Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1862-06-13

army. This company was attacked and
cut to pieces, near Newton, by the advance
guard of the rebels, coming from the
mountains near Manassas Gap, and cap
tured some wagons of the train. A
strong force, (Best's battery, I'd Mass
infantry, lst Nd cavalry,) was then sent
to keep back the enemy, and bring up the
train, and I hear they had to fight like
tigers to keep back the overwhelming
numbers that were pressing upon them.
Two Of our guns were twice taken by
the enemy and twice retaken by the
I'd Mass About this time Hatch's COM
mand was coming quietly through Stras-
burg, unconscious of the danger. We
were entirely cut off from the main army.
Hatch, with his cavalry, happened to be
about one fourth of mile in advance of
the rest of us when he was attacked. He
made charge and cut his way through
the rebel lines, leaving us to our own
fate, and did not even warn us Of our
danger. After leaving Strasburg we eros
sed Cedar Creek by ford winding our
way up the long hill. About midway Of
the hill is large barn on our right, and
log house on our left, both close to the
road, and containing small quantity of
stores. These buildings were set on fire
as soon as we passed. AS | was riding
along with the artillery, | noticed a dis
turbance in front-men running back
wagons turning around-cavalry forming
in line Of battle, and messengers dashing
back to hurry up all the forces. We
brought up our artillery, in hurry, to
the top of the hill and formed in line in
battery, inst across the plain We could
see the long lines of the enemy, breaking
off from the road right and left, forming
in line and advancing. They wore our
blowscs, and we first supposed them to be
our own men, and did nov fire. When
they got near we saw their grey pants,
and soon up came the rebel flag and they
commenced a charge. Now the fight be-
gan. One of Hampton's guns sent its
shells down the road, which made the
rebels scatter like sheep, but they soon
formed again in haste. We commenced
throwing conister from our howitzer, which
did good execution. We had no infantry;
five pieces of artillery was all we had to
fight with, supported by the few cavalry
we had Col. Harris ordered a retreat
We started back down the hill, the enc.
my advancing and pouring tremendous
volleys into us. We were now in com.
plete rout,-wagons and artillery rushing
down the hill together. When we got
to the burning buildings, the horses re
fused to go through. The fire ragged tre
mendously ; the teams crowded in togeth
er the drivers of the artillery put spurs
into their horses and applied the whil
with all their force, when we soon 60
them started, the horses dashing through
t with all their speed. We could hear thu
quick report of rifles on our left. One o
our cannoners (Allen) who sat just be
: hind me was shot, and fell from the cais
e son and the artillery behind ran owe
| him, mangling him all up I was throw
/. off and left behind. The rebels were s.
n close on to me that | drew my revolve
: and fired two shots at the nearest; h
e fell. The wagons were tipping over
t rolling down hill into the river-term
e were running away, and everything wa
c in an uproar. The teamsters were lay
o ing down to give themselves up. | look
It ed back and saw Brennan (my bunkey
}. coming down the hill with sabre in hand
If He had been left behind. The rebel
s were holloing /" Lay down or we'll shoe
:, you give up or we'll shoot!' at the sam
r, time firing awoy at us. Brennan says
h Lutte, we won't give up 70, Iii be xii
y cd first !" We crossed Cedar Creek bride
If and were the last to get over. A ba
y struck the fore-piece of my cap, and knocl
d ed it off my head. We threw away eve
L thing we had, to Tighten us, but our arm
g. Two companies of the VT cavalry struc
d off to the right, to keep the enemy fro