Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-06-06
THE VERMONT CAVALRY.

THE VERMONT CAVALRY
From accounts in private letters and the
published correspondence, we have gathered
At last something like a clear idea o. the
positions and condition Of our eaT--ry
throughout the retreat through the 'nan-
doah Valley. The regiment, before the re-
treat. were encamped q little south Of Stras'
burg. On Saturday morning early, when
the retreat commenced. the regiment was
divided. one detachment, consisting OF Com
NAMES A. and G. under Major Collins, ac-
companying Gen. Hatch. as q portion OF the
rear guard Of the main body Of Banks
army. The remainder Of the regiment
under its new Colonel, Tompkins, advanced
in the supposed direction Of the senemy,
and made a reconnaissance through Wood
stock. some six miles to the South. In the
mean time the rebel army, pushing along by
side roads under the mountains, fell upon
the right of Banks retreating column about
II O'Clock, a. NJ, at Newtown, seven miles
smith of Winchester. The side attack on
our army was Tepulsed sufficiently to secure
the psssage Of the main column. but the
rebel forces Of cavalry, infantry and artillery
PRESSED hard on the rear, which was covered
by the rebel cavalry. At Middletown they
halted, to check the pursuit. The enemy,
dsploylng along the side Of the turnpike,
opeued a severe FIRE. Here, if we understand
it, occurred the principal loss, which It Will
be noticed from the subjoined list Of casual
ties Is mainly in Companies A and q. The
road at one spot became blocked with killed
and wounded men and horses, and those IN
the rear OF the struggling mass which dam
med the road were compelled TO scatter,
many OF them ~dismounted. a portion who
got by comparatively unhurt, under General
Hatch, retreatei to the left, and BY a cir
cuitous route Joined Gen. Blnks at Winches
ter. About sixty, however, pushed On due
North, by a more westerly road. snd with q
number OF the 18th y. Y. Cavalry, under Col.
DeForest, reached and crossed thu Potomac,
alter a hard ride ride Of I'D miles, at Cher-
" Run, near Hancock. almost at the North
ern line Of the State
While these things were in progress, the
main detachment of the Regiment, undei
Col. Tompk1ns, having maize the reconois'
sance to the South, turned back and followed
the line Of the main army. Unaware that
the enemy had passed and cut If the line vi
tu.r retreat. ana kDowInL nothing OF ib'
disasters 10 the otner detachment. they
n-r.,-o IN t. the nrrtn Win the baggag'
L.. III front Of th,ir 5Ooy, I'll about
mlles north Of Strasburgh, they fell into TIT
same trap in whioh their comrades had beer
caught.
Their first notice of the enemy's presence
was the stampede of the wagon train from 6
strong rebel force which held the road IN
front. They formed line Of battle, and hay'
ing a y. Y. battery Of three Parrot guns,
they repulsed a charge of toe rebel lni4uuy
II was evident however, that the enemy Va,
in o-yerpowering force. and how TO secure The
retreat Was the question. Major Sawyer
with prudent foresight, had during the pre-
vious stay Of the regiment at Strasburgh,
made himself familiar with the bye roads.
He led the cavalry across the country to
one of them, the battery playing upon the
enemy from hill to hill and keeping them
in check, till the bye road was reached, by
which they pushed on and joined Gen. Banks
at Winchester. with comparatively nc
loss. The baggage train kept the main
road, and Of course fell into the enemy's
hands.
We subjoin a list of the killed. wounded
and missing obtained from Adjutant Pitkin,
May 29th, by Sergeant c. W. Morse, and by
him Forwarded to the Daily Tinss.
We have corrected the list Of casualties in
Co. c, from the information furnished by
private letters, which state that private Dud-
", reported killed, was wounded and mis-
sing.
1t will be noticed that the name Of Cor
poral Wheeler, reported killed, is not in the
list. A private letter, Of the 18th, received
in Burlington Tuesday, says wheeler was
supposed to be dead, because he fell from his
horse. but Vincent tells me that his horse
fell on a pile OF horses that were shot, and
Wheeler left for the woods and at last es-
capped" He adds "Lucius Shonyo was far
behind the boys when they were crossing the
mountains The boys heard the report Of a
musket, and Shonyo cried out don't come
back, ! am shot boys, and you can do me no
good" We understand from smother source
that word was left by the boys at a house
farther on, that O wounded soldier was left
behind, and they agreed to look after him.
Corporal Landon is reported a prisoner
Further reductions Of the list. as the stray
glers come in, may undoubtedly be expected
Wheeler and Landon are Grand Isle boys,
and both members of the University. The
is q son of Hon. o. G. Wheeler Of
Grand Isle. The latter is q member of the
Senior Class. Both are young men of fine
personal qualities and promise.