Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1862-04-25


form for charge, he rode to every gun an
directed it 10 be sighted so as TO shave III
top of the breastwork, and then, in ih
magnetic manner which distinguishes hir
in the field, required his command TO serv
the 22 pieces with the almost possible RAP
dity. This fire was literally bosom c
destruction. The shells burst with pre-
cision within few inches If the top of til
parapet and over it. The 4,h's companie
were saved by it. The Rebels dared no
lift themselves, or even elevate their head
above the edge Of their breastwork to fir
down on the Vermonters in the creek
Their guns necessarily were discharged a
an upward angle, and their fire almos
wholly thrown away.
AS an evidence of the terrible accurac,
of the fire Of Ayres's battery, which silenc
ed every Rebel gun, the effect of four of hi
shots is very significant. A Rebel regi
ment was moving at right angles to his po
sition. He fired a conical ball at the file il
which the flag was carried, cut down the
whole file and threw the flag to the earth
The other three shots, equally effective
scattered the regiment like smoke. The
naval maxim is established that three guns
in battery are equal to one hundred
afoat. The proportion of power between
those in embrasures, against those in posi-
ton in an open field, is nearly as great
When we consider that Capt. Ayres, with
his fire of spherical case shot, from level
corn-feld, against large and exceedingly
strong work, silenced every gun in it, we
can appreciate the marvellous skill and sci
ence with which this officers justly celebrat-
ed battery is worked. Every shot took
effect within the embrasures and over the
enemy's pieces He literally swept and
cleared the Rebels away from their guns,
and furnished new and most interesting
fact in the history of artillery warfare the
possible superiority of guns in plain over
an equal number protected by earthworks.
The affair is the subject of general and ad-
miring comment to-day among all the West
Point officers who have heard of ii.
Among the incidents Of the fight was the
recovery from fever of Sergeant Fletcher
of Company e, Sd Vermont, on the sick
list, and excused from duty, and the use he
made of his temporary health. He crossed
the stream and went through the fight
then on his return, was among those who
went back and rescued the wounded. On
his return to camp, he went into hospital
and resumed his fever, with aggravation.
John Harrington, beardless orphan boy
Of IL, unarmed, went over and rescued out
of the rifie-pit disabled comrade.
Lieut.. Whittemore commanded Company
E, which is without Captain for some
reason. This officer, with his revolver,
covered Harrington in his hazardous ex-
pedilion, and killed several Rebels who
aimed their pieces at the boy. His most
intimate friend in the company, private
Vance, had been killed in the rife-pit.
Whittemore, enraged with sorrow, burst in
to tears, and seizing the dead soldiers mus
ket, stood over him, and threatened death
to any who should retreat; and then stoop.
ing down, he took cartridge after cartridge
from his friends box, and killed his mar
with every fire-raging with divine fury
the while.
All will recall the case of private VIM
| Scott of the Sd Vermont, sentenced by Nc
ClelIan last Fall to be shot for sleeping OF
his post, while on the Potomac, and whom
Simon Cameron, then Secretary of War
saved from his rigorous fate. Among tn,
foremost across the creek. and the first t.
be killed yesterday, was this very mana
brave soldier as ever died on the field o
battle.
Among the phenomena Of the fight wa
the condition Of the uniform of Capt. Ben
nett of Company A ofthe Sd. 1t had eigh
bullet holes in it. One through the cola
of his coat, one through the right coat sleeve
one through his pantaloons below the lei
knee, one through both pantaloons an
drawers above the right knee, and fou
through the skirts of his coat. There wa
not scratch upan this mans skin.
The sharp-shooting was marvellous. TIE
men with the telescope rifle, kept the Re
bells two hours away from their largest gur
Every man who came near it was killed
1t was utterly useless for that long time
The Rebel commander had finally TO driv,
up an entire regiment to the piece and maj
it by superiority of numbers-more gun
ners than could be killed. 1t was fire
thus four times, when shot from Kennedy
Battery dismounted it. The value of SHARP
shooters is demonstrated fact of the grea
est military Importance"
Col. Corcoran sent word TO the presider
that if he could best serve his country in
southern Jail he was contented TO remain.
The sanitary commission at Washingto
maka an earneet coll for suDni;as -, a,