The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-07-24
(Our War Correspondence
From the Second Vermont Regiment.
folders Letter--No. XII.
CAMP NEAR HARRIsoN's LANDING, I
July 10, 1862. !

CAMP NEAR liza RRISoN LANDING,
July 10, 1862.
EDITOR FREEMAN The stirring events 0
the last days of June and first OF july, ar
still fresh in the minds Of every one, and per
haps familiar to all by this time, but every on'
likes to tell his own story, and having just re
covered from a temporary illness caused by TN
excessive fatigue Of the march, propose t" tel
mine.
The ball opened Thursday June 26, IN TIT
afternoon and till nine clock that evening
there was the most rapid firing OF artillery
have heard during the war. That night there
was detail Of picked men sent 20 dig rlh'
pit close up TO the rebel line. This was rather
delicate aud dangerous business the men Be-
lected were those that could work rapidly, KEEP
quiet and fight if necessary. The rest OF the
reglment-and don't know but that other reg
lments were sent out on the same Businessmen
as guard. Very cautiously we erept up to the
place We were to occupy, as hunter would ap
proach sleeping lion, and all night we lay
there giving the officers all the annoyance I'M
ugnabe to keep as from falling asleep. The
muhied sound of the picks, spades and shovsls
was all that disturbed the silence of the night.
At the first appearance of daylight, the guard
withdrew and were relieved by the regiments
1t Was now expected that we should make
another step in our journey toward Richmond {;
We had secured good position, but alas it was
destined to be of no benefit to US We went
back to our tents but not 10 sleep, for We were
continually being ordered under arms and into
line to repel attacks that the rebels persisted in
making on our from, and just to the left. All
day long the battle ragged on the opposite side
of the Chlckahominy, and its progress could be
distinctly seen from our camping ground We
could see that our linen were apparently driven
back. In fact nothing C aid have been more
apparent. 1t all trap Of Gen Mcclellan
TO catch the enemy, 50 the officers said, and this
served to allay approximations which might other
wise have produced serious evil. The Generals
and their aids appeare'! remarkao oily tickled with
the progress OF events, and the course things
were taking, and they even proclaimed that
| twenty four hours more Of such prosperous and
successful strategy would open to US the way
to Richmond.
Near SHUTDOWN the rebels commenced to com
pliment ourselves by throwing shot and she'll
with remarkable precision directly into our
camp. We couldn t stand this and accordingly
skedaddled. suppose we retreated in - good
order though we did it a. fast as we comfort
ably could. Just over steep bank TO the right
OF our camp, we were comparatively safe
Here we came to a halt and listened to the mu-
sic OF the enemy ) shells as taey whlstled over
our heads and plowed up the dirt just beyond
US, All at once the artillery stopped firing,
and Tor moment there was an omin0us silence
but 1T was soon broken by IL voley Of musketry
directly in our front. In an instant every ma n
was on his feet, for we knew that here was a
chance Tor US. Double quick we wen; out there
and found the Fourth Regiment engaged with
the Toe, and they appeared abundantly able to
give the rebels all they were capable Of bargain
ing for. 1t seemed they had attem pied to storm
our position but found serious i'm pedment IN
the Fourth, who were alreacy there, Darkness
soon closed tho struggle aud we returned to
camp to get IA little rest which We very much
needed Thus ended the frs, days strategy =
The next morning we were ordered to pack
up and tall IN. two orders which the soldier
very well know. how to comprehend. We were
only gong to move our camp to safer place
they told US, which was strictly rue, though
Ia much different sense from what we expect
ed We marched short distance to tn, let,
when We were set to falling timber Abou,
noon we We're compelled to submit to anotbe,
Smelling. We threw ourselves on our faces
and every she'll that passed foot above the
ground passed harmlessl over our heads. Only
one or two were hit, and these were manvlpc
horribly Our batteries, as soon as thew openec
made warm work for the rebels 80 that the en-.
Joyment was not all on one side. The -nem,
were soon efectually silenced We laid tn NJ
night In the woods near by, and in the morninc
we started on our backward march. We pass,
through the camp of the th New Jersey. which
came so near being annlhilated in the fight or
the right of the Chickahominy, stopping onl,
long enough to destroy few boxes Of har,
crackers to prevent them from furnishing thu
reHels least. This was the first time I ba,
seen our own subsistence DESTROYED and il wa
dihlcult to believe that the necessity for it wa
wholly premedltated. A little farther a}nn,
ana sklrmshers were thrown out of our rac;
menl to the rear, which opehed our ewes to In,
Tact that we were not only retreatinp but W.
Were to act as rear guard At Savage Stain,
we matted IN the woods after crossing the rail
road and rested there short time Neanwhil,
tne troops from the entrance, left of taa lin
belonging to ileintzeman, Keys and sumner
army corps cam' pOlrlDg down the road n,.
US. Large rcs # sIb ls'encc sto~cs and am,
mnnIti'n Were burnai here. A. Iength whom
all the rest oi the troops had passed We had mr.
dcrS 70 move on 700, We had marched less ,h,,
Two miles when brisk clDnonqding was h,ar.
PACK AT the Station, and our brigade wa
immediately ordered to about ace-an ordn
That savored untnis'akably Of collisi IN. w,
returned, formed in battle array, the F,ftl
taking the lead in line Of battle. followed h,
the Second in close column ready to support i
on the right or left ~ the exigcncles Of the case
might require. We charged up hlll through
the woods bordering on the W lllamsburgh roa
where we had Stopped to rest. With a vel