davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-04-18
YORKTOWN.

All eyes are anxiously turned towards this
place. Vermont troops are in the adv ance
there, and Eermonts heart is with them
FROM all the accounts that We see We Judge
the enemy's position there to be very strong,
and they are daily making it more difficult
for our forces to take it. The rebels have
fortified the whole width of the peninsula
from the York to the James river. They
have direct and constant communication with
Richmond from which place they have drawn
large reinforcements, until now their force is
,'said to be" 100000. 1t seems that by dam
ming up the river the rebels have been ena-
bled to overflow large tract about York
town, making it extremely diffieu for our
army to get their artillery and cavalry over
the naturally marshy ground. We believe
all these obstacles are being gradually over
come, and the siege of Yorktown will soon
commence in earnest. Let us hope that Gen
Mcclellan and his splendid army will accom-
plsh this work, striking the rebels in Virgin
Ia death blow, and indicating himself
and his army from the censure that has so
perslstently been heaped upon them.
A letter upon the first page, from our cor
respondent with the Vermont Brigade near
Yorktown, will be read with interest.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-04-18
The Snow and the Season.

Never was there greater error than the
common persuasion that when there is {
great depth Of snow in the country it will be
followed by disastrous freshets.
The depth of snow the present season ha,
been unprecedented, but We shall have no in
furious freshet. The great depth of snow
has prevented the ground from freezing. and
the earth in turn is now imparting warmth tc
the lower strata of the snow. and a. if mel,s
the water is mostly absorbed. The snow is
fast decreasing in depth, and in many places
disappearing, where but recently it was seen
in great quantities. But the streams are no,
swollen. The snow will be insensibly re.
moved by absorption and evaporation, and
no doubt the season will open in usual time
and be unusually fruitful. N.Y..
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-04-18
Briefs.

Frank Pierce the ex-presidenD denies be-
ing connected with the Knights of the Gold.
en- Circle, and indites sharp letter to Nh
Seward, which William receives with becom-
ing meekness.
DIR Russell of the London Times has gone
home in disgust. He was not allowed to &c
to Fortress Monroe to chronicle the events
Of our army in Virginia, and he packed up
his traps and and sailed in the China. Nc
more misrepresentation of our affairs BY thi,
man from this side of the water.
John Brown, jr., in letter to The Pine
and Palm, says: ave have thus far, as a re.
giment, succeeded in freeing 100 slaves be-
longing to rebels in Missouri"
A poem by the lamented Gen Lander vii
appear in the May Atlantic.
George Peabody, the American merchan,
in London, has presented the 'poor of Lon
don" with the munifcent donation of 40,
OOOl (SljO,OoO) The magnitude and spIen.
dor Of the gift quite bewilder the Londoners
and will make the generous donor forever
held in high esteem by the civilized world.
Theodore Frelinghuysen. candidate fol
vice president in A, and president of the
American Bible Society, died at New Bruins
wick. y. j.. Saturday.
Gov Hobrook has telegraphed to the wal
department, that the most eminent surgeon:
of the state will proceed to Yorktown, if de-
sired, to render their services in case event.
require the same, with no expense to the gov.
eminent excepting transportation to and
from.
John Ericsson was born in Sweden in
1903. and emigra,ed to this country in
1889.
Major General Sisel has been compelled
TO leave his commarl ID in the southwest for {
short time, on acco unit of i'll health. 1t is tC
be hoped that he will soon be able to resume
his command. We cannot afford to spare
him Just now.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-04-18
The Rebel Atrocities at Bull RIM.

The committee on tie conduct of the wa,
have completed their examination of witness.
es in regard to the alleged atrocities of the
rebels at Bull Run, and will this week make
personal inspection at that place, and soon
thereafter present their report. Members Of
the committee say it is true, according TO The
testimony of Gov Sprague and many Others
that in some cases the graves which contain
ed the bodies Of our soldiers we're opened
anu the bones of the dead carried off. to he
USED as trinkets and trophies for secession
ladies to append to their guard-chains, &c
while skulls were used for drinking Guns.
Those of our dead inferred by them were
placed with their faces downward, and in re.
peated instances buried one across another
The harbari,ies in respect to our dead are
not. it is further said BY the same authority
exceeded by anything in the history of the
last four thousand years, the details being
savage practices.
The committee under The resolution of in
curry are receiving testimony from Pea
Ridge showing ineontestibly that there our
dead were not only scalped by the rebels In
dian allies, but in other respects outraged,
the brains of the wounded, too, being beaten
out by clubs, thus confirming the previous
newspaper reports.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-04-18

We endeavor this week to give a full, con-
nected, though somewhat condensed account
of the battle at Pittsburg. 1t will well pay
careful reading by all our readers who do not
see the dalies.
For late news We have the report of the
fall of Fort Pulaski, situated at the mouth of
the Savannah river, only eighteen miles from
the city of Savannah, Ga. This city will now
fall into our hands, as the river is navigable
for gunboats. Fort Pulaski was one of the
strongest and best forts in the United states.
One of the best items of news the present
week is that from Gen Mitchell, who
by forced march has taken Hunts
vile, Alabama, and now has possession of
one hundred miles Of the Memphis and
Charleston railroad. The rebels at Corinth
are now pretty efectually hemmed in without
a chance for many reinforcements from anv
quarter.
1t is quite probable that there will be an
other battle at or near Corinth. The rebels
have retreated behind their Notifications and
will doubtless make desperate stand there
but the pluck must be pretty we'll out of
them by this time, and We feel confident of
ultimate success there.
The Merrlmac came out on Friday and
captured three small vessels in the Roads,
exchanged shots with the Monitor, and re-
tired to her hole at Craney Island, where she
apparently went aground She is undoubt-
edly somewhat afraid of the Monitor. and we
are not without apprehens:ons as to the dam
age she is yet able to do us. Her holding
off however is favorable.
The bill for the emancipation of slaves in
the District of Columbia has passed both
houses of Congress and needs only the presi-
dents signature to become law The coun-
try is moving towards civilization.
Gen Grants official report of the battle of
Plttsburg puts our killed at 1900 and woun-
lied at 3,500-a total of killed and wounded
of 5000.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-04-18

ordered not to bring on an engagement, con.
sequently he sent out no corresponding force
to meet them. The rebels remained in this
position until Sunday morning. They served
as screen behind which Gen Beauregard
formed his troops into line of battle undis-
covered. He intended to make his attack
two days previously, but extraordinary rains
delayed his arrival. Had the attack been
made at the time intended, Gen Buell. could
not possibly have reached there in time to
save US from defeat.
THE ATTACK COMMENCED-COwARDIC
When the attack was first made, the 53d,
18th, list and 18th Ohio regiments display
ed inexcusable ineficiency. The latter fled
without firing gun; the others fired one or
two rounds and then fed. Cowardice i
These regiments left the point undefended,
and the enemy Immediately closed in and
surrounded the more advanced regiments
1t is also stated that the 18th Wisconsin and
the 10th Iowa fled after firing two or three
rounds.
The Chicago Tribune's reporter from Pitts
burg Landing furnishes the following: Tay-
lor's and Warehouses; batteries, supported
by the Odd Illinois, nth and sd Ohio regi-
ments, were first in the fight on Sunday
Both the Ohio regiments ran,-the nth with
out firing gun,-leaving Warehouses; bat
terry without support. Still he fought half an
hour, retiring with three guns, but wounded
in the thigh with MIME ball. His battery
is badly cut up. Taylor's battery continued
to fight, supported splendidly by the Illinois
regiment, until he and his support were out
tianked On both sides. Then they retired
through cross fire with one man killed and
Il wounded.
FLUCTUATIONS OF VICTORY.
Meantime Water house, with three guns,
took up second position, supported by the
I'd brigade of Netherlands division under
Col Marsh. During Sunday forenoon they
were compelled to retire through their own
encampment with heavy loss into some woods
where they formed second line of battle
An advance was ordered and then commenced
the most fiercely contested engagements of
the day, resulting in the repulse of the enc
my who were driven back through our en-
campments. AT this point the enemy receiv-
ed reinforcements, and our ammunition being
out, Col Marsh ordered the troops to give
place to another brigade; but they were how
ever compelled to retreat within half mile
of the river
OUR GUNBOATS "PITCH IN."-AN ARTILLERY
DUEL.
At this moment the gunboats opened with
shells, throwing them over the heads of our
men, and covered the ground in every drec-
ton with rebel corpses. Taylor's battery a.
gain took position and opened on the rebel
battery only 800 yards distant, and spen-
did artillery duel took place. The rebel bat
terry was slenced and their caisson blown up.
Iaylor's battery was then ordered into the
RESERVE
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-04-18
Another and Full Account.

The Gazette's Pittsburg Tenn, correspond
ent says the sum and substance of the battle
is
On Sunday we were pushed from disaster
to disaster till we had lost every division
camp we had, and were driven within half &
mile of the landing, when the approach of
night the timely aid of the gunboats, the tire
approach, saved us.
On Monday, after nine hours hard fight.
ing, we simply regained what we had lost on
Sunday.
Not division advanced half mile be-
You'd our old camps on Monday, except Gen
Lew. Wallace's. The lowest estimates Mace
our loss in killed and wounded at $500 and
in prisoners 5000 to 1000.
The rebel loss in killed and wounded ;s
probably 1000 heavier.
The rebels in their retreat left acres cover.
ed with their dead, whom they had carried
to the rear. They also destroyed the heavy
supplies they had brought up.
The correspondent Oft the Cincinnati Times
who was in the battle, gives the following
description of the field after the fght:-
A visit to the field Immediately after the
retreat of the rebels and the pursuit of our
forces exhibited spectacle seldom to be wit.
messed, and mos: horrible to contemplate
The first approaches occupying the further
range of the enemy's guns showed at the
first glance the work of devastation made by
those balls and shells which had overshot tie
mark. Large trees were entirely cut off
within ten feet Of the ground, heavy limbs
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-04-18
The vermont Historical Magazine.

We have received from Miss Hemenway
the number Of this work containing the first
part of Caledonia county. Our county is not
completed in one number; but the present
one contains the county chapter, and the
town histories, alphabetically arranged, from
Barnet to Lyndon, inclusive. From hasty
perusal of the present number we are free to
admit that we were agreeably surprised at
the interest and completeness of these town
histories. The county chapter by Rev MIR
Goodwillie of Barnet is filled with valuable
historical information, put in an entertaining
and readable form. No resident of this coun-
ty at least can afford to be without the pres
ent number
By letter from Miss Hemenway We are
mortified to learn that although the Caledo-
mia number is completed by the printers, she
can only procure fifty copies until the print
ing bill is Cancelled. There are 5000 yet
needed to cancel Indebtedness before this
work can be distributed. Here is valua-
BILE state, county and town history, written by
the best talent in the state, free Of charge :
compiled and edited for the same price, got
up in the best style of the art typographical,
and the citizens of the state do not care E.
nough for it to pay for the printing! That
will not sound we'll fifty years hence. 1t is
printed the size and style of the Atlantic and
Harper, and is furnished at the same price,
and is worth more to Vermonters than any
magazine published. We will take and for
ward subscriptions at this Office until some
permanent arrangement is made, for we know
our people want this work.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-04-18
FORT PULASKI SURRENDERED.
Terrible Effects Of Our Fire.
REBEL ACCOUNT OF HE srRRENIER.

REBEL ACCOUNT OF HE SCRRfNlfR-
A flag of truce from Craney Island 10 For
tress Monroe. on Monday, brought Norf,.k
papers, which were taken TO headquarters,
and every effort made 10 keep the good news
Of the fall Of Pulaski from the representa-
tires of the press The Baltimore America,
however. succeeded in cleaning the fellow
ing-it being sedulously kept from the reg
uiar reporter Of the associated press The
Savannah Republican SAYS in substance iha;
it learns with deep regret that, after a g.
liant defense against superior guns. Fort Pu-
laski surrendered al , o'clock Of the after
noon of the llth, Corporal Law, of the Pa
laski Guards, who left Fort Thunderbolt Il
ter Pulaskis flag was hauled down, brings
intelligence of the event. The surrender
was unconditional Seven large breaches
were made in the south wall hy The
federal battery of light PARROT guns
at Kings Landing. All the barhet,e
guns on that side were dismounted; also
three classmates, leaving only one gun bear
ing on that point. Three balls entered 1he
magazine, and clean breach was made II l.
The conical balls of those PARROT guns went
clean through the walls, al nearly every t;rc-
Coi Olmstead trlegraphed the previous
evening that no human being could STAN
upon the ramparts single moment, and that
thousand large shells had exploded within
the fort The Republican gives no pariic2-
lars as TO the numb.r Of men and officers Il
the fort at the time Of the surrender, but SAYS
none were killed and but four wounded.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-04-18
THE MERRIMAC OFT AGAIN.
Three Federal Vessels Seized.

The return Of pleasant weather, on Frital
morning, brought out the Nerrimae, as ",
generally expected. The alarm gun Was IL
ed at 30, and the docks, beach and rar-
parts of Fortress Monroe were crowded w..l
spectators. The Meirimae, after showing
herself beyond Sewell's Point. soon t2rrr.
towards the James river, followed br TT
jamestown, Yorktown, Raleigh and Tear.
Arriving at point midway between Sewc...'>
Point and Newport News and near the Fr,uCa
vessels Gassendi and Catinet and the Eng
fish vessel Rinaldo, the whole feet stopped.
, while the jamestown, followed al some Dis
lance bv the Yorktown and a small tug, coz
iinued on her course. Her intention was no.
al first perceived, but as she came arourG
leaving Newport News on her left. Il Wa
seen that her object was 10 capture two brig,
and a schooner snchored near the shore. =
bout two miles from the point. This WAS
done without the slightest difficulty, and Wit
the assistance Of the tug the three prizes Rrrt
taken off under the rebel flag. The affair oc-
cupied less than half an hour. when the
jamestown, having rejoined the fleet. towel
the prizes TO Craney Island. Alarmed :,
this bold dash. number of schooners in Tx
upper harbor sailed.
THE CAPTURED VESSELS AND CREW,.
The brigs captured are tie Sabhao Of rro-
violence, X. l., and the Marcus Of Stockton
Me-, tie former loaded with hay on priya.e
account, and the latter chartered BY govern
ment, but unloaded. Their captains ESCAPED
in small boats, with four of the crew Of Tire
Marcus. Two men were left on board tie
latter, SIX on the former, who made no etfoI-
TO escape. The name of the schooner CAP
tured was the Emily, from Washington. WIN
suffers stores. The crew of the vessel
were also captured. The captured vessels
had been ordered Thursday night to move
down the harbor for safety. The Schooner
Harmony, used as water boat by govern
ment contractors, was lying alongside Of one
Of the French vessels of war and taken under
the protection of the French flag, and thus
escaped capture.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-04-18
The Strength Of the Rebels n, you,

There can be no doubt that the rs,,,
very strong at Yorktown, both in No. NJ az
and numbers. One of the army corr rs'oa
dents writes: i'4-
There is no Disgusting the far, ,},...
enemy's position is, both by mature a,I L.
very strong. The York river Is ,,,,, ~ ar,
as 10 overflow what was already ;.
Every reconnaissance develops new f,a,, ,,-.N-
and residents with retel tendencies -
an army which should carry the e.. "a
would have to deal with second, r;n -, lie
formidable, beyond. An inference a~ ~ re
strength of the rebel works ba]5 80 ~ r.
drawn from that of those abandoned ~ '-
Notifications at Ship Point, whittier oI,- - 80
plies are now brought, mounts bur -
guns, but is constructed with aapir.l,,,' Is.
gineerirg skill, and in many respects !. ~ =
complete in Ifs appointments than an, s.
works about Washington. The loy b,,,.
which the men were lodged. and wb'r5 -. :
left untouched, as though the rebels evil
to reoccupy them, are better habita,jon. =.
those on many western farm. Tb.,,---
whitewashed, and have doors and gla>, -.
dows. The other works and er.,r,,.,.
camps which the rebels occupied are ti,gr,.
terized as of similar excellence. And 81
lieved that the works which they occurr -,
even more formidable. A recent risi,or..
Manassas SAYS that the rebels have ys,,' -
proved their position over what :, Mas.
that place.
"The main work so far has BEEN 6o-.;.
one or two batteries of light ARTILLERY a.
Berdan's sharpshooters. III la.r,r ~.
doing wonders. When they first c,,r.
within range, the rebels were in The l.l-. -.
insolently dancing upon The top ID. -
intrenchments, with jeers and urr-r,.,
antics, but it was soon found out that e,.,,
man so amusing himself received rife irr
LET from an unseen marksman. The rprr--,
also soon discovered that it WIS u,x;>.
expose themselves. and now every r,,, :,
protected. But 80 of our men have be-
killed since the commencement of the >;e,.
The loss of the enemy is of course unkaow,
but is probably greater"
( Another writer says: at is now re,,e-
nine months since the rebels began L. fay-r
the York peninsula. General Nayradr-
elated by the success at Great Betbel IA,
prided himselfon opposing asuccesSful l2-.
rier TO any force that might move asa;ns, y,
lines. Mill ponds, swamps and canals i.a,,
been made serviceable as defen>es. and ~
the earthworks are the guns 80 abundar, 4,
the Norfolk navy yard. The country be.oyr
these entertainments is now wa,er-soak,l
and almost impossible for the artillery. upon
which We must rely for the reduction Of t6,~e
Notifications. 1t is with difficulty that -
horses can pull the light rifed pieces
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-04-18

e The correspondent of ,hs Burlingtoa
Tunes says that the Vermont Cavalry Reg
ment is now at Harper's Ferry of Their
quarters, he says:
"on our arrival, We found the village near
" deserted, a few poor families REMAINING,
Company A is mostly CHARTERED in two mod
ern and highly finished houses, costing 4:
least 5000 each. In the house where AZ
writing, the basement is used for culinary
purposes and horse-stans. The f-St foor,
up fight of eight steps, is appropriated for
the use CT the horses entirely: some thirty
are stabbed on this floor. Nv horse with
four Others is in the front parlor, which is
highly finished. Our horses hardly know
how to account for the change between on
poles and straw stables last used and these.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-04-18

u Col Joseph ID. Webster. chic. of the
staff of General Grant, and whose conduct at
Pi;isburg is favorably spoken of in some &C
counts of the bloody conflict, is New Hamp-
shire man, born in the town of Hampton,
and graduate of Dartmouth College. He
studied law in the Office of Daniel Webster.
q Col. Smalley, of the 9th VT. had q
narrow escape in recent skirmish near
Yorktown. A rebel musket bal PASSED 50
close to his head as to cause the HOOD 20
start from his ears by the conclusion. the
same ball striking in the left shoulder and
wounding severely private Brady. of Co. G.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-04-18

VI TROOPS AT SHIP IsIAND.-Walton's
Journal of Saturday says:
"A private letter received in this place
from member of the I'd Vermont battery,
GATED March 20. states that they had arrived
at oh lp Island, after voyage Of thirty-two
days, from Boston. The island is low and
san dy, seven miles long and one mile wide,
no grass and but few trees. The weather
v, as fine and warm as September day in
We rmont."
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-04-18

HARPERS WEEKLY for April 10 has &
splendid anniversary picture in which Fort
Sumter is seen in the foreground, with the
National capital in the distance, and inter
venins space filled with the loyal men of the
North rushing to the rescue, each difFeren,
state bearing their respective banners. There
is no better record of the war than i. furnish.
ed by these best pictorial papers.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-04-18

g We believe in gunboats. Two gun
boats saved our army at Pittsburg; and if
that iron monster Merrimac was only sunk
what would prevent our vessels cooperating
with Gen McClellan's army in the siege of
Yorktown.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-04-18

u The new passenger railroad station at
White River junction is completed ard now
open to the public. 1t was planned by Mr.
Slloway of Boston, of State House notoriety,
and is pronounced an elegant and convenient
building. The telegraph and post offices are
in this building.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-04-18

u 1t was the brave western troops that
conquered at Pittsburg. Many of the regi-
ments so cut up in that terrific fight on Sun
day against such odds were men who had
just escaped the fire at forts Henry and DON
eson. All honor to the brave men of the
west; when the history of this strife is writ
ten their deeds will occupy large space in
its pages.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-04-18

n The battle of Pittsburg was the first
time in the history of this war that the rebels
have made an attack in an open, field fight.
There were no breastworks for either army
to screen themselves behind. 1t was a fair
tght-3S,OOO against $4,000. We like to
give the devil his due,an1 will credit the reb-
els with having once come out in an open.
fair fight.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-04-18

NEW MCSIC.--Mr Root has sent US two
pieces of music; one the beautiful Rose.
music by Henry c. Work; the other, .Gen
Grants March," dedicated to the brave men
who captured Fort Donelson, for which we
acknowledge our Indebtedness to the publish
ers, Messrs Root & Cady, 81 Clark street,
Chicago.
The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-04-18
HOW THE SURPRISE HAppExrn

The Chicago Times special says the 70.
sponslbility of the surprise rests with The
commanding officer. On Friday a laroe
force Ct rebel cavalry appeared within sigb,
OF our lines and remained there: but Gen
Sherman, who directed the advance, had been