Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1862-04-24
II II T. WAR.
THE sETcE or YORKTOWN
The City sholled by Our eunboats.
WORK COMMENCED IN EARNEST.

The following was received from Gen. Nc |
Clean on Friday: Gen. Smith repulsed them
handsomely and took some prisoners. Will
forward details as soon as my aids return. The
firing was very heavy, but all is now quiet.
SECOND DISPATCH.
April 1S-About half an hour after midnight
Thursday night, the enemy attacked Gen.
Smiths position and ATTEMPTED to carry his
guns. My position, which was occupied yester-
day by Gen. Smiths command, was entrenched
last night, so that we have been able to prevent
the enemy from working to-day, and kept his
guns silent. The same result has been accom-
pshed at Hagan's Mills. Yorktown was she'll
ed by our gunboats.
INTERESTING DETAILS OF THE FIGHTING.
The following was received at Washington,
Friday evening headquarters, army of the
Potomac, April 1Sth-An official report has
been received at headquarters, giving a list of
the killed and wounded in the engagement be-
tween the Sd Vermont regiment and the enemy,
on Wednesday, mention of which was made
yesterday. The information as fas as received,
puts the killed at 32, and the wounded at 80.
Ten of the latter will prove fatal The conduct
OF the Vermont troops on the occasion is spoken
Of in the highest terms, earning for the Green
Mountain boys laurelS only to be won by the
brave. They drove superior number of the
enemy from their fortified position, but were
forced to relinquish on the rebels being re-
inforced. The loss of the enemy in this en-
gagement must have been heavy, as the well
directed fire of our artillery moved them by
acres. Yesterday afternoon, while Lieut.. o.
b. Wagner, of the Typographical engineers, in
company with squad OF men, making
uivey of the enemys works. sh II struck the
table on which lay the papers, and nsta lily
exploding, the left arm of the lieutenant was
shattered, and was aferward ampututed lie
is comfortable this morning, and no fears are
entertained as to his recovery. Joseph Luther
Jr., of Bristol, belonging 10 the I'd Rhode
Island regiment was probably fatally injured.
Daniel Painter of Berdan sharpshooters men,
toned yesterday, is dead. About one o'clock
this morning the enemy in force attempted to
cross the dam in front of our lines, evidently
with the view Of capturing battery of our ar
tillery, which had given them considerable
trouble during the last few days. On the reb-
els making their appearance they were opened
upon by a well directed fire from body of in
fantry, acting as a reserve to the pcktts, fore
/ ing them to beat retreat, leaving their dead
and wounded on the dam, which they succeeded
in recovering before daylight. Both parties
then opened with artillery, which has continued
at intervals up TO the present time. None of
our men are killed.
The Engagement at Yorktown.
The correspondent of the New York Herald
gives the following account of gallant assault
upon the enemy's entertainments by several
Vermont reg, ments, in which they lost twelve
killed and some twenty or more wounded. An
attack had been going on for an hour or two
upon one Of the enemys batteries near Lees
Mills, which had been several times silenced,
but not captured:-
Upon consultation between Gen. Mcclellan
and two division commanders, it was therefore
determined to make a more decided demon
straion Of attack and accordingly, between
and p. M, three batteries were ordered for
ward into the open field, and opened fire at
about five hundred yards. This again woke the
enemy up, and he responded for twenty mautes
and then once more lapsed into silence. Not de-
ceiyed by this our three batteries continued to
play upon his position for some minutes longer
when word was brought TO the general of the
Vermont brigade that the creek was easily for
dable at some distance to the right of our bat
teries, and Col. Hyde, in command of four
companies Of the Vermont third, who had
skirmished in advance of all others, was ordered
to send two Of his companies across the creek
at the point where it was said to be only knee
deep, to advance them to the enemys left and
charge the work in the.rear. He accordingly
sent across companies ID and F, and supported
them very closely with companies Z and X.
Meanwhile our batteries became silent. Com
panies ID and + were led by Lieut.. Whittemore.
No sooner were they in the stream than the
water was found to be much deeper than had
laTY .N,I. 81 ,l,,, ,,,,.ta
and every charge of their ammunition was. of
course thoroughly soak ed. This attempt was
made below the dam, and il is possible that the
enemy, when he saw the intention to aross, let
in more water by foodgate than had been in
the stream.
"While the men were in the stream, large
body Of the enemy, estimated at three regi-
ments, opened upon them from rifle pit on
the very bank and this terrible fire cut down
nearly half their number. Never was fire re-
ceived with greater steadiness or more glorious
intrepidty. Except those hit, not man of
those magnificent Nermonters wavered, but all
finally pushed on, and with one shout arose up
on the bank, and rushed upon the enemy with
the bayoret and fairly drove them out in utter
rout and confusion but the contest was too
unequal. No supporters were within proper
distances and though the enemy was driven
| away from the first line of pits and the other
two companies of the Third were in the water
to cross, those on the other side were ordered
to retreat, and did so, very reluctantly, how
ever, and fighting tenaciously at every step.
Once more our batteries re-opened, and kept
up their fire with great vigor until dark. Mean
time the blood of the Green Mountain boys
was up, and at dusk the Vermont Fourth, Col.
Stoughton, and the Vermont Sixth, Col. Lord
made brave but Intellectual attempt to pass
the stream on the dam but the enemy had the
gun in his own gun battery trained particularly
upon this point, and they were swept back by
the combined fire of that gun and the enemy's
rifles. There was considerable loss in the
! Sixth, which was in advance. The division
general at this time ordered the fire to cease
and our men slept upon their arms in the po-
silion they respectively held, and beyond doubt
the fight will be renewed to-day Our loss cam
not yet be positively known, but it is not far
short of one hundred in killed, wounded and
missing Below we give names as far as we
could learn them. All agree that the loss of
the enemy has been severe. Many were seen
to fall, and they were observed to be very busy
In the removal of men on stretchers. Where
every man exhibited the qualities of the soldier
in such splendid manner it is difficult TO par
ucularze yet the names of Lieut.. White
more, who led the two companies of the Sd
Vermont, and of Coils. Lord and Stoughton, of
the 9th and 4lh, are in all mouths as the es