Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1862-05-02
From the Third Regiment.
ENCAMPMENT VT. 3p REG, NEAR ]
YORKTOWN, Va, April Is, 1862. !

skirmsh in which we were engaged day
before yesterday. We left our camp al
about six A. NJ, proceeding westerly, in
direction towards the rebel Notifications
which are on the west side Of creek
running from Yorktown through War.
wick into James River. We soon ar
rived at our picket line, when ours and
II company were deployed as skirmish-
ers. We marched forward in front oil
the regiment, passing cautiousl y along
through the woods until we came to the
banks of the creek above mentioned, and
upon the other shore, at a distance OF
about forty rods, could be seen their rife
pits, and a little in the rear of the pits a
fort with some guns mounted which soon
opened fire upon US AT the same time
skirmishing began between US and the
rebels upon the other shore. About this
time, companies A, G, G, and I,were de-
ployed as skirmishers on our left, ID, Il,
F, and X companies being heldas reserve.
The creek is damned in several places,
often enough to have the water set back
from dam to dam. The ponds are about
forty rods in width and in the deepest
place about four feet deep. Our artillery
came up and opened fire upon their fort
with shell and solid shot, and soon their
guns were sleuced
Here we remained upon the bank of
the creek until nearly five p. NJ, when
those companies which had been held as
reserve were ordered to cross the creek
and drive the rebels from their fonilica-
tons if possible. Until this time We had
whenever rebel showed himself, done
our best TO send some minnie balls as
close to him as possible, and they had
shown the same kind of play towards US.
Many balls came very near, and one OF
our company was wounded in the leg
/ CORPORAL Loren j. Flood the same ball
passing through the pants Of a. B.
Chamberlin before striking Flood. But
this skirmshirg was nothing compared
with what followed.
The reserve came forward and entered
the stream, crossing the skirmis hers line
where our company were deployed. The
moment they arrived at the waters edge
the rebels from their rife pits opened fire
upon this little band, 1913 in number, but
on they go. Soon we see them in the
middle of the stream, wading in the wa
ter full four feet deep, and advancing
upon foe of no doubt ten to one; but
on they pass through the water and
through perfect shower OF leaden hail
which is fast thinning their ranks, but
still on they go. Tie rebels run from
their entertainments rs the little band APP
proaches. Back, back, the rebels go,
overtaken often by the minnies sent from
the guns of this brave little band. They
arrived at tie first entrenchment and
enter it, and here for few moments
they remain, the enemy charging on them
every moment, and as often repulsed.
Soon they fall back and are pursued by
what remains of this noble little band to
their fort, some of our men leaping upon
it and yelling 30 as to drive out every
rebel. AT the same time the rebels were
thanking our right and left. What was
to be done? The ammunition was ex
hausted, and number ten times as large
as theirs was charging upon them. Re
treat was the only thing left to them.
They start to recross the stream. No SOON
er said than done; these rebels who bad
been driven rally and charge upon the
now retrealing little band. About the
time they arrived upon the edge of the
stream, the rebels poured into them a
volley which told worse than anything
before. Probably a thousand muskets
were discharged at them in three seconds
of time. Strange, very strange, that one
of them remained. Had they not been
on lower ground than the rebels were
probably not one would have been left
to tell the tale but of the number 1l3
came back safe, 80 are killed, wounded,
and missing.
have seen it hail before, hut never
did | see it come any faster from the
clouds than it did from their guns at the
time our men were recrossing the creek.
From the roar of the musketry no one
supposed a man of them would return.
think they must be very poor marks
men. OF the 80 killed, wounded, and
missing, SO are killed and missing. Per-
haps few may be wounded aud prison
ers, One killed in company A, and two
wounded two wounded in company II,
and one in company B. These last six
were shot skirmishing.
Every one supposed that these compa-
MES were going to be reinforced as soon
as the first attack was made by them, but