Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1862-05-09
Extract from Corp. Grows Letter.

Extract from Corp. Grows Letter.
suppose that by this time you have
heard that the Vermont 3rd has been in
a fight, and are anxious to hear of the
result. Well, we have; and hard one
it was, too. 1t is said to be, by those
who saw it, unparalleled in history, or
anywhere else. Such desperate courage
and GOODNESS was never before shown
| will try and give you some account Of
the battle. The enemy have a line Of
Notifications across the peninsula, from
the James to the York river. 1t was
against one of these we went. We start
ed from camp about 7 O'Clock, A. NJ.
and took circuitous route, and came to
within about 100 rods OF the rebel fort
at about half past eight, when a brisk
cannonading commenced; but it was not
long before the big guns of the enemy
were silenced, and they driven from the
fort into the woods The fort is in the
open field, but on three sides of it the
woods are but a few rods distant We
were in the wood when the cannoaading
commenced, and laid there on the ground
from that time till about p. NJ, when
Col. Hyde came to Capt. Harrington,
and told him that he wanted his compa-
ny and company r. to 20 and take pos
session Of that fort; (but, BY The "ay,
six companies were employed as skr-
mi>hcrs, which left but four, these last
only, being in the fghO. There was
shallow creek between Us and the fort,
which is about forty rods wide, and from
four to six feet deep, which We had to
cross Or rather wade. Well, we got the
order to advance, our company on the
right, company Il, on the left, company
f supporting Us, and II, supporting f.
We went forward in line and crossed
the stream in the face Of the enemy, who
were ten times our number, they all tie
time pouring a raking fire upon US from
their rife pits, which concealed them
from us. The woods were full of rifle |.
pits, and the pits full of men, but before
we reached the shore we raised a yell, /.
and rushed for them, and the way they
LETT was a caution; our men took the /
pits and held them an hour against any
quantity of odds and till our cartridges
were gone, and we got no orders nor re-
Inducements. At this moment Lieut..
Buck sprang TO the head of bis company
and cried, "we are driving them come
on, boys, bring up the other brigade -
at the same time giving a yell, so that
we could retreat. The effect was good
one. but we had to turn our backs on the
enemy and recross the stream, leaving
10 brave fellows dead and wounded, for
it was impossible to bring them back, as
the stream had risen two feet in that
hour. The dead are L. f. Briggs, A.
Taylor, d. Campbell, j. Goodman, S.
Danforth, j. Neal, Joe Lahay, and the
missing are d. Elliot, of Morgan, O. c.
Stevens and Sam'l Sweetland the NOR
tally wounded are corporal Hutchinson
and II. Hill. / was not in the hottest
of the fight; | started with the rest or
the battalion, and went till corp. Hutch
inson was shot, and he begged Of me to
take him back, and | did, amidst show
er of balls. There were nine others =
wounded. among whom are Geo. Wash
burn of Holland and j. D. Niles. ,
We have had our first engagement ,
with the rebels, and sorry job it was 2
for US, too. think this company have q
reason TO think highly of Lieut.. Buck, /
for he was the means of saving great
many lives. | never want to witness !
such scene again. thought before | |
went into battle that | should hate to :
take the life OF fellow being, but after a.,
crossed the creek and saw our men fall
Ing on every side, mad very different
feeling. | stood behind a tree, with an t
other man leaning against me, when a '
ball struck him in the head and killed +
BIN instantly, and not more than a Sec
1nd after, ball came and struck me on
The thumb, carrying away small piece t
Of the nail.