with the enemy in
season to give the alarm. la every regiment
the flank companies are thoroughly drilled
as skirmishers, and on the march they are
liable to be called upon TO perform this most |
disasrecable service.
Very we'll, our skirmishers Of Hancock
Brigade met their pickets a. above stated, |
and a brisk fire ensued. Our Brigade al the |
time was halted in the forest, in "a narrow, |
muddy road. As We heard the firing. y0ley |
after volley, tie yes of the soldiers flashed. |
for well they knew there was mischief ahead. I
At least they supposed 50. Ia few MIN
utes We heard the shrill voice Of our Colonel /
shouting - Forward, forward boys. double
quick TX blyUnets. Then, on We went,
through the mud. and over the thr0wn-away
blankets and haveJsaeks Of the charging cJl-
umn. cxvcctin. every minute 10 emerge from
the woods where We should be .' face o.
face with the enemy. Once out OF the
woods We were quickly in line of battle,
Will the first Brigade had already crossed
the field and dcployed in front OF the timber
and directly upon the abandoned picket line
Of the enemy. Nary rebel was in sight, and
lao '' face {, face with the enemy yet. Pel
NELL. heller skcltcr, through the woods they
had SsaaGded. \ detachment Of cavalry
followed them, but they were not % be
found. We had met the enemy, but before
We could see them they were-h0urs ahead
OF us We had not fairly halted IN the
field before clouds Of smoke were seen rising
far ahead Of Us. To check pursuit they ha1
burned u bridge that crossed one OF the tri5-
utaries OF the james river.
Our Brigade soon moved on through the
pines again, 10 another field about a mile and
a half ahead. Here We halted for about two
hours, while the pioneers constructed bridge
over a creek in the woods for the artillery 10
pass. BY this time it was near sund0wn.
and as nothing could be found Of the enemy.
we marched back to their picket line and
encampcd, leaving the right wing OF the u
Vermont out as picket. In the flight they
passed several residences where families were |
still living, taking time, however, to notify
the residents that " the Yankees We're com
ing, and coming id fast" Bat none
OF the families heedei their warning, but |
quietly remained at home.
Thus ended the celebrated battle Of .'War-
wick Plains At night we camped as best
we could, my own shelter consisting OF abou
a dozen rails thickly matched with pine
boughs, with a cheerful fire in front slept
soundly, but about 10 or II O'Clock one of |
the boys came to ask me for the loan of nv |
e big knife gave it him, and in a few
minutes, another party came on the same
GRAND and then another and still another.
As had but one d" big knife, AMI that alt ,
ready loaned to the first applicant, | could
not. OF course, accommodate all. But what
Is up p | inquired. | got no reply to nv
question more than significant wink and .
chuckle but in the morning found in NV !
lardcr the hind quarters Of " Virginia rab-
lit with horny split ho5f and a woody
etlock, and as nearly all the men had ''rab-
bit for breakfast and several rations OF ''rab-
bit in their haversacks, concluded thatJf /
had had "big knife for all the applicants :
We should have been living on rabbit vet.
BY the way Virginia rabbit is fully as good P
Is Vermont mutton, and before leaving cimp II
ascertained that the Second Boys succeeded
n finding and securing several kinds of rlb-
hts, some with horns, some with bIistles,
ONE with wool and some few with wings j
md feathers. II
Such Is life, After breakfast We marched l
lack about miles to a new camp where We b
low arc-In the mud and water that eclipses v
ny thing ever seen in Fairfax County, and s.
t is still raining at is midnight now. There l
no drainage to the ground where We now q
re. and our camps are ail)at. But we will
ot growl, as - Little Mac" is now with US.
nd any honr he may call upon us for one Of {.
is "quick and long marches. mud or no /
mud, We shall be ready. c. CS. d
LINcoLN's MISSISSIPPI CoLUNN.-The
'ttersburs ErDrcss, of March p, furnishes
he following items Of intelligence m
An article on "LIneoln's Mississippi COZ hi
nm says" the attempt Of the Yankee gov h.
rnment to march an army down the Missis- s.
ppi river is - one OF the most extraordi- II
airy incidents in the annals of war" and.
re celebrated Russian expedition of the great
apoleon" is pronounced mot u circum- TT