Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1862-04-22
From the Tribune Corrrspopdept.)
From McClellan's Division.
ON THE peninsula, Va, April 1856:

ON THE IENlNSULA, va, April lSDZ.
During the cannonadng for the first ten days
OF tie occupation OF this place by our army,
Dot more than or guns were developed, and
those Of light ARTILLERY. Tins, however, is not
the case now. We may infer for certainty,
that large re-eniorcements have since arrived
that more and heavier guns have been placed il
position, and the works strengthened Last
night our pckets held conversation with the
Rebel pickets on the other side OF the Warwick
River, not more than l50 eet wide, in the
course Of which the fact Of the arrival OF re-eu-
iorcements aud johnson was confirmed. DO
noc understand, however, chat even the best IN
formed have anything trustworthy concerning
tine strength OF tho enemy. 1t is assumed e.
be largethe Manassas army in fact
An army never was stopped IN a place with
more Objectionable features The country as j.
has presented Itself since we have been here Is
of little value TO anybody From lts general
IlAtness there Is but little drainage, and she
! vast quantity Of rain that has fallen during the
past week lies on the surface. As ac0nsequence
the roads are bad beyond description. Empty
teams drawn by tour mules ase frequently una
bic to get along rhe chief occupation Of the
army tnus far has been to make new roads and
more miles Of corduroy road have been made
during the past week than would dare say ior
fear Of being disbelieycd Ii this work tbe
Maine and Michigan men lead. They are recapabe
Of anything.
Gen Mcclellan, whose headquarters are
about the centre OF the peninsula, has issued a
complimentary order to the 9Th Vermont, for
the excellent manner III which, under Gen. iian-
cock, they made The reconnaissance of the Rebel
positions few days snce, The notice is de-
served, and especially Is the conduct of Gen.
Hancock deserving OF commentator. He
crawled on his hands and knees for u long dis
tance through the woods to obtain sight ot a
Rebel fertilization, had passed considerably ahead
OF his skirmlshers, and, having taken delibe-
rate survey OF the i0rtiiicauon, suddenly found
himself IN close proximity to number OF I,eoI
soldiers Seeing this Gen II beat Il retreat
A vollcy followed him, but luckily he was not
hit, and was able to make good his escape. \
soldier came suddenly upon number Ci theeu-
emy, who fired at him. Suddenly retrealing,
his knapSaek, belt, and indeed hisentire" traps
were shot away, but heg got ofwithout awound.
A number of instances of personal daring are
related Characteristic of the regiment. During
the first days sSlrmsh on our right, two soldiers
one from Maine the other from Georgia, posted
each behind a tree, and INDUCED in
shots, without effect on either side, at the same
time keeping up lively chat. Finally that
growing little tedious, Georgia calls out 30
Maine " Give Inc show, meaning step out
and give me an opportunity to hit. Maine, in
response, pokes out his head a few inches, and
Georgia cracks away andmsses. Too high"
says Maine " Now give me u show Georgia
po6es out her head and Maine blazes away
= Too low > sings Georgia. In this way the
two alteynated several times, without hitting
Finally, Maine sends bali SO us to Craze the
tree within an iuchor two Of the ear Of Georgia
= Cease firing, shouts Georgia {" Cease it is,
responds Maine Look hero, says one, we
have carried on this business ong enough for
one day, Spose we adjourn Tor rations -
" Agreed, says the other. And so the two
marched away in different directions, one whist
ling " Yankee Doodle, the other - Dixie"
Toward evening, while we lay in front ot tho
Rebel work at Lees Mills. Col Stoughtun sent
his fine band to II point Of land which had been
the scene of sharp akirmsing, and whore the
Rebels were not far OIL The band played
- The Star Spanglod Banner" Hail Columbia,
and other patriotic pieces, and the Rebels, IL
stead OF firing, checred immensely. The scene
had IT'S significant features.