The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-04-23
(Our War Correspondence
From the Fifth Vermont Regiment.
YORKTOWN BATTLE FIELD,

or Uen. McCIellan, Smith g division had thu
honor of opening the great " decisive battle
that is to crush treason and re-establish thu
Union of States. The point of attack new
earthwork in process of construction, and strong
| ly protected and worked by troops, and herds
OF contrabands-belng selected the day previous
by Gems. Smith and Keyes, the honor of max
ing the assault and stornipg the same, was del
egated to the Vermont brigade.
Day dawnng, the brigade are under arms and
by six Or seven O'Clock are marching to the field.
Companies G, D, f and II of the 5th, were out
On picket standing all night in the thicket d.
rectly under the new works Of the enemy, and
N some places so near their quarters that their
"roll call |" was distinctly heard in the morning.
This picket not being relieved till four in the
afternoon, the above companies did not join their
regiment in the field till after that hour, and as
the attack was made in advance Of the picket
line, (t1e picket being IL mere support) we took
no more part IN the action than to remain on
our posts, as "lookers on in Venice.''
Our infantry being in position upon the TANKS,
and in ambush for dash in front whenever the
nick of time should arrive, the batteries opened
lire, and for full hour the artillery fight was
both sublime and terrific. Motifs, Ayros' and
Wheolers guns did good execution, throwing
their shells with great accuracy, and so did the
guns OF the enemy. One of their shells explod-
ed directly under one of Motifs guns, killing
three and wounding four out of the ten men at
the gun. But in a few minutes the compliment
was returned one Ct Motifs shells dismounting
their best gun and killing nearly every man
around it. Shouts and cheers 60 up from the
battery and the brigade, and in few minutes
the enemy retres from his works into the woods,
or to other works in the rear. For one or two
hours there is a cessation Of hostilities, but d.
recty, the assault being resumed, the fire of the
infantry and artillery makes it 9 thunder all
around" The enemy behind his breastworks,
trees and trenches, fires voley after volley upon
our troops, now in advance OF the batteries, and
between them and the enemy.
Under cover of the artillery four companies
of the Sd Vermont Companies f, D, X and E,
press on to the works PIupging through a
stream directly in front. and waisband deep,
on they 60 like so many devils, all the time
their ranks being thinned by the rifles of the en-.
envy. They enter the works, and for three
fourths Of an hour mold che same, bat no rein
:orcement being ordered forward they are obliged
to retire before reinforcemens Of the enemy. some
three thousand strong. The assault of these
four companies is not only hcroism, but history
will place it in parallel line with the most
daring achievements of the war. They recrossed
the creek in good order, but few being left as
slragslers Their loss under this fire was tbir-
ty killed and seventy wounded, Below I give
you list of tho killed. Here again the firing
ceased for some time, and was not opened till
near shutdown, when the firing again became
terrific. This shutdown attack, though not as
successful as the first, enabled US to get most
desirable position, and one that Gen. Mcclellan
ordered, after dark, to be held at all hazards.
The 9th Vermont was thrown out in front to do
the work once done by the above companies of
the Sd. They were protected by the artillery
corps and force of sixty sharpshooters, selected
from the best marksmen of the 9Th Vermont, un-
der command of Capt. Dudley. These sharp.
shooters, with the assistance of the shells from
Mott and Ayers, kept the cannon of the enemy
silent, but his infantry, being in protected po-
sition, made sad work with the 9th Vermont
and. after about an hour and half of severe
fighting, they were unable to cross tho creek
with more than two companies, and dark COM
ing on the first days fighting of the I" decisive
battle" closed, the enemy being routed from his
advance works, and our troops getting strong
position.
During this shutdown attack the 5th lay fat
upon the ground upon the left flank, the 4th
upon the right, and l understand the Cd was
held as reserve. At this writing am unable
to give you more particulars, but will try to OBJ
tain all the information can of interest for an.
other letter.
The Sixth acted bravely. Capt. Reynolds Of
this regiment is said to have been killed by
fragment OF shell from our own guns, but how
true this is cannot say. | saw him this morn.
ing at the hospital. The scene there was dread
ful, and very unpleasant for a soldier to think
OF, and much less to write about at this time.
There is no way of learning the loss Of the
enemy. We presume that some Of the missing