Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1862-04-18
The Battle Of Yorktown.

The battle at Yorktown, which was only
intended by our forces as Reconnaissance,
took place on Saturday the 9th inst. The
action commenced at Q a. m, under Gen.
eral Porter, who had the command OF the
right wing. First Of all, Col Berdan's
Sharp-shuoters,, belonging to the division.
'advahced as skirmishers, 10 clear the woods
an reronnoi,er, the troops supporting them.
Those deployed to the right and the left
plungins In the bushes and availiEg them.
selves OF any stone, tree, or log that might
afford shelter. Companies A and G we're
on the extreme right, before Che 9th Massa.
chusette Battery Companies G and Z, aud
part Of F, distributed along the fence on
the left; Companies b and II acted as
reserve. Over thrceaquarters Of mile
was thus entirely covered by the Sharp.
shooters. Bnt for their admirable pluck,
skill, and adroitness, our troops would have
been exposed to murderous FIRE from
every tree and thicket In front Of the Rebel
intrenchments.
Col. II. Berdan and DR.. Smelling (Sur4
geon Of the Rgiment, now deservedly pro-
NOTED TO the Brigade Surgeonship) fol-
lowed by three orderlies, had ridden 10 the
horizontal belt Of woods exhibited in the
map, when the first Rebel shot came whiz.
zing over their heads, another compelled
them TO 81 ek cover in the bushes. There
they remained until the men were fairly
deployed, the shot and shell playing fast and
furiousy about them the sharp-shooters
lying on their siomachs and progressing rep
ptile-fashioa to every favorable point for
assailing the enemy. Twenty minutes sub
sequent the 9th Massachusetts,, under
Capt. Allen, came up, and turning to the
right went to work vigorously on the bat
terry fronting them. The ambulances,
meantime, under Cover Of the woods, await
ed their ghastly freight, and did not wait
long
The shelling Of the Rebel battery on the
right continued for three-quarters Of an
hour, when another opened upon US, and
, from thenceforth a continuous fire was kept
i up all along the lines, the enemy in the rife
. pits and from behind his intrenchments en-.
{ deavoring TO pick off our men, who returD-
ed the compliment under cover Of the woods.
AT first the Rebels were very daring,
springing on the ramparts and cheering,
but the deadly results Of this braggadocio
speedily taught them caution. Our men
i could see them fall; could perceive their
comrades catching them or pulling them
down from behind. The first Rebel killed,
f conspicuous from his white shirt. fell while
: hurrahing and waving his hat upon the
j breastworks. He was picked off by Tru4
i man, sharp-shooter Of eleven years exa
E perience in the Rocky Mountains. So terA
rible a fire did Ber1an,s men keep -nr that
, the Rebels found It next to impossible to
, load and man gun. They put up planks
and endeavored to effect it under their shell.
+ ter, and actually dismounted a piece,
: brought round the parapets and sent its
J contents scattering through the peach ORCH
} ard with such savage haste thai they did
not wait to remove a rammer. Still they
could not dislodge the human hornets
crouching within its friendly shelter. Ping
ping ping spit spit patterl pat
ter ! went. the rife-bullets, and bomb
sounded the artillery, cutting and crashing
: through thes trunks and branches. Cob
: Berdan estimates that at least I50 cannon-
! balls tore through the peach orchard DUR
ing the days fight One shell exploded in
Y the upper chamber of a house at the right,
. near Berdan's reserve. These brave fel-
: lows, by the way, $50 yards in the rear,
, we're at one period, subject to cross fire,
in which one man was killed, and the resb
Y amid storm of shot and shell, obliged to
r shift their position. / am informed by
: Lieut. Winthrop (brother to the Major of
t that name, killed at Great BetheI), that the
I dead man, Phelps, was odel soldier !
: also, that he expressed presentiment Of
i his impending fate.
cbosE OF THE DAY.
At a o'clock, p. M, the Stars and Bars
: were still flying over the Rebel intrench.
{ ments. At dusk, their band struck up
3 Dirie, and then played the MarseiHaise,
" while their men gave three cheers, follow
: ed by the discharge Of three pieces of artill-
cry. After that, the night was only broken
d occasionally by stray picket firing, and the
J. distant boom of cannon, away to the left, in
: the direction of Gen. Keyes's corps d'armee.
: We expect there has been fighting in that
= quarter.
/ have known person., stupid and ig4
norant block-head, who devoted himself to
rs going about and retailing to every one he
i knew any wretched little piece of tattle
Y which might be disagreeable TO hear.