Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1862-05-02
THE CHARGE OF THE VERMONT TROOPS AT
YORKTOWN.
sALLANrRY OF GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS

The New York Hsralds correspond
ent with the army before Yorktown fur,
nisbes the following account Of the at
tack on the enemy's position near the
dam above Lees Mills, last Wednesday
to which is appended the official list Of
the killed and wounded;
about eight o'clock, A. NJ, one OF
the Generals of Division threw out q
party of skirrnshers from the 4th Yer
mont (of the Vermont brigade) near to
the enemy's one gun battery, at the point
named, and also advanced New York
battery. Opposite the euemy's works at
that place there is a considerable space
clear 0! large wood, but surrounded in
every direction but toward the enemy by
dense forest, and oyergrown with 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 low shrubs and young
pine the Vermonters made their way
right up to the edge of the stream, and
poured upon the enemy a rain Of rife
shot that he soon found it impossible to
withstand.
After few moments Of tbi, fire not a
man was 10 be seen within the enemy's
E,ae worki,o ,srGes cnnners officer,
with GLASSES al d;ssonasred and cover
wastbe ore tbing in GREAT demand.-
HIGH praise il awarded to the Vermont
rao;ment far their marksmapsbi, and
.nirit Two niece. Of the above men.
,;onsa ho,,erv. n.nonndar perro,ts nm
A., liz, Fyyn,-,hor tool nm, no.;
tjon in the edge Of the woods. one thou.
sand wards from tbe enemy's line and
onened fire. " hen the enemy came brave.
ly nm to the bnsiosss and responded with
the large gun in his one gun battery. aud
with the two others in battery behind
il. Lieut. Stewart with the second sec.
ton Of the same battery-two twelve
poupder Napoleon cuns-was ordered
up, as vas also the lett section, under 1t.
O'Donald.
With the reinforcement the fire became
very heavy between the artillery on both
sides our skirmshers and numbers of
the enemy's skirmishers also bazed away |
whenever they saw a chance, and the
fight promised to spread until it should |
become general all along the lines. Our
FIRE was very accurate. Many of our
shells burst 10 a nicely at that very point
in their air drawn line where It scanned
they could serve their dangerous purpose |
best, and the aItilIerymen rosred with |
delight. Meantime the remainder Of the
Vermont brigade lay in the woods all
around. in easy distance to support The
4th. and another brigade. under arms
Law in the field on the left. These brig. |
ades have gone forward from their camp
at this point, and were held in the wood,
at sbout two miles from the scene of the
fight.
While the firing went on briskly the
COMMANDING general came up. and soon
after Gen. Mcclellan came upon the
ground and made his HEADQUARTERS at a
bouse behind the position Of the battery.
At about ten A. NJ, after two hours sharp
firing, the enemy ceased entirely to re-
spond, not, it was thought, because hi,
guns were disabled, but because our rifle
men had his position so entirely under
FIRE that it was about certain death for
his men to be seen. Yet after short
interval, he threw several shell toward,
where body Of our infantry as posted,
but they fell without effect, Gen. Nc +
Clellan at this time went down to the ]
battery, and was received with great en- {
thusiasm. He congratulated the captain
upon bis accurate fire, and compliment
ed the battery as, 'one that could be de- ,
pnndu1 t,pop ,