Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1862-05-01
THE SIEGE OF YORKTOWN.
The skir,nish at Lees Mills.

! Tho Skir1nlSh at Lees Mills.
From the Special Correspondence of The N. r. Tribune
Iy FRONT OF THE ENEMY's WORKS: Gen. KEYEs's
! CoRps Ok TIE PENINSULA, Va, April l6, 1862.
1t having been ascertainel that within the
last few days the enemy had thrown up an
earthwork about one mile above Lees Mills, at
an early hour this morning Gen. Brooks's Brig
ade and Mat,s Battery were advanced toward
the Warwick between 1900 and 1900 yards
from the new work. Motifs Battery immedi-
atoly engaged the enemy's position with great
spirit and effect, and was replied to by two guns
in embrasures. In two hours the enemy were
silenced not, however, before Capt. Mott had
lost seven men-lhree killed and four wound
ed--all at one gun.
About this time, Gen. Mcclellan arrived on
the ground, followed by Gen. Keyes, who made
an examination of the situation and held pro-
tracted interview with Gen Smith, under whose
immediate eye, under Gen. Mcclellan, were the
operations of the day. Gen. Mcclellan took
occasion to personally thank the men and Off
GERS of Motifs Battery for their GOODNESS and
efficiency as manifested by the manner in which
they had silenced the enemy's work.
Skirmishers having been se,t to the front on
both the right and left, there was considerable
musketry. Motifs Battery continued to fire
occasionally as the enemy were seen in and
about the work. in the rear Of which great
smoke arose, indicating that barracks or other
buildings had been set on fire.
The enemys work in question is situated on
the Warwick, which is in front, and which at
that point has been damned, so as to increase
its width and depth materially. The dam is
directly in front of the work-a narrow spit
admitting of the passage only of few men at
"A ahOVp hp is hrnn md
deep, below it is almost equally diific1t of pas
sage over, owing to the marshy state, the water
being from one to three feet deep. Beside
their battery, the enemy have extensive rifle
pits on both tlanks skirtng the stream. and
other devices to mask their POSITION
In the afternoon, our artillery, consisting of
Ayers's, Wheeer's, Motifs, and Kennedy's bat
teries, were advanced to an open field directly
in front of the enemy, distant between 500 and
1000 yards Here, for an hour, terrific fire
was poured into the battery and rihe-pts of the
enemy, during which they must have suffered
severely. Simultaneous with this, the Vermont
9th, Col. Lord, 4th, Col. Stoughton, and Sd,
Col. Hyde, approached through the woods which
flank both sides of the enemy's position to the
stream, to make a fall reconnaissance and ex-
animation with reference to future operations.
During this movement, there was much very
hard tightin , in which our men suffered con-
siderably Companies A. ID, +, and | of the
Vermont Sd made gallant rush into the stream
below the dam, and were about gaining the
opposite side, when they were compelled to fall
back under a fire of thousands to their hund-
reds. The Vermont 9th entered the woods on
the right, and during the heaviest firing by our
artillery crossed in front to the left, and dash
ing into the water waist deep. as had the Sd
before them, large numbers disputing the ford
in aheroc manner. Gaining the opposite side.
the rihe-pits opened murderous fire on them.
In good order they repassed the stream, fight
ing as gallantly as when they advanced. This
was about o'clock.
AS our men with cheers emerged from the
wood on the right and crossed 10 the left, in
the face of a blaze of musketry, our artillery,
with the view of covering them, opened ter.
rtc tire from twenty guns. A ceaseless shower
of shells was thrown into the enemy's position
who, as they rose from the rille-pits, disclosed
themselves to our aim. 1t cannot be otherwise
than that the enemy sustained great loss
while this firing was going on. There was not
an inslant's cessation while our men were so
heroically pressing to the charge.
The 4th Vermont as well as the Sd and 9th,
CALAMITY made the perilous endeavor to cross
over and even enter the enemy's works; and
though the Sd and 9th suffered most, it would
be difficult to discriminate. Braver regiments
never entered the field, and though not success
lul against odds OF ten to one, they covered
themselves with glory.
While these operations were going on, Gen.
Gorman's brigade moved to the front about
mile above, and opened rapid fire of artillery
on the enemy's works there, and during the day