The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-07-15

maneuveriDg, was In position IN Tue 'i''oFt III
rear Of the first and third brigade, Ut where
they were encamped.
From this place, as a sort of basis of opera
tons, they were ordered forward and back, q
mean now the 5th) double-quicked here, then
there, and now back again all day. Companies
were thrown out as skirmishers and everything
that exhausted and hungry men could do they
were called on " ror!o.m. Early n tie 1ay
the sick and disabled of the regiment and the
brigade were notified that all hospital accommo-
dations would be removed somewhere in the VI
entity of McClellan'' headquarters, but no
movement of the kind was attempted till just as
the cannonadng began; consequently, there
was additional confusion on this account. 80
to peak, the hospital got lost as we'll as the pa
tepts but as good luck would have it we soon
came around again all right Being among the
disabled ones myself, | soon, after tedious
march, was able to report to the Trent House
Hospital, and directly thereafter our surg on,
DR.. Russell, was on the ground to attend to his
patients. Securing transportation he for
warded US to Savages Station, when he return
ed to the regiment and the mothers and wives
OF Vermont will ever owe DR.. Russell debt of
gratitude. On the next day. when the poor
boys were left dying ON the field be gave bis
!
manned behind to administer to their wants
and meet with such reception the rebels
might give him.
All night Saturday there was constant alarm
and though d good portion Of the army WAS now
on the retreat our lines on the extreme left had
not been fully abandoned.
EARLY on the morning of
SUNDAY
the army was astir and movements begun in
good order Although it was pretty well un
der.tood what the matter was, we we're in the
first stages of regular skedaddle. Still there
Was no haste and no unnecessary alarm All
the sick and wounded who were able to march !
were ordered forward at aybreak to the James
river There were thousands OF wounded at the
Station, and hundreds OF surgeons and nurses,
and, God bless the ladies of the Sanitary Com
mission, they were there administering to the
wants Of both sick and wounded.
After general destruction of such army
stores and stuff ls could not DO transported -
such rs provisions, ammunition, tents en.rench-
ment tools, mail matter. bushels of it, whisk ey
wagons, clothing, cars, guns. &c the trains
were fairly on the move, also the main army.
Smith $ and one other division we've detailed as
rear guard, and those troops though heavily
pressed, held the enemy at bay during the day.
Moving on, the army had crossed the White
Oak Swamps and temporarily halted. This was
about midday and long lines of infantry, bag
gage trains and artillery were drawn up in the
mos. perfect order in large park of at least
thousand acres of meadow land. There was not
the least symptom of confusion, but everything
was order, and rs we were there bivOuaced Lit
tie Mae was constantly riding forward and back
In the scorching sun and choking dust, himself
perfect picture of fatigue, exposure, and
swamp-worn soldier.
Ihe heat OF the day being past, everything was
on the move again, but upon different roads
From this park there were three routes to the
river, but converglng at point some six miles
above the present position of the army. The
armY took one road. the trains another, and the |
ambu lances, sick and wounded another-the
one over which the rebel cavalry made their re
turn trip after their celebrated raid to the White
House and complete circuit of our army
In the meantime, Smith y Division had moved |
forward and crossed the swamp 1t was now
nearly if not quite shutdown. when an aid ar
rived from Gen. Franklin, 10 command of the
rear guard, to Gen. Smith. ordering back
Brigade forthwith. Gen. Smith sent back the
Vermont Brigade. Arrived at the Station tier
a double-quck or forced march of over two
miles, they were drawn up IN front of heavy
body Of swamp timber and ordered forward. |
Advancing through this swamp and Just after |
entering the timber the right wing of the 9Th
marched directly over the left wing OF the I'd
Minnesota, which regiment was kneeng down
in the swamp. Emerging from the timber the
9th came out upon some meadow land while
The rest of the w. Brigade were still under COW
er y! he timber. Thi, meadow. WAS but small
patch OF ground surrounded on all sides by tim
Der, the enemy being directly i'll front IN the
timber and their batteries masked On the
. right there was little swell of ground that
| covered the right wing, while the left wing,
which suffered 80 severely, had no cover at all,
bat was exposed to an entilading fire OF both in
fantry AID artillery. Col. Grant quickly saw
this, and lnstanter, performed one OF the most
dlfhcult and dangerous movements ever attempted
upon the battle field. He swung his left wing
back to the rear oat of this cross-fre without
breaking his line. Not u man left his lost and
Selling musket the gallant Colonel urged on
his men to the contest. Comrades fell all around
but not man gave way, aud when. afte. au
ho ri hard lighting, night came on and the
order to tall back, the regiments moved off in
perfect order, and with the Brigade marched
on to their bivouac over the swamp, leaving be,
hind them their dead and such of the wounded
as were not able 70 help themselves of the field
The other regiments though engaged in this
fight, not being 50 much exposed, suffered less.
AS an incident. Capt.-of the California
Regiment, his regiment not being in the aclIon.
came up behind the 9Th In the hottest of the
fight waving his hat and sword and singing
out at the top of his voice. " That s it YOU
bally NermooteEs, 20 in, give the rebels Ill
and old Vermont another hist" lie was II
brave good man and US leArn stAued hah1nh