Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-04-25

AUt1 MtIt NNHttNtu W &c very UNHy III lnt re-
moVal Of the men on stretchers.
Where every man exhibited the qualities
Of the soldier in such a splendid manner it is
difficult to particularize; yet the namos oil
Lieut.. Whittcmore who led the two compa.
mics Of the Sd, Vermont, and Of Coils Lord
and Stoughton, Of the 9th, and 18th, are in all
mouths as the especial heroes Of the day.
Thus it has been found, rather extensively,
that the enemy's position is very strong one,
and that he means to defend it.
SUCCESSIVE Assaults on HuEL roEr-rHE BRIL-.
LIANT ASA 1T ~ urH rNoprs-srRENGrf
ur tue REBEL WORKS
CAN'T IN FnuNr or YouKrowN,
ArnIL II, 1861
-Four baueric. Il srtllery and regiments Of Yer.
mont troop hsda sefP snsagte,, sest,rTdsy in front
side the interior works AZ YORKTOWN NE scene ~ 'hc
engagement the estate ~ Mrs tfafrow between
Lees Mills and Winns Mills, a branch Of the War
wick river AZ point on the Warwick road where the
enemy had blocked e up With fellcd timber and on the
right you go towards Warwick Court House, there
"opens quite ana extensive field with wood, o. the sht
aud lt and In the the oid H. 'front.' At The foot
\ gradually descending slope, runs branch NJ the
Warwick river This spot admir- hy adapted 10y nature
Tor defence against attacking force. had been chosen
by hc enemy for one Of the outer works n his line u
ipruhca1us across the entire peninsula At this pace
the stream had been damned up between the mis
already mentioned Tho water was Of different places,
between two and four and half feet deep. aud thry %
forty rods wide The dam formed a narrow cau.cvav
across the water The gOIud either side narsh,.
On the opposite bank there deep rifle pit NJ iuded-
mite extent, and above IT, the gradually rising acciv-
ty arrsr hreastwors with cmhrues fif runs rose "a
he rear, partly screened by umhcr For several days
past the enemy had had large numbers Of at work
Strengthening sun further this position. vel, as other
points on the line. II was determined part to
dite me W rkg parties away. especially at this point,
and prevent them rendering their iutouchments more
impfeenaoie Captain Mous battery was immediately
ready tr action, aud an adequate uuubcr N infant y
was ordered 20 The front support hin. Skirmshors
were thrown out in front 10 the right and lett while
sufficient force kept IN the As reserves The
Rhode Island battery B, under Captain Bartlett engaged
the rebels further 20 the right diy,rting their aent
while Captain Mott should open ou The rel 81 cit About
FOUNDER PHrnts-placed u position in piece If woods
To- we sht ui the opcu field close by the Warwick road
within about thousand yards Of ihc forl. These
pieces nm, dai,y opened tire which soon fcutufd
ursky 10y The rebels from guns adilct nj points
Our shot aud shl ZEN in and around The nrenehmeuts
dflNhg The working parry away The enemy bad accu-
rate range Of the position aud served their guns in
handsome manner shell from oue Of their cannon
burst directly n front Of Of our en-pound Parrot
pieces knocking few spokes out VI Of the wheels
aud disabling out Of ten Who were serving the
gun lhtee men were killed and four wounded by this
she'll The lef sectiun Of Parrott under Lieutenant o.
Duhs ana he centre section VI Napoleon light twelve
FOUNDERS, under Lieutenant Stewart were then brought
INTO position and The whole battery bazed away al the
Work me enemy CONTINUED returning the ire and for
some time he cannonade kept up both sides with
great spirit. Captain Mutts men Lchayod ia a gallant
manner Afer firing nearly two hours the encny's
guns sienccd aud onts gradually discontinued thcir
ire All OF the enemy who had been seen were scattered
aud The presented the appt arauce Of being entirely
Dc serted General NJ Cltltan who with several mem
bers Of his staff including the French royal representa-
ives had tomc upon the ground forward person.
Any IN an exposed position and compmenttd Captain
Mott ana hs m,u ~ very hsiierng maIner for the a.
lAcnty ard bravery which they had ayed their
guns few shois had been syshsngSd. betseep the
on both sides were Discontinued several hours.
subsequently It was determined 20 throw body Of
troops INTO the work and hold the position, which seem
cd to be vacated -Four batteries Of light artillery CONF
manded respectively by Captains Ayits. Mott Kennedy
and wheeler, Captain Ayres the senior officer being in
charge Of them ALL wheeled into lue in the open neld
forming almost scmicirce and being either side "
the two tall ohnneys which mark the ruins Of Ms Gar
rows house This residence had been burned by order
Of the rebel Gen Magruder than two weeks ago
The batteries then within about six hundred yards
OF me enemy works, with no siructuns fr artillery
IN iiont SIX companies Of the Third etmont regiment
had been previously dcpoyed as sktmishcrs IN the
woods The line rning larger ,cuuuce, about mile
W. 'Ash' nom 'he naiaies 10 tr ROAD They were COM
unnaly exchanging shots with the eucy, who bad SINH
lar skumihers out 30 font IA thc woods, IL should be
ohsctv that while The work apparently deserted
the enemy lay concealed under cover and had received
numerous einf ements during The few hours previous
me oihtr four oompanies-D H. h and X Of the Third
vermont regneut-had been placed IN reserve % the
tBht "a Uuri' the rear. About three O'Clock Colonel
Hyde was ordered to take these TOUR companies adj
vance under cover of our guns cross the creek and
he WORK. II was arranged thai when they should have
catered the fort signal from them would Indicate that
ruuioroemcnts should be sent To hold IT, The four bat
tclcs opened concerted lire the fort throwing shot
shell aud spherical case into it ia rapid succession Then
those four companies OF the Third regiment advanced
dashed into The water which ia places came 90 10
their armpiis and proceeded the work This
moment Az Immense force Of the enemy, who had laid
lo~ all tins while. confronted men, shooting them
down IN the water The brave little band stood their
ground nony and Notwithstanding that many had their
cartridge boxes soaked the dam, they crossed over
and drove the enemy out OF the rifle pit lower ue Of
me entertainments, This position they held against a
mudcruus IRE iur perhaps twenty or thirty minutes Al
length large body Of rebel Endorsements, consisting
OF two OF three regiments, seen ady ancug from the
rear INTO the fort, and for unaccountshe reason
our fhiorccments not appearing at the proper moneDt
the brave battalion PEELED to fall back before ,u
penor numbeTs We sustained considerable loss both in
crossing and recrOssing the dam, but what extent It
impossible To tell at present
After the remnant OF these companies returned our
batteries which had in the meantime ceased firing open
ed IN full force again. Then the 6ih Vermont regiment
was ordered to storm the work by left flank. Led by
their gallant Col Lord, the Sixth regiment rushed into
the water Seven companies had go ton in and some
had reached within about three rods Of the breaswoTk
Nheh being IN three feet Of water they INN ediae
~ met by the fire Of long line Of rebel rifles which were
popped above the parapets. running @ ON hous.
and small arms poured upon our mon Il was re-
turned as well as circumstances would warrant. The
hfeastwofk was lighted mp with continuous sheet OF
name, the artillery 6eched away the enemy shells
were bursting over their breastwork the smoke Of the
batle Was ascending aud for few minutes the scene
was Que Of The glsndesi Witnessed 10 Not man
OF ours hnchsd but all returned the fire Of the enemy
with deadly effect. Whenever head put above the
parapet they hTed al it, Hence the rebels were mostly
h IN ihe head except those Killed and wounded by shells
when must have been considerable. Many Of wound
ed we're hit IN the hip and lower cxtemes indicating
that The rebels endeAy0rlng 20 comply with Manru-
ders order To FIRE low and each bring down his man -
flndng that rebel reinioToements still advancing
ahd owing TO the apparent mposshiity OF making sue
eessial assault with the bayonet Col Lord retired with
ms men, who brought Of their wounded comrades
away win them During the action il became manifest
at inns ioruhcauon strong BY nature improved 10y
"It ana ne superior numbers opposed behind their
works rendered timpOssibe 10 continue the attack with
out fearful loss OF life while the same time it was
Doubtful whether at this junctufe IN our offensive opper
atoms the advantages TO be gained would for
the blood which would necessarily be shed In taking IT,
Our men displayed an Indifference TO Danger and firm
ths purpose which assurance Il their devotion 10
we cause aud their nYncihty except when contend.
ing against sUimountabe disadvantages Col Lord
was engage IN the battles " Philppi Laurel lin aud
Caineks tod in Western Virginia, and this occasion
had several narrow escapes. The other regiments IN the
tnsAde which is composed entirely 90 Vermont uuops
ust some men tktnshirg Ii Vas about dark When ihe
s'uon was endtd just before the close Gait Mott
brought me- battery still closer the work. and poured
grape and canister into the reheA The enemy as hus
" Engaged With ambulanccs and sttcicAefs bringing
away his wounded. The day had been warm and bcau
iui Inc moon rose clear and caln aud shone bahtlv
On the battle hrld, while soldiers were searching Gi
wounded and missing comrades Our troops who were
ia me advance Ia the efeniny slept souudy on the 6eld
where those regiments and batttfes had been fighting
CAPT Mott lost seyeute n rlen killed and wounded and
seven horses from his battery the rebels having coneon
raed their hire his guns while the other artiller,
companies had only two or three casuauts Some ne,
recruits who acted nobly, among the wounded
bnling the day there was artillery fling further Ia
the right OF our line Gen. Hamilton had noticed me
ehtmy slfeng hcuing their works u his front and he rc
quesied Capt Thompson send some pieces Of ma A.
La "a AHHH.a ~