Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1862-05-02
From the Sixth Regiment.
NEAR YORKTOWN, Va. April 20.

FRIEND EARLE.-Many and varied
are the scenes through which the army
of the Potomac has passed since March
10, the time we bid adieu to Camp Grit
fin. and took up our line of march to-
ward the enemy's front. AS l write, |
will speak more particularly of the Yer
mont brigade, for It's that and its welfare
that most dearly interests Vermonters !;
but time will not allow me to go into de-
tail, and should |, it would run letter OF
decent length into long and tiresome
thing. We embarked at Alexandria on
the 23d day of March for some Southern
and then unknown port. Near night we
weighed anchor and the next Tuesday
morning we disembarked at Hampton
passed many places of note, Fort Wash
ington, Mount Vernon, Fortress Monroe,
&C., &c. If there is place that is i'm
pregnable, It's Fortress Monroe. In the
waters in front of the fort lay many
transport boats, schooners, &c, and a.
mong them l beheld the Monitor, very
unassuming little creature, yet powerful
it is. Hampton, though once beauti-
full and fourishing town, is now but
city Of ruins only naked chimneys and
crumbling walls are left to greet the sol
der as he marches through its desolated
streets. Marching about two miles from
Hampton, we encamped Thursday,
/ a reconnaissance toward Big Bethel, and
the next day returned and pitched tents
near Newport News and the James riv-
er. While there | visited the News, and
saw the relics of inhuman butchery, the
wrecks of the Congress and Cumberland.
Down upon the left lay the Congress,
burned to the waters edge, while in front
four hundred yards from there, was the
Cumberland, with only its masts above
water. With them, many noble fellows
went down, contending for the right, TO
rise only when the sea shall give up its
dead. must hasten on: Leaving our
camp near the river, April 4, we took
up a permanent march toward the enc
my; as we advanced, they fled from
Young's Mills, leaving their barracks I'M
injured, which we occupied that night -
The next day our march was more cau-
tious, as we came nearer upon hostile
forces. We have found the enemy TO
have a line of eartbworks, commanding
each other, from Yorktown across the
peninsula to James river.
We have met them,-the siege has
commenced, which will probably be a
long one, and continued cannonading and
skirmishing is kept up along the line
From the first of our coming in here
until Monday noon--tbirty-six hours
our regiment supported Capt Oyer's
battery, while shelling one of the enemys
forts, and exposed to the fire from the
enemy, but fortunately none of us at
that time were injured. Our division
was then relieved by another, and we
we're marched back to the rear to rest.
During the time we lay back fatigue
parties we're out every day, building cor
duroy road, for the transportation of
supplies, and more particularly big siege
guns and mortars, preparatory for gen.
eral attack.
Last Wednesday, the 10th, was an
eventlul day to the Vermont boys. Our
brigade being in advance, we were
brought up before one of the enemy's
forts. In the morning our regiment sup
ported Capt. Motifs battery, while play
ed upon the rebels. Ia the afternoon a
charge was made upon the enemy's
works. The 4th regiment were in line
in front of the fort, and did not suffer
much, only two killed. The 3rd made
gallant charge upon rifle pit,through the
water to their armpits, drove the enemy :;
but for want of support fell back. The
official report of their loss was % killed,
81 wounded, and 8 missing, Others
have since died. Four comparatively,
E, f, and K-were the principal suffer-
ers. At nearly dark our regiment was
ordered to make a charge upon their
breastworks. Our men, holding their
cartridge boxes upon their shoulders to
keep them dry, marched noby through
the creek upon the enemy, through wa
ter nearly fifteen rods wide and in the
center four feet deep. As we came upon
the opposite bank the enemy poured a
perfect shower of bullets upon Us from
their rife pits, and also in cross fire
from the fort killing and wounding many.
As soon as our critical position was seen
we we're ordered back. While there.
men never fought Drawer than did the
Green Mountain Boys of the Vermont
sixth. Our wounded were all carried