Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-05-23
4}tea9
CHARGE or TIE Vt. CAVALRY
At MOUNT JACKSON.
BURLESCToN:
FRIDAY MORNING, NAY g., IeD-.

a couesicaIlnt Of the Vermont Ciroaies
whom We take 70 be Chaplain Woodward,
Of the V. Cavalry, thus graphically dca-
crials TIE now famous charge Of oar b)ys,
Cd the l5th alt:
" N'w We came in .ht ut Mt. jackson.
some three miles away. Here there was
hale aud rcclnu0l llcc- W hen Cen. Shields
ordered lha . ernJut Cavalry forward to
make a .mart charge through 10 the farther
side ol tlc village. Ar5 now cur Vermont
hlYl, with drawn .ibI,s Tut their horses on
fail gallon, which Was increased o. dead
run aud terrific yclis as they entered the vii
lagc, and the mounted enemy, under Col
Aslhy's commdnI, lell in view on a retreat
90 the farther side OF the town. 10 was a
wild scene ,-railro4d trains heavily load Il
with lumber were IN flmcs, ani shots from
. onc dwelling were fired upon us and such
Was the order of Gen. Shields that, as We
reached the farther verge OF the village some
Of the of. rs and men halted while others
dashed wildly through deep creek, whose
| bridge was on fire, and gained PLAIN OF half
a mile in length. Il-re the race was for life,
th9 rebels having some forty rods the start.
! Our horses were evidently the Aoetcst, and
the scene was exciting 10 the highest degree
/ They assembled the bill and dashed down it
to a covered bridge crossing the Shen ind1ah.
| Here we came upon tn IN, and entered the
bridge simultaneously. Horses fell, pitch
ing their riders over one another Ia the
melee we took three prisoners, one Licuten-
ant and two priyatos. The rebels had bat
terry commanding the bridge, which, as the
main body Of the rebel; detled into a mcaG-
ow at the right, opened upon Us with shell,
which passed directly through the BRIDE,
and one directly in front Of it. throwing the
mud into the Gces of several Of our men.
MAJ. Collins, who led the charge in d s5l-
| dierlY manner, now ordered a retreat, sly-
ing We had exceeded our orders, whcrcupOn
! the great body of the men wheeled, and rush
| ed wildly back TO the village. Lieut. Err
! haTdt, oi CO. A., seeing the importance Of
saving the bridge, reTeatcd no farther than
the brow Of the hill, and was there met BY
! your currospondcnt, covered with sweat and
mud, standing where the balls from the rgb-
cl cdrhnc- and rifles whizzed about him
/ pryiusely, asking for men tc help hun. The
smoke then began TO arise from the bridge
! | desired him. II possible, TO hold his posi-
ton. promising him immediate help 1t
was brought, and a second char-e was
| made, led on hy the Lieutenant in the face
Of the rebel guns, ami they were driven
/ back, the fire exInguishCd, and the bridge
Was saved This was a daring and import
ant act. as the bridge led over the main NV
/ CT, which 1t was impossible for our army TO
/ ford. Ilad it been burned, tbe forward NOV
/ msnt Of the whole division must have been
/ delayed for many days Had there been no
[ confusion ot orders. OF had the whole Of our
/ corps zone beyond ,hcr orders, (which IN
/ thie cdee seemed Go ie d military nccessitvD
and charged "ith the desperation OF those
/ who dif, hlYl ro couht hu. all If A.hby's
/ lmca Tils,nt, together with his battery.
might have been taken. Bat, as T.. was,
/ great praise is awarded & our rc.imcnt on
/ a.l lands + sides inc Lieut. already nam
ed, there are m1uy other commissioned clfi-
Gers who greatly distinguished themselves.
/ Among them was Lieut.. Cumming. OF Co.
/ y, who Tough; de7perately; also Capt. Con
/ ger. Of Co. B, who stood IN the bridge and
! fred eighteen rounds at the cncmy. And
! theic were non-commis>iored officers and
| priyates who are equally deserving Of praise.
I Among these, Corporal Chase, Of CO. d, and
Corporal B,cman, OF CO. B, should no; be
( oTeci0okcd.