Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1862-05-23
A CHARGE OF THE VT. CAVALRY AT MT.
JACKSON,

A CHARGE OF THE VT. CAVALRY AT MT.
JACKSON.
A correspondent of the Vermont Chron-
icle thus graphically describes the now
famous charge of our boys, on the 18th
ult.:
"Now we came in sight of Mt. Jack
son. some three miles away. Here there
was halt and reconnaissance, when
Gen. Shields ordered the Vt. Cavalry for
ward to make smart charge through to
the farther side of the village. And now
our Vermont boys, with drawn sabres,
put their horses on full gallcp, which was
increased to dead run and terrific yells
as they entered the village, and the mount
ed enemy, under Col. Ashby's command,
fell in view on a retreat at the farther
side of the town. 1t was wild scene,-
railroad trains heavily loaded with lum-
ber were in flames, and shots from one
dwelling were fred upon US; and such
was the order of Gen. Shields that, as we
reached the farther verge of the village,
some of the officers and men halted while
others dashed wildly through deep creek,
whose bridge was on fire, and gained a
plain of half mile in length. Here
the race was for life, the rebels having
some forty rods the start. Our horses
were evidently the heetest, and the scene
was exciting to the highes degree. They
oscended the hill and dashed down it to
a covered bridge across the Shenandoah.
Here we came upon them, and entered the
bridge simultaneously. Horses fell, pitch
ing their riders over one another. In the
melee we took three prisoners, one Lieut..
and two privates. The rebels had bat
terry commanding the bridge, which, as
the main body of the rebels defled into
meadow at the right, opened upon us
with shell, which passed directly through
the bridge, and one directly in front of
it, throwing the mud into the faces of
several of our men. ..
Major Collins, who led the charge in a
soldierly manner, now ordered a retreat,
saying we had exceeded our orders, where
upon the great body of the men wheeled.
and rushed wildly back to the village.
Lieut.. Erhardt, of Co. A, seeing the i'm
portance Of saving the bridge, retreated
no farther than the brow Of the hill. and
was there met by your correspondent, COW
cred with sweat and mud, standing where
the balls from the rebel carbines and RI
aes whizzcd about him profusely, asking
for men to help him. The smoke then
began to arise from the bridge Idesired
him, if possible, to hold his position,
promising him immediate help. 1t was
brought, and second charge was made,
led on by the Lieutenant in the face of the
rebel guns, and they were driven back,
the fire extinguished, and the bridge was
saved. This was daring and important
act, as the bridge led over the main riv-
CT, which it was impossible for our army
to ford. Had it been burned, the for
ward movement of the whole division
must have been delayed for many days.
Had there been no confusion of orders,
or had the whole of our corps gone be-
yond their orders, (Which in this case
seemed to be q military necessity and
charged with the desperation of those
who did, have no doubt but all Of Ash
by's force present, together with his bat
terry, might have been taken. But as it
was, great praise is awarded to our reg