The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-05-23
Treachery and Barbarity of the Rebels

lreacnery ana lSarDaflty OF the 1teDelS.
Mr. Raymond, of the New York Times,
writes from Williamsburg con6rmatory evi-
dence of the barbarity of the rebels at the
battle there
while waiting here for ammunition and
supplies our troops have had day or two to
recover from the fatigue of hasty marching
hard fighting. and its attendant labor of
clearing the field of the dead and wounded
This last work has revealed additional evil
dence of the barbarism of the southern
troops of which We have had abundant proof
sirce we came upon the peninsula. as in the
case of the shells concealed at Yorktown -
In burying the dead our men have found
among them the bodies Of those who were
evidently dispatched while lying wounded
and helpless in the power of the enemy, and
the instances are not few in which the proof
is more direct and positive. than that fur
nished by the mute witness of mu,lated
corpses. Mai Ryerson, Of the New Jersey
brigade, fell wounded in the action of Mon
dav, and two officers who undertook to carry
him from the field were shot in the attempt
a couple of privates then spranS to his as
sstance, but he advised them to leave him
for their own safety, telling them that he was
not dangerously injured, and had nothing to
fear from the enemy: bat when the field was
searched the next day for the dead he WIS
found lying among them, with six bayonet
wounds in his breast, his ears split, and his
body nearly stripped of clothing a private
in the same brigade was also found with his
brains smashed in with his own musket,
which lay at his side covered with the traces
of the foul murder which had evidently been
done upon Helpless man. In another in
stance an officer of the 10Th New York vol
unteers. Lieut. Nelson of New York. who fell
wounded and was carried two miles by the
retreating rebels, and then bavoneted twice
and left Tor dead by the waysde. He lived
long enough, however, to testify as to the
treatment he had received from his cowardlv
captors."
Thurston, colonel of the I'd New Hamp-
shire, relates with deep feeling that one of
his captains, Drown, in the most critical
pinch of the battle, gathered large number
of scattered men of his own and other regi-
ments, and led them on to body of the en-
envy, firing with his revolver as he went, and
cheering on his new battalion. The rebel in
command waved white flag, and cried out
"Don't fire. don't fire. We are friends" and
at the same time ordered his men to trail
arms" Too successful trick. Drown COM
manded his men not to fire. At the word,
the reb is poured volley upon them. killing
many, and among them one Of the best of
the men of New Hampshire, and one of the
best officers in the army-Capt Drown. Col
Blaisdell of the 18th Massachusetts also re-
lates, that in the fury of the fight, a rebel
officer displayed white flag and cried out,
Don't fire on your friends" Blaisdcll Or
dered his regiment to cease firing, and pri-
vate Michael Doherty of company a stej,-
ped forward to get the flag. When the
doomed Irishman was nearest, the rebel Off
Ger yelled, Now give it to them" The ruff
fans instantly fired, severely wounding Do
herty and many others. Doherty had
strength enough to return the fire, and killed
tie treacherous officer by shooting him
through the heart.
Among the incidents of Mondays engage
ment was the narrow escape of Gen Sumner
and his staff from capture by the enemy
While riding forward with some of his
troops the general got considerably in adj
vance of his detachment, when he was dis
covered by squad of rebel cavalry, who
charged upon them, throwing as they ran, a
sharp fire from their carbines at the general
and his party, who were making as hasty a
retreat as the deep mud would admit Of
Fortunately none of the party were hit,
though several of them narrowly escaped
capture, their horses stumbling with them as
they ran. One of the generals aids was, in
deed, thrown and compelled to secrete him
self in the woods, where he lay beside log
with fear and trembling, two cavalry guards
being stationed so near him that he was al
most afraid to breathe lest he should be dis
covered. In the morning, after the rebels
had retired, he returned to his quarters to
relate his adventure.
Capt Thomas Snow of Lancaster, n. H.,
commanding Co. F of the ID New Hamp-
shire regiment, writes to the Coos Repubii-
can as follows 1--WE have suffered the loss
of some of our bravest officers. Capt Drown
of Co. E was killed. He was decoyed by a
flag of truce, brought out by a rebel regi-
ment, and coolly murdered. Capt Farr OF
Littleton, Co. G, has lost his right arm.-
Lieut. Perkins of Co. has lost one of his
arms; Lieut. Burnham has lost his leg. |
think my company was very fortunate only
three wounded. Corporal Herman Smith
had his left arm shot off; he was from Laco-
mia. Sergeant Henry S. Hillard of Cole.
brook was slightly wounded in the shoulder
by piece of shell he is, however, with US.
Gilman Aldrlch of Dalton, one of the new re-
crllita brought in hr Lien. Yonnn uae hot