Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-04-25
THE sKIRMISn AT LEES MILLS.
THE VERMONT BRIGADE IN ACTION.

HEADQUARTERS FoURTH Army CORPS, J
Warwick &. IL. Aurl Il lS6g

Correspondence of the y. !. He-ald.)
HEAnQUARTERs FoURTH Army CORPS,
Warwick C. H., Aprl Il. 1852.
The Commanding General, on the nj ght Of th
10th, made 4 further Reconnaissance Of the enc
my's position TO our extreme right and aft Ell full
celiherati on with the Genera-in Chief it was de
teruileI 10 attack Sic eueny's position near t,
the dam above Lees Mill, and there TO shell large
working parties that the enemy had out. and il
circumsttnces we're favorable 10 push the attack
and obtain a io0,hold within the euemy's line.
yesterday, az about eight o'clock A. NJ, there
fore, one Of the Generals Of Division threw out a
party Of skiTmishers from the Fourth Vermont
of the Formo.t U-i gade) near 10 the enemy's one
gun battery at the point named, and also ad-
vguced New York battery. Opposite the enc
my's works a. that place there Is considera Die
space clear II large wood, bat surrounded n every
direction except towards tue enemy by a dense
rest, and OvergrOWn with low shrubs and young
pine. Warwick Creek-from four 20 Eve feet
deep and about twenty rods wide-separates this
f,lI from tie rebel battery. In the low shrubs
and young pine the Vermonters made their way
right up to the edge OF the stream, and poured
npou the enemy a rain Of rife shot that he soun
found 1t impossible to Withstand. after few
mumeats Of this fire not a was 70 be seen
vi hin the euemy's lines. Working parties, gun
uers, officers with glasses, all dis ppear, d. and
cover" was the one thing in great demand -
Hish praise Is awarded 10 the Vermont regiment
Two pieces Of the above. mentioned battery
ten FOUNDER PARROTS, under Lieut.. Elynn-then
took up position II the edge OF the WOO at one
thousand yards from the enemy's line, and opened
FIRE, when the enemy braTely came up to he bust
and responded with the large gun in his one
gun battery, and with two others in a battery be-
hind II. Lieut.. Stewart, with the second section
q the same battery-two twelve-p FOUNDER Nap)
leon guns-Was ordered up, as was also the left
stctoa, under Lieut. ODOnald. Our FIRE was very
lCcuTa,e. Many of our shells burst to a nicely
a that very point in their air drawn line where
90 seemed they could serve their dangerous pur-
pose best and the aTtillerymen roared with de-
light. NJ eantime the remainder Of the Vermont
brigade lay in the woods all around, in easy dis.
lance TO support the Fourth, and another brigade,
u der arms, lay in the field upon the left Three
bngades had gone forward IRON their camp at this
point, aud were held in the woods about two
miles iron the seine Of the fight.
bile the firing went briskly the Command
ing Gene.al came up, and soon after Gen. Me lei
l-u srTiyed upon the Uuud and made his head
quarters at house behind the position Of the
battery.
At atout ten A. NJ, after two hours sharp
firing, the enemy ceased entirely to respond, not
90 VAS thought because bis guns had been dIsa-
tl,d, tut teca, our ri men had his position 20
entire ly undtr fire that II was about certain death
Jog ID, men TO be seen. Yet, after a short inter-
-ais, lie threw seve al shell toward Nlerc body
O.. our infantry was posted, but they Tell without
eject.
zen. Mcclellan at this time went down to the
battery, ami was rec lived with great enthusiasm.
He congratulated the Cap ain upon his accurate
IRE ana couplimenied the battery as " one that
could be uepeud-d upon"
Igyo or three men had been wounded among
cur sbiruisheIs, and the battery bad lost in killed
aud Ounded seven men. When our guns took
their fret position the enemy lad tie range,
sud IN three shots cleared gun No. OF all but a
sergeant and corp raj Three men were killed
ard luur wounded at this piece.
IL was low deemed necessary 10 know, with
some gree OF certainty, the enemys iOTce at this
point, ana his disposition 70 fight. Upon consult
alton between zen. Mcclellan and the two divis
iou commanders, it was therefore determined 10
make a more decided demonstration Of attack, and
accordingly, between and Z. ~, , batteries
were ordered forward into the open field, and
. ened FIRE at about 500 yards. TLis again woke
til eatmy up, and ne responded warmly for 20
minutes, and then once more lapsed into sience.
NJ deceived by this three batteries continued
T. Iliy upon his position for some minutes longer,
wien word brought to the 6, neral Of the Yer
mont Briga0e, that the creek was easily fOrdabe
~ some distance 10 the rgbt Of our batteries, and
c.. II soc, in command OF 4 Companies OF the VT.
81, who had skIrmished in advance Of all others,
Wa ordered 70 send Two Of his companies across
the creek at The point where II said he only
knee-deep, to advance them upon the enemys left
End charge the work 10 the rear. He accordingly
sent Hcruss companies d and F, and SUPPORTED them
very clO.ely with companies E and n Meanwhile
our batteries became silent. Companies D and
were led by Lieat. Whittemore. No sooner were
they in the stream than the water was found deep
er than had been stated; the men went up to ther
armpits, and every charge Of their ammunition
was, Of course, thoroughly soaked. This attempt
was made below the dam, and it is possible that
The enemy, when he saw the intention to cross let
IN more water by foodgate than had been IN the
Stream.
" bile the men were il the stream, a large body
tf the enemy, estimated at 3 regiments, opened
upon them from rife pit on the very bank, and
this terrible fire cut down nearly half their number
Never, however, FIRE received with greater
ste8diness or more glorious iRtrepidity. Except
those hit, not man of the magnificent Vermont
CTS wavered, but all finely pushed on, and with
one shout arose upon the bank, and rushed upon
TIE enemy with the bayonet, and fairly drove
i 'hem out in utter rOut and coniusioni but the
;outeFt was too unequal. NO supports were within
proper distance; aud though the enemy was driv-
cn away from the first line CT pits, and the other
two companies Of the Sd in the water to cross
those the other SIDE ordered TO retreat and
Gid 50 very reluctantly, however, and fighting te-
naciOusly at every step.
Once more our batteries re-opened, and kept up
h cir fire with great vigor until dark. Meantime
the blood OF the Green Mountain Boys was up and
Al dusk the Vermont ith, Col. Stoughton, and the
Vernon 9th, Col Lord, made brave but insifect-
nal attempt to pass the stream on tire dam; but
the enemy had the gun in his one gun battery
trained particularly upon this point, and they |
were swept back by the combined fire of that gun |
and the enemys rifles. There was consi, cradle loss
in the 6th, which was in advance
The Division General at this time ordered III, |
fire 10 cease, and our men slept upon their arms
in the positions they respectively held and beyond
doubt Tie f sht will be renewed to-day.
All 4sree that the loss OF toe enemy has been
sever. Many were to fall; and they were
observed to be very busy in the removal Of men
on ftTetchoTs.
Where every max exhibited the qualities of the
soldier il surh a splendid manner, is difficult to
partculsrize. yet the names OF Lieut.. " hittemnre
who LED the two Companies Of the 81 Vermont, and
and Of Coils. Lord and Stoughton. of the 9th and
ith 10 al mouths the especial heroes Of the
day.
Thus it hss been found, rather extensively, that
Tie eneuy's position is very strong one, and that
be means % defend Il.