Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-08-21

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before them. AT one time the opposing for.
ces were hand to hand, and our handful of
men were driven out OF their camps and
back into the town but, rallied on by their
officers, and the cool daring of Gen. VIII.
liams, assisted by the gunboats that began to
tire shell on each flank with perfect accuracy
and deadly effect, our troops bravely rushed
TO the front and down the entire rebel center.
back across the road into and beyond the
| cemetery, from which they we're not able
again to emerge Four times they made des
perate efforts TO come out from behind the
tombs and cross the road, but each time they
were driven back, until, finally, they were in
full panic retreat. Our own men were too
much eqhausted TO pursue. On our right, in
| the meantime, the rebels under Gen. Clarke,
made desperate effort T. flank us, and get
IN our rear. II was here that the admirable
genersship of Williams displayed itself An
ticipating this very movement, he had placed
Mannine's b ttery of six pieces, supported by
the Wisconsin and Vermont regiments while
| the Michigan regiment was strongly posted
at the crossing Of the roads, and commanding
the entire approach of the enemy's left
Here the battle ragged fercely, and after the
rebels flank movement was repulsed and
driven back, not to retuTn-here ii was that
the gallant General fell at the head of the
Indiana and Michigan regiments; but not
before victory had lighted up that fine manly
face with its glow OF triumph. am convnc-
ed that had Williams not fallen, he would
| have destroyed the whole of the rebel forces.
By 10 A, M. all firing had ceased, and the
enemy had retired with haste, and lett over
500 of his dead on the field of battle Every
one of his dead were buried by our men,
except many who died in the retreat, or we're
killed by the long reaching shells of our
gunboats. The field presented evidences
of the desperation of the combats at lhe
crossing OF the roads where the rebels had
endeavored TO flank US, and where they
were met by the Indiana and Michigan
regiments, The men fought hard. Those
who had lost their arms tore up the rails
from the fences. More than one rebel was
| found dead who ca been killed in this way.
! In one spot behind beautiful tomb, with
effiges of infant children kneeling, twelve
dead rebels were found in one heap. Every
where they strewed the earth and made
ghastly the quiet grave yard, under which
they soon lay-victfms to a madness which
If much longer persisted in, will make the
land red with blood for the rebellion must
be crushed, il we have to Sc the last, most
certain, but mcst fatal weapon left us Let
us pray that they Will not force us to this
dread alternatise---that they will return to
reason in time, and dismiss the bitter hatred
which they pourish IN their hearts against
us. Let them remember that, "as love
begets love- so does seorn and hatred beget
| their like; and let them be assured that it
will be sorry day for Southern homes,
when the fierce fires of rage and hate begin
to burn in the Northern heart. | am, con-
vinced that, as yet, there is little of that feel
ing existing; but it will come. ......
To return to our feeble account Of this
battle. The enemy were repulsed their
short-lived Arkansas blown to atoms-in
retreat and discontinue they have returned
to Camp Moore-ay, this time, those who
have been practising guerrilla warfare and
assassinating defenceless, wounded soldiers,
have been punished. The inhabitants of
ceatain villages, who sit listess on the levee
as man of war passes up or down, sp ing
into life, and bring out the murderous dou-
BILE barrel shot gun to fire upon the hospital
ships-these gentry will find that they can
be made to suffer and feel. Our gala Mt
army at Baton Rouge, in their first battle,
have behaved like veterans Let us pr alse
tho living and mourn the dead, and cry,
''Long live the Republic p Death to tra!-
tors and aristocrats Death to the man who
stabs our common motho"-the "Union y
If she must die, let US all die with her-let
not man, woman or child live after her.