Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1862-07-22

rear EuaIu, anu LuOs' uOoP'f A"VlSu uehVIIy
pressed held the enemy at bay Dung the day
Moving on, the army had crossed the White
Oak Swamps and temporarily halh This was
about midday and long lines OF hantry, bag
gage trains and artillery were drasl up IN the
most perfect order in "a large paik oI at least d
thousand acres OF meadow land. laere was not
the least symptom ol confusion, but everything
was order, and as we were there by0uaced Lit
tie Mac was constantly riding forward and back
IN the scorching sun and choking dust! himself
perfect picture Of fatigue, exposure, and
swamp-worn soldier.
The heat Of the day being past, euything was
on the move again, but upon 1srenI roads.
From this park there were three 'outes to the
river, but cOnyerginS at u polni lone six miles
above the present position OF the army, The
army took one road the trains another, and the
ambuIances sick and wounded auother-the
one over which the rebel cavalry made their re
turn trip after their celebrated raid 70 the White
House and complete circuit OF our army
In the meantime, Smith Division had moved
forward and crossed the swamp, 1t was now
nearly if not quite sundown. when an aid ar
rived from Gen Franklin, IN command of the
rear RudIui " JUL DhlieAf "iN9iHS OdCh
Brigade forthwith Gen. Smith sent back the
Vermont Brigade. Arrived At the station after
double-Qulck or forced march Of over two
miles, they were drawn up IN front Of heavy
body OF swamp timber and ORDERED forward
Advancing through this swamp AMI just after
entering the timber the right wing 81 the 9Th
marched directly over the lett wing yi the ID
Mimi sofa, whlch regiment was kneng down
in the swamp. Emerging from the timber the
9th came out upon some meadow and, while
he rest Of the VT. Brigade were sil under c0y-
or o. he timber This meadow, was but small
patch OF ground surrounded on all sides by tim
ber the enemy being directly IN innt IN the
timber aud their batteries masked On the
right there was little swell OF ground that
covered the right wing, while The left wing
which suffered 50 severely, had no over at ALL
but was exposed to an entilading fire OF both in
ianiry ard artillery. Col Grant quickly saw
this, and nsianter, performed one 1f the most
difficult and dangerous moyemente attempted
upon the battle field lie swung hs lef' wing
back 10 the rear out Of this cr0ss Ire without
breaking his line Not man lei, sis post, and
seizlng musket the gallant Colone urged on
e,
but not man gave way, aud vi q, after an
no II hard lighting, night came " and the
OF Ter 10 tall back, the regiments m5ed oil in
perfect order, and with the Brig g marched
on to their bIvOuac over the sw N ,leaying be-
bind them their dead and such - We wounded
as were not able to help themselves off the field
The other regiments though engaged IN this
hight, not being 50 much exposed, suffered less.
As an incident. Capt---0i the California
Regiment, his regiment not beng IL the scuon,
came up behind the 5th in the hottest Of the
light, waving his hat ami sword and singing
out at the top of his voice. 4" That 5 it you
bllly YermonteIs, 60 in, give the rebels IL
and old NeTmOnt another Inst ls was a
brave good man, and as learn stayed behnl
and assisted many a wounded man vi the field
In another way yon have received the leading
particulars iihs engagement. Day broke on
MONDAY,
but the warriors still slept, I'll; awoko from
their slumbers by another " those terrible ar.
tllery saluteS. Without the slightest warning
some ilty cannon opened upon the camp, spread
iug death and confusion all around Ii wa,
here, il am rightly informed that Col Blum
was wounded Scattered ~ all directions II
was a long time before anything Ikea regImenta
organization was again formed, However, III,
General anu Field officers at last succeeded il
organiziug then respective commands, ana al
went well again.
Ia, fighting now became pretty general, III,
enemy being determined to break our lines. cut
0h our trains, and secure our siege urlillefv
Rushing thousands ana thousands of iresl
troops into the held, mad with The fumes o
whisky aud gunpowler, their mighty mauaat,
was " death or victory On ou they came
like 50 many devils changing front in any WAY
aud every way for advantageous attack urol
our column, At last
dawns-;ha as, day ol weeks consecutive
fighting. Fill along IN the after part of the
day, there Wa, considerable quietude. Tia,
trains, the artillery corps, and thousands of til,
sick and wounded had arrived at their supposed
destination ON the river. The pllatal resdenc,
OF rebel planter, together with no less than A
dozen OF ms superior out-buil4mgs, had beer
converted into grand hospital, all under tn,
immediate superintendent of Mrs John Harri.
and her corps OF volunteer mothers, wives anC
daughters Every attention was paid the sol
dier possible under the circumstances. But
late in the day the fght Is renewed. On our
side it is mostly ARTILLERY, and with grape and
canister the rebel ranks are moved down lik,
grass.
In conversation with rebel sergeant. whC
came down the river as n prisoner, he informed
me that IN tie fight he was stunned and fell
lie lay for long lime iuso able, and when h,
came to and attempted to up, " there p.r,
fee dead men on top Of hia and ali around
the slain were " corded u lie further in.
formed me that their loss computed at iron
fifty to sixty thousand, and he seemed to think
that very co ct estmpte. Thus ended ,
battle Of seven Gays consn lighting the en-
emy retiring from the field ors de combat as Al
army, while onr army ha quietly placed itse
in position where its reetly safe. and az
"a base Tor siege opgragu> m conjunction wiz
the cuu.olts. thg le,, Cateordin to the almis
sions OF the encmyl on the peninsula.