Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1862-07-17
THE ORDER TO RETREAT.

1t was generally understood at DAYLIGHT on
Saturday that the army was to evacuate its line
Of entertainments. To do this with the reouis-
ite precipitancy, it was necessary to move only
the most essential baggage, and leave behind
everything that was ponderous or bulky. The
officers were given to understand that they
must discriminate between necessaries and lux
ures, and the sick were told that ambuances
could be granted to very few, if any. The
wounded were told nothing but the silence
was ominous TO them as it foretod being left
on contested ground in the hands of heartless
traitors, while the army should be receding,
column by column. toward the remote and
doubtful James.
The scene on that memorable Saturday morn
ing can never be forgotten-White House re-
signed, our supply depot cut off, part OF our
line of earthworks deserted and the army
grouped tentless and expectant in the open field,
sleeping after the labors of the battle. Hun
dreds of soldiers were limplg hither and
thither, their arms in slings, asking for their
regiments Hundreds of others started upon
painful and almost hopeless pilgrimages to the
James, where they fondly believed the Union
gunboats TO be, and felt that under their watch
tul ports there would be rest, safety and shell
ter. The long lines of ievered, staggering peo-
pie struck out for the river and many a drop
of blood spattered the sand as they filed
through brook and wood, over hill and dale,
neryed by the certainty that every football en-
sued more directly their deliverance. Some of
the wounded hobbled ten miles the first day
upon crutches, and we saw one man with ball
through his hip aud the other ankle broken
that kept up with an ammunition wagon through
eleven hours. The ambulances were crowded
with men, until the springs were bent fiat upon
the axles and very common matter to see
was several wounded men sitting in the tail OF
the wagon with bloody feet dripping upon the
steps.
By three o'clock in the morning the rebel
prisoners had been marched off by Major Will
lard, the teams at headquarters were on their
way, and before five o'clock the General and
suit were in the saddle, dashing across the open
country, turning for a moment their ewes from
Richmond to fix them again more tenaciously
upon another and better standpoint We left
a large number of wounded in the hospital at
Savages Station, perhaps thousand and more
IN all, and these soon experienced second time
the bloody greeting of the enemy.
THE BATTLE OF PEACH ORCHARD.
At daylight on Sunday our whole line of
earthworks had been deserted, and our artillery
removed mile to the rear Here it was judi
ciously disposed, the batteries masked, and the
infantry covered by thcknesses of woods. The
spot was part of the battle ground of Fair
Oaks, but is is designated as Peach Orchard
Station.
At daylight the enemy came eastward on the
Williamsburg road, one one column advancing
down the railroad. They opened from two
batteries on the left ; but their firing was awk-
ward and ineffective, as likewise their musketry,
which was close and might have been more Sc.
rious. When they reached line of march,
about three hundred yards from our front. the
whole terrible fire OF our cannon burst upon
them They staggered, but before the full ef-
feet of our discharge was discernble the pieces
rang again and their columns were fearfully
Ihinned.
For half hour our fire was so close that it
seemed the perpetual echo of a single deafening
report--a continuous blaze of flame and bali
20 which the Confederates replied feebly, but
Continued on Fourth Page.)