Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-04-25

brigade was engaged. IL seems that the at
tack was made on Wednesday morning, the
10th, and kept up briskly through the day.
when the Vermont boys slept on their arms
preparatory to a renewal Of tho attack on
Thursday morning; and it is not improbable
that they we're engaged in another attack, the
particulars Of which have not yet be re-
ceived. The following is the letter of the
He,old's correspondent;
HEADQUARTERS
FoUR1n Army CoRps,
WARWICK, c. H., April II, 1862. J
Attack on the Enemy's Position At Lee's Mills
Hsayy ARTILLERY Firing on Both Sides The
Enemy Routed at he Point Of the Bayone,
bg The Green Nominn Boys-Namss Of the
Killed and Wounded, dc. dc.
The Commanding General, on the night OF
the 18th, made further reconnaissance Of
| the cnemy's position to our extreme right,
and after full deliberation with the General
in-chef it was determined to attack the enc
my's position near TO the dam above Lees
Mill, and there to shell large working parties
that the enemy had out. and if circumstances
were favorable 60 push the attack and obtain
ioothold within the enomy's line.
Yesterday, at about eight O'Clock A. NJ,
/ therefore, one Of the Generals Of Division
threw out party. Of skirmishers from the
Fourth Vermont lof the Vermont brigade
near to the enemy's onc-gun battery, at the
point named, and also advanced a New York
battery. Opposite Tie cnemy's works at that
place there is considerable space clear of
large wood, but surrounded in every direction
fptuovAo 10 l..,
and overgtown with low shrubs and young
pine. Warwick Creek-from four to FIVE feet
deep and about twenty rods wide-separates
this field from the rebel battery. In the low
shrubs and young pine the Vermonters made
their way right up to the edge Of the stream,
and poured upon the enemy rain Of fife
shot that he soon found it impossible TO with
stand After n few moments Of this Ere not
man was to be seen within the enemy's
lines. Working parties, gunners, officers
with glasses all disappeared, and cover "
was the one thing 10 great demand High
praise is awarded TO The Vermont regiment
for their Workmanship and spirit.
Two pieces of the above mention battery
ten FOUNDER PARROTS, under Lieut.. Flynn
then took up position in the edge Of the
wood. at one thousand yards from the enc
my's line, and opened fire, when the enemy
bravely came up to the business and respond
ed with the large gun in bis one-gun battery,
and with two others in battety behind it.
Lieut. Stewart, with the second section of the
same battery--two twelve-pounder Napoleon
guns-was ordered up, as was also the left
section, under Lieutenant O'Donald. With
this reinforcement the fire became very heavy
between the artillery on both sides our Skin
mishers and numbers Of the enemy's Skin
mishers also blazed away whenever they saw
chance, and the fight promised to spread I'M
til it should become general a. along the
lines. Our fire was very accurate. Many of
our shells burst to a nicely at that very point
in their air-drawn line where it seemed they
could serve their dangerous purpose best
and the artllerymen roared with delight.
Meantime the remainder of the Vermont bri-
gade lay in the woods all around, in easy dis
lance to support the Fourth and another
brissde, under arms. lay il the field upon the
left. Three brigades had gone forward from
their camp at this point, and were held in the
woods at about two miles from the scene Of
the fight.
While the firing went on briskly the Com
handing General came up, and soon after
Gen. Mcclellan arrived upon the ground aud
hiANt ulo htdhlhhIACIh Ut u mouse DfnlnO the
position of the battery.
Al about ten a. m, after two hours sharp
firing, the enemy ceased entirely to respond.
not, it was thought, because his guns had
been disabled, but because our riheman had
his position so entirely under fire that it was
about certain death for his men to be seen. 49,
Yet, after short interval, he threw several
she'll toward where body of our infantry
nnufo1 h.f h.. f.1I .tI..
Gen. Mcclellan at this time went down to
the battery,an was received with great nthu-
siasm. He congratulated the Captain upon
bis accurate fire and complimented the Bate
ry as one that could be depended upon"
Two or three men had been wounded a
mong our skirmishers. and the battery had
lost IN killed and wounded seven men. When
our guns took their first position the enemy
had the exact range, and in three shots clear
ed gun No. of all but a sergeant aud cor
poral Three men were killed and four
wounded at this piece.
Though the two rebel batteries, which had
thus far been active, were now virtually "si-
fenced, no one, as we have suggested, deem
ed that they were permanently so; and it
appeared to be well enough understood that
the enemys game was to play "possum' and
draw us on. Yet it was now deemed neces-
sary to know with some degree OF certainty
the enemy's force at this point and his dispo-
sitlon to fight. Upon consultation between
Gen. Mcclellan and two division commanders
it was, therefore, determined to make a more
decided demonstration of atttck. and accord
ingly, between three and four p. NJ, three
batteries were ordered forward into the open
field, and opened FIRE at about five hundred
do - /. 81.