The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-04-22
Account Of the Engagement Of the 18th
Near Yorktown.
from the Herald Correspondence


my IS position to our extreme right and after full
deliberation with the General-in- Chief it was
determined to attack the enemy's position heal
to the dam above Lees Mill, and there TO shell
large working parties that the enemy had cut,
and if circu instances were favorable to push the
attack and obtain o toothold within the enemy e
line.
Yeet2giay, al about git clock A. NJ, there
iOT9, op8 Of the Generals Of Division threw out
. party OF skirmlshcrs from the Fourth Vermont
(of cne Vermont brigade) near 70 the enemy 8
one gun battery, at the point named, and also
advanced Il New York battery. Opposite the
eremy's wolks at that place lherc is Il consider
able space clear of Large wood, but surrounded
in every direction except towards the enemy by
dense forest, and overgrown with low shrubs
and young pine. Warwick Creek-from four
to five feet deep and about twenty rods wide
separates this field from the rebel battery. In
the low shrubs and young pine The 'ermonters
made their way right up to The edge OF the
stream, and poured upon the enemy rain
Of rifle shot that he soon found 1t impossible to
withstand. After q few moments OF this hre
not d man was to be seen within the enemys
lines. Working parties, gunne1s, officers with
glasses, all disappeared, and "cover" was the
one thing in great demand. High praise lis
| uWuiutu w GES NGILIUuI ICEIllCuu AUI lLlCiI
craftsmanship and spirit.
Two pieces of the above mentioned battery
ten-pounder PARROTS, under Lieutenant Flynn
then took up d position IN the edge of the wood,
at one thousand yards from the enemy's line,
and opened fire, when the enemy bgaveiy came
up to the business and responded with the large
gun i'll his one gun battery, and with two 9th
ers IN a battery behind it. Lieutenant Stewart,
with the second section Of the same battery
two twclve-pounder Napoleon guns--was Or
dered up as was also the leis section, under
Lieutenant O'Donald. With this reinforce
ment the fire became very heavy between the
artillery on both sides ; oar skirmlshers and
numbers of the enelny's skirmlshers also blazod
away Whenever trey saw chance, and the tight
promised to spread until it should become gem
eral all along the lines Our fire was very &C
curate. Many OF our shells burst to Il nicety
az that very point III their alr-drawn line where
IL seemed they could serve their dangerous pur-
pose best and the artillerymcn roared with &C.
! light. Meantime the remainder of the Vermont
brigade lay in the woods all around, in easy
distance to support the Fourth !; and another
brigade, under arms, lay IN the field upon the
left. Three brigades had gone forward from
their camp at this polot, ami were held III the
woods at about two miles IRON the scene Of the
fight.
While the firing went on briskly che Com
handing General came up, and soon after Gen.
Mcclellan arrived upon the ground AND made
his headquarters ut u house behind the position
OF the battery.
At about ten A. M, after two hours sharp
firing, the enemy ceased entirely 10 respond not
it was thought, because his guns We're disabled
but because ouT rllemen had his position SO en-
+irplv Onrpr five th1t u,oa na Ib
Tor his men to be seen. Yet, after short in
,erval, he threw several shell toward where Il
body of our infantry was posted, but they fell
without effect.
General Mcclellan at this time went down to
the battery and was received with great enthu-
sasm. lie congratulated the Captain upon his
accurate fire, and complmented the battery as
" one that could be relied upon"
Two or three men had been wounded among
our skirmishers, and the battery had lost in
killed and wounded seven men. When our
gnns took their first position the enemy had the
exact range, and in three shots cleared gun No.
of all but sergeant and corporal. Three
men were killed and four wounded at this place.
Though the two rebel batteries which had
thus tar been active, were now virtually :. ST.
fenced, no one as we have suggested, deemed
that they were permanently SO and tappeared
to be well enough understood that the enemy $
game was to play" possum " and draw US on.
Yet it was now deemed necessary to know with
some degree Of certainty the enemy's force at
this point and his disposition to fight. Upon
consultation between General Mcclellan and
two division commanders, it was therefore de,
termned to make a more decided demonstration
Of attack, and accordingly, between three and
: four P. NJ, three batteries were ordered forward
into the open field, and opened fire at about five
hundred yards. This again woke the enemy up
and he responded warmly TER twenty minutes
and then once more lapsed into silence. MOI
deceived by this, our batteries continued to play
t upon his position for some minutes longer, wher
word was brought TO the General OF the Yer
: mont brigade that the creek was easily fordabl,
: ut soma distance to the right of our batteries
/ and Colonel Hyde, in command Of four compa.
MES OF the Vermont Third, who had skrmishel
: in advance of all others, was ordered to senS
8 two OF his companies across the creek ut TIN
n point where it was said to be only knee deep
: to advance them to the enemys LETT and charg
y the work in rear. He accordingly sent acros
Ii companies d and +, and supported them YER
t closely with companies b and X. Meanwhile
= our batteries became silent. Companies d AN
G were led by Lieut.. Wllttemore. No soone
n were they in The stream than the water wa
II found to be much deeper than had been stated
y the men went to their arnpits, and every charg
n OF their ammunition was OF course thorough
soaked. This attempt was made below the daI
e and it is possible that the enemy, when h
d saw this intention to cross, let IN more waite
IF by hoodgate than had been in the stream