The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-05-06
THE SIEGE OF YORKTOWN.
Fight Near Lees MMS.--Splendid Bravery Of The
Green Mountain Boys.
Correspondence of the New York Tribune.

/
LEES Mills, Va, April II.
A reconnaissance was made about a
mile northeast Of Lees Mills yesterday,
which, in the severity of the fighting it
involved, may be properly ranked as a
battle.
AT 6d o'clock companies B, +, d, and
K, Of the Sd Vermont began the work as
skirmishers, Motifs Battery supporting
them with very accurate fire of shot
and shell. The Vermonters skirmished
until noon, when they were relieved.
Their fire had been very accurate. The
rebel braggarts, who began dancing on
their ramparts, and swinging their hats,
and defying our troops in the customary
Southern military fashion, were dropped
so rapidly by the sharpshooters as to be
soon cured of this style of warfare. The
four companies of the Sd laid down after
dinner and thoroughly rested themselves.
At 4 o'clock in the afternoon they were
called up, formed into line, and told by
their Colonel in pithy speech that the
work expected of them was to charge
across the creek and take the enemy's
intrenchments. Ayres' guns-all the
batteries, numbering 90 pieces, were
under the command of their accomplish
ed artillery officer, and covered the Yer
monters advance. They marched
steadily at the quick TO the edge of the
creek, and plunged in, on the run. The
water deepened Unexpectedly. The men
were soon wading to their breasts, their
cartridge boxes slung up on their shoul-
ders, and their muskets held up high.
The moment they entered the stream the
rebels swarmed on the edge of their rifle
pit and rained fire of bullets on the ad
vancing line. The stream, as damned,
was about twelve rods wide. The Yer
monters loaded and fired as they waded.
Their killed and wounded began to ali
from the instant of entering the water.
Many of the latter were sustained by
their arms and the collars Of their coats,
and so helped across and laid down on
the opposite side. The Sd, as soon as
they emerged and got foothold received
the order to "charge !" With a yell,
with true Green Mountain ring in it, they
dashed at their extended rifle pit. AT
! least regiment of rebels broke from
| behind it. and ran into the redoubt in
the rear, leaving the Vermonters in the
pit For at least an hour they fought
from here against overwhelming mum
bers, receiving reinforcements IN that
| time, first of four companies of the 9th,
Vermont, and afterwards of four compan.
les of the 4th Vermont. They shot their
foe principally through the head, and SO
superior was their fire, and their pluck
SO impressive, that the rebels moved two
additional regiments into the fort, and
into flanking position on the left of the
rifle pit. Exposed now 10 cross fire as
we'll as an increased fire in front, the
Vermonters, though they wanted to stay,
had to 60. In good order, covering
themselves behind trees, and fighting
as they went, they recrossed the stream,
carrying with them all their wounded
whose condition at all promised survival
of their hurts. Many were now shot in
the water, and drowned beyond all pos
sibility of help. The language of
Lamoille County boy, not l6 years old,
"Why, sir, it was just like sap boiling in
that stream-the bullets fell so thick"
is so expressive that use it as meas
ure of intensity. These brave men, hav
ing backed out of the deep water, formed
on dry land and began the fight anew,
while many, not detailed, but volunteer
ing through impulses of soldierly devo-
ton and personal affection, dashed into
the stream again and dragged out the
wounded. who were clinging TO the
trees, and sitting with their heads just
out of water. Julian A. Scott, of the
2d Vermont, Company L, under sixteen
years of age, was one of these heroes
He pulled out no less than nine of his
wounded comrades.
He twice went under fire away across
the stream, and brought back from the
slope of the rifle pit John c. Buckum, of
his own company, who was shot through
the lungs. Ephraim Brown, who was
helping him, was himself shot through
the thigh in the inside, and disabled
Scott waded back, like the boy-hero he
is, and brought him safely over.
~ WAS siSuI 10 coine al tue way
from New York TO see--the masterly
manner in which Captain Ayres saved
the 18th Vermont's four companies from
the fire of the rebels. wEo swarmed more
than regiment full in their rifle Pit.
The moment he saw them form for
charge, he rode to every gun and direct
ed it 10 be sighted 50 as to shave the top
Of the breastwork, and then. in the
magnetic manner which distinguishes
him in the field, required his command
to serve the twenty pieces with the
utmost possible rapidly, This fire was
/ literally a bosom Of destruction. The
shells burst within few inches Of the
top of the parapet and over it. TIE lth's
companies We're saved by il. The rebels
dared not lift themselves, or even elevate
their heads above the edge of their
breastwork to fire down on the Vermont,
ers in the creek. Their guns neoessari-
ly were discharged At an upward angle.
and their fire almost wholly thrown
away.
As an evidence OF the terrible accura-
cy of the fire of Ayres' battery, which
silenced every rebel gun, the effect OF
four Of his shots is very significant A