Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-08-07

we looked the premises over, ana FOUND
most of the crockery belonging TO the boat,
al the bedding, and some of the tackle.
Among other things, two rebel flags, and
several u, S, equipments, either stolen at
Fort Pike or stolen at Wholesale by Floyd
& Co.
No hope being left of finding the valve
in question, we rrturEed to the boat with
our booty, and made an impromptu valve, so
that by lying still two hours we could 90
ahead half an hour at a time. In tins inter-
mittent way we reached the Fort, after an
absence of AS hours. / enclose the General
Order whick Maj, Holbrook issued the next
day, showing that he appreciated our labors.
1t was only four or five days after this |
affair that Maj, Holbrook with the Brandon
company was ordered away, leaving only
little more than 100 available men in Capt |
Porters command OF course this put an
end to any very extensive scouting. How
ever few men were spared almost every
night to see that the enemy did not crowd
too hard. We were obliged to visit Pearl
River every day or two for wood and water
tor the fort The steamer j. Morgan Brown
was turned over to us for that purpose. One
day, being near the village of Darlington,
we bethought ourselves that the town needed
a purifying visit, and as there was pine
woodpila belonging to heCaptain of the guer-
lila party stationed there, we landed, loaded
on about twenty cords of wood seized guam
tity OF ammunition and motley firearms, and
were searching for more, when 10 the cav
airy made sudden dash into the village, the
first effect of which, that noticed, was that
was separated from all the rest but one, and
found must take the river or the woods. |
chose the former. had a U. S. cavalry
musket, which we took few days before on
scout, and which Floyd probably took be-
fore we did. Disc harging this at teh gallop-
ing devils. | think made as good time as
tucy III TUG oahc uiicetiou III PioPoiuoh u
the number of legs employed. They dis
mounted near the shore between me and the
boat, under cover of some outbuildings, and
prepared to pick of our men. Taking ad.
vantage of the moment we seized a canoe
and padded for dear life down the river,
| occasionally heard bullet whistle, but camt
out unscathed. As far as my memory serves
me all this was done in short space of time
| for one was in hurry. Two or three vol
leys were fred on each side, and some SHARP
shooting done. ! soon saw that / made
wise choice in taking the river, for now re
serve equal in number to the attacking part
| (about 7o) galloped through the edge of tn
woods firing as they passed.. Lieut.. Thral
seized musket from the hands of one of tn
men, picked the leader of the reserve VIII
dropped his carbine, raised both hands to hi
head and fell from his horse. Lieut.. Thral
He saved my life. Thet day while was at
tempting to "padde my own canoe''on time
three or four of my own men, not known,
me, drew sight upon me, and had not Lieut.
Thrall been near, would have fred in an in
slant. So, I'm in favor of the sharpeye,
Lieut., you may guess. WE'LL the secesl
manifested decided inclination to take us
boat and all and | think would have succeed
ed had they charged upon us with this ide
well developed at first. But we had the pre-
caution to put on board a scarecrow of CUR
an old fashioned six-pounder, which we ha
mounted in true Mendon style on plan
carriage. To be sure we had no proper an
munition, but we had powder and buckle
full of Secesh bullets,whic last we tied up i
canvas bags after the style Of canister. A
this juncture, we fired our big gun. Now
spoke in terms as harmless as the voice
Aslnus to the mad herd of bisons in 18th
Prairie" But Its voice was Needed in lik
manner. They babe us a respectful gooc
bye. We soon landed again, and cut ava
a schoon er that was tied up at the lower pa
of the village, behind a raft of logs and pile
high with lumber ready to be burned. ratht
than to fall into the hands of Yankees. W
lost one man, howell, of Co. d. (Rutland,)
fine fellow and good soldier. He is muc
lamented in the regiment. Seven or eig
were slightly wounded. The guerillas 10
three men, three mules and horse. Ho
many wounded | am unable to say:
= This happened on June 2Sth. We h;
, made requisition for some guns and amml
: milton, and were expecting to make them a
0 other visit, but were ordered here July At
: We had an awful accident on that day. A
} tempting to fire the National Salute with
q 42-pound easemate gua, il went off prem
d turely, horribly mutilating two priyates