The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-10-02
General Hooker's Report Of the Battle Of
WiIliamsburgh.

Heint1leman's corps OF the battle OF Williams
ourgn, has ust beer published. Hooker's brig
ade vas in the advance, at his request, and first
cam W TO the enemys entertainments. OF these,
the export speaks as follows
The first work that presented itself was Fort
Masguder, and TINS was standing at the junction
q the Yorktown and Hampton roads, and on
each side OF 1t was Gordon of redOubs extending
as far as conId be seen. Subsequently | found
thei. number TO oe thirteen, and extending entire
Is across the penipsula-the right and left of
inen4 resting on the waters of the York and
James river. Approaching them from the South,
they are concealed by heavy forest until the OBJ
server i within less than mile OF their locality
Where the fores, had been standing nearer than
this distance The trees had been telled, in order
tina, The occupants of the redoubts might have
timey notice of The approach of an enemy, and
early s.rike him with artillery The trees had
nee. icileG . - manner on both 81 DIES OF the
road Cd which We had advanced for breadth of
almost bali mile, and the same was the case on
Ike Yorktown road. Between the edge Of the
fele,. timber and The fort WIGS belt OF clear, ara-
Die 44,ld, 600, or zoo yards in width. This was
dotted al over with rifle pits.
IL connection with the redouO,s themselves,
may be permitted 10 state, tha. found them
stanG.1s near the eastern and southern verge OF a
slightly elevated plain the slopes Of which were
urrc wed with widening ravlnes, with an almost
boualless gently undulating plain, reaching
across the peninsula and extending to the north
aul cas-; as lar rs the eye can reach. The lands
cap. ! highly picturesque and not little height
eneG oy the large trees and venerable spires Of
WiiIansburrh, two miles distant.
Fort NAgruder aprears TO DC the largest OF the
reao4ots-ts crest measuring nearly halt Il mile,
with substantial parlpets, bitches, magazines etc.
This vas located Il command the Yorktown and
Ham pton Roads, and the redoubts in its vicinity
to command the ravines, which the guns OF Fort
MsSrQder could not sweep,
Being in pursuit OF aretreating army, deemed
il m, duty to lose no time 10 making the dis
post on Of my forces 10 attack regardless OF their
cumberland position, except to accomplish the re-
sui, Silh the least possible sacrifice Of life. By
SO doing. my Division, it it did not capture the
army before me, would at leas, hold them, in Or
der mat sop.e other. might.
Besides, anew OF the presence o! more than
10000 troops not two miles distant from me,
and that within twelve miles -four hours march)
was the bulk Of the army OF the Potomac. My
OWL position was tenabi4 for double that length
o. time against three times my number
After describing the disposition OF bis troops
ant the lighting up to nearly noon, the report
continues:
From the carries, moment OF the attack, it was
Al object .! deep licilude to establish u connec-
ton with the troops in my immediate neighbar-
nooa on The Yorktown road, and as that had been
,1cb and M sIu ~ thpIY a6
yAno., at 1120 A. NJ, addressed the subjoned
nost 70 the Assistant AdjutanlG General Third
Cogps, under the impression that his Chief was
still there. 1t is as follows: | have had hard
con est all the morning, but do not despair of sue.
cess. Nv men are hard at work, but good deal
exhausted /: is reported to me that my COM
muL.cation wit, you by the Yorktown road is
cleo: Of the enemy. Batteries, cavalry and in
faDtyy can take pos; by the side of mine to whip
III. -nemv." This found Gen. Hentzleman alb
sem, but it was returned opened and on the en-
ve!opg indorsed Opened and read" by The
sen:o. officer on that field. A cavalry man took
ov9I the note, nd returned with it, by the York.
tow. road, after an absence Of twenty minutes.
r. return, il was now after ! o'clock, aud the
batt.t mad swollen into one OF gigantic proper
tons. The left had been reinforced with the
Sev9nty-thrG and Seventy. fourth New York Reg
lne..s-tbe only remaining ones Of my reserve
under Col. Taylor, and all were engaged; yet its
;ortLnes would ebb and flow despite the most de-
ternned courage and valor of my devoted officers
and men. Three times the enemy approached
within eighty yards Of the road which was the
centre Of M operations, and as often were they
throSn back with violence and slaughter. Every
time his advance was made with fresh troops, and
cdc succeeding one seemed to be in greater force
and determination.
Again The enemy loere reinforced by the arriva
81 Lonas,reet's division. His troops had passed
through Wllamsburgh, on their retreat from
Yorktown, and were recalled to strengthen the
rebs. forces before Wamsburgh. No sooner
mac they joined, than it was known that they
wer. again moving to drive in our left; after 4
violent and protracted struggle they were agar
repulse1 with great loss.
Between and 5 o'clock, Gen. Kearnsy, witt
I'll lis characteristic gallantry, arrived on the
ground a, the head Of his division. and after hav
ing secured their positions, my division was with
draw from the contest, and held as reserve un
I'll dark, when the battle ended, after prolonged
ard severe conflict against three times my number