Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1862-06-03
GREEN MOUNTAIN FREEMAN JUNE 3, 1862.

When we first got there our two small field
pieces being well posted, had by Smelling, kept
the enemy at bay. We had seven companies of
infantry drawn up in line Of battle, and two
companies Of cavalry ready for a charg3. This
was all our force. The enemy soon got six
pieces OF artillery to bear on our iorceand drove
off our artillery. The cavalry then retreated
and the infantry brought up the rear, keeping
up running fight over the pike, across both
bridges, and the artillery took position on the
hill and peppered away finely. The bridge
was burned by cur infantry after passing, but
the enemy iordpI. Our cavalry undertook to
charge, but were repuls2d andoyer half OF them
killed or aiken prisoners. The cavalry then re-
treated, riding IN taelr pane over the infantry.
The infantry ut last took stand in the gorge be
tween the hIllS and fought until annlhilated,
hand TO hand all mixed up. ! did not see this
last hour Of the fight Lamb, Moore ana Slgcr
left for Winchester about fifteen minutes before
Macintosh AMI myself, but We overlook them
aud were about five miles away when our cayal
ry came gaIoping past crying q" Get out Of the
way the rebels are right upon US. We all
Jumped over stone wal on our left The other
/ lbui XIV VfCi IulNh|I buhh L bhu nav ldlh hpNu
in the tall wheat. got over and did the same
Our cavalry bad more than half their saddles
empty. ! crawled on my hands and knees Il
quarter Of a mile, clInging to my instrument all
the time Got to some woods, and made my
way along in the edge rs fast as possible towards
Winchester. After our cavalry passed all was
still for an hour, and made Up my mind that
the enemy had only come in 10 burn our bridges
and would not pursue us; | was going back 10
the pike when heard another troop Of cavalry
coming | lodged into the woods again. By
this tue it was quite dark.
The cavalry appeared to be about one compa
ny. They halted just opposite me, and plainly
heard the rebel officers giving commands /
tried to work away from pike, but it was too
dark and ! made SO much noise that ! was fear
lu OF attracting their attention. sat down
on log, hoping they would leave but there /
sat all night, hearing them laugh and talk.
towards morning It commenced raining. At4
clock. or jus, as soon as | could see o particle
SOFAS 20 step 81 no dry twlgs or leaves, ! started
agau It'd one Niger with me. who " llozs'
t. ne. scared hat % death, the night before.
! had u4t.ai o'crcJat " blankets, and nearly
lro1e was terrlay thirsty too. @ade my
way ID unuI came u the pix from strasburg
aua ie.i safe. wont immediately 10 " Winchester
! overlook about twenty stragglcrs ou the way
mostly s1lIi.I. Hhi escaped Ia The same manner
] die 6nly one Lad his musk 6. Ny four
friends have 81. been heard from siucs ! sass
them 30 Che Stone wall. vent 20 the tele-
graph oiure and reported the whole thing 70
Washington. i.isA, Brown, aud about q dozen
railroad man came IN an hour behIad me. A
quuteIAistar who als5 escaped. procured us u
wagon and wt 81 came dirty miles lo Martins
burg We vert furnished passenger err oa-
hind cn4. trlin aud ia I'D at SIX clock SAT-
utIdy might tor Wash g'on ,,a. Harper s Fer
Ty aud Blium0ge, AMI arrived IN Washington
sunday night. ! did the bcs, Of any in the
crowd ioI suli cluug ~ my instrument, weigh
iRg !irr az slX pounds. and 40 other one save.
anything The railroad men went 10 Alexan-
jrIa aad I won, % the War Department lold
Col Sager all about IT, he introduced me to
Secretary stanton, Secretary Seward. 81 Old
Abe, and hall dozen Generals aud big men
Ihgy closed the doors aud quest.one me half
hour about H. was tie hrsl arrival from tie
battle ground They thanked me and said they
were glad escaped, &c. Tue next morning
went To the Office gliu. Col Stagcr asked me
II | wanted TO 20 20 work again Eckhatt, As
.istan' Superintendent, told Duu that OF cour,e
DID / was not % be killed easy Stager asked
mcii bad any choice Of places. l said no 49,
he then proposed u nd ne TO tile arsenal in
Washington, bur didn't know as there would
be- business enough 10 suit the ana told him
thought not. he then ordered me to remain
al ,he War Department Office bat knowing that
ny salary would all g to pay expenses asked
to be Allowed 10 come here.