The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-04-04
(Our War Correspondence
From the Fifth Vermont Regiment.

CAMP, Cuo eulCOrlal Columns OF CnG FREEMAN
would be reduced to as small compass as pos
sible. Writing letters on windy day in tn,
open air, fat on the ground before fire tha
smokes everything, with knapsack for tabl,
and a tin cup for an inkstand, requi Tres both pa
thence and fortitude. However, l will give yoc
an hour, more or less, OF my time, and write up
In d condensed form, the Journal of the Brigade
for the last four days.
We arrived at Fortress Monroe late Monday
night, the 9th inst, and disembarked early in
the morning. We found the beach and the
country round about the Fort covered with troops
all of them busy in making preparations for a
march. The work of leaving the boat, and
watching the soldiers while on the beach, being
over we moved off about noon in the direction
of Newport News, passing the burned district
OF Hampton-a city in ashes. That night we
encanped some four miles east of Newport News
The whole division lay there in full view upon
one plantation. We were about half mile
back from the beach, from which with glass,
the encampments of the enemy upon the opposite
shore were in full view, and if their camps are
not a counterpart Of their wooden gun batteries
at Centreville, then they have large army about
Norfolk.
At midnight Of the Goth inst, We received
orders to be ready at 5 o'clock in tho morning
to march, with blankets and two days rasions
There was forthwith a terrific assault upon the
stores of the the Commissary, and all his raw
pork, hard bread, sugar and coffee, was quickly
in our haversacks. Before dawn every man was
under arms, and long before the march of the
infantry the artillery and cavalry were on the
move, the column taking the main road towards
Big Bethel and Yorktown. After a march Of
about five miles on this road we moved in two
columns-Porter's division to The right on the
road, or rather roads towards Yorktown, and
Smiths division to the left up the james
river towards Warwick. The roads were in
excellent condition, and the day warm and
pleasant. We passed our pickets in line about
ten clock, and at one clock our skirmishers
fell in with the rebel pickets, their posts
being In u heavy pine forest IN the rear Of u
large open field OF some three or four hundred
acres. TINS HELD was surounua1 by dense
forest OF pines. have SAID that our skrnuSh-
erS met their plcketS, and us | have Sc dom met
with civilian who understood the skrmlsh
drill! Or uurca, let me briefly explain the same
A column OF troops are moving on the main road
towards the enemy. Through the information
OF mounted scouts, it is known about where the
enemy is IN force. This beng known, when
the column arrives within one, TWO, or three
miles OF the enemy, one, two, or three companies,
rs the character OF the country may demand. are
deployed as sklrnishers, taking intervals Of sew
eral PAGES between each Other, 80 that one COM
pany presents front equal to Il full regiment
IN line OF battle. AS skrmishers they march
straight forward, through forests and across
streams, always keeping their proper intervals.
By bugle calls they can be mace TO orally" In
groups of four, or in force upon their centre,
their rig hit or left flank. In this way they pre-
vent any surprise, for some of them are sure to
fall IN with the enemy IN SEASON to give the
alarm. In every regiment the flank companies
are thoroughly drilled as skirmishers, and on
the march they are liable to be called upon 10
perform this most disagreeable service
Very we'll, our skirmishers of Hancocks Bri-
gade met their pickets, as above stated, and
brisk fire ensued. Our Brigade at the time was
halted IN the forest, IN narrow, muddy road.
AS we heard the firing, yolley after voiley the
eyes Of the soldiers flashed, tor well they knew
there was mischief ahead. At least they sup.
posed SO. In few minutes We heard the shrlll
voice of our Colonel shouting, " Forward, for
ward boys, double.quick, fix bayoncts." Then,
on We went, through the mud, and over the
thrown-away blankets and haversacks of the
charging column, expecting every minute to
emerge from the woods, where we should be
face to face" with the enemy. Once out OF
the woods we were quickly in line of hattle
while the first Brigade had already crossed the
field and deplOyed IN front of the timber and dl
rectly upon the abandoned picket line OF the
enemy. Nary rebel was in sight, and no face
to face with the enemy" yet. Pell mel, heter
skeer, through the woods they lad Skadadded.
"A detachment Of cavalry followed them. but
they were not to be found. We had met The Ell.
envy, but before we could see them they were
hours ahead of US. We had not falry halted
IN the held before clouds OF smoke was seen rls-
ing tar ahead OF us. 10 check pursuit they had
burned Il bridge that crossed one of the tributa-
res of the james river.
Our Brigade soon moved on through the
pines again, to another field about mile and
half ahead. Here we halted for about uwo
hours, while the pioneers constructed "a bridge
over creek In the woods for the artillery "
pass. by this time il was near shutdown, and
as nothing could be found of the enemy, we
marched back to picket line and encamped,
leaving the right wing OF the % Vermont OFT
as picket. In their fight they passed several
residences where families were still living,
taking time, however, to notify the resi- Tents
that " the Yankees were coming, and coming
d-n fast" But none OF the families needed
their warning, but quevly remained at home.
Thus ended the celebrated battle of " War
wick Plains" At night we camped as best We
could, my own shelter consisting Of about COZ
en- rails thickly thatched with pine boughs with
"a cheerful fire in front. slep5 soundIy but
about ten or eleven o'clock one of the boys came
to ask me for the loan Of my big knife |
gavet him, and in few minutes, another party