Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-05-02
THE sEIGE OF YORKTOWN.
THE sKIRMISH AT LEE'S MIL1.S.


II having been ascertaned that within the
last few days the enemy had thrown up an
carthwork about one mile above Lees Mills,
at an early hour this morning Gen. Brooks
Brigade and Motifs Battery we're advancing
towards the Warwick, between 200 and
800 yards from the new work, Motifs bat
terry Immediately engaged the enemy's posi-
ton with great spirit and effect. and was re-
piled TO by two guns in embrasures In two
hours the enemy were silonced not, howev-
or. before Capt. Mott had lost seven men
three killed and fous wounded-al at one
gun.
About this time, Gen. Mcclellan arrived
on the ground. followed by Gen. Keyes, who
made an examination Of the situation and
held protracted interview with Gen Smith,
under whose immediate eye, under Cen Nc
Clellan, were the operations Of the day Cen
Mcclellan took occasion TO personally thank
the men and officers Of Motifs battery for
their GOODNESS and efficiency, as manifested by
the manner in which they had silenced the
enemy's works.
Skirmishers having been sent to the front
on both the right and left, there was consid'
cradle muskotry. Motifs battery continued
to fire occasionally as the enemy were seen in
and about the work, in the rear Of which
great smoke arose, indicating that barracks
or other buildings had been set on fire.
Tho enemy's work in question is situated
on the Warwick, which is in front, and which
at that point has been damned so as to in
crease It's width and depth materially. The
dam is directly in front of the work--a mar
row pit admitting Of the passage only Of a few
men at a time. While above the water is
broad and deep, below it is almost equally
difficult Of passage over owing to the marshy
state, the water being from one to three feet
deep. Besides their battery, the enemy have
extensive riAe-pits on both TANKS skirting
the stream, and other devices to mask their
position.
In the afternoon, our artillery, consisting
of Ayers, Wheeler's, Motifs and Kennedy's
batteries, were advancing to an open field di-
rectly in front Of the enemy, distant between
800 and 1000 yards. Here, for an hour,
terrible FIRE poured into the battery and
rihe-pis of the enemy, during which they
must have suffered severely Simultaneous
with this, the Vermont 9th, Col Lord, 4th,
Col. Stoughton. and 3d. Col Hyde, APP
preached through the woods which flank both
sides Of the enemy's position to the stream,
to make full reconnaissance and examine
ton with reference to future operations.-
During this movement, there was much very
hard fighting, in which our men suffered con-
siderably. Companies A, ID, f, and | Of the
Vermont 81 made gallant rush into the
stream below the dam, and were about gain
ing the opposite side, when they were COM
PEELED to fall back under fire of thousands
to their hundreds. The Vermont 9th entered
the woods on the right, and during the heav-
lest firing by our artillery crossed in front to
the left, and dashing them into the water
waist deep, as had the Sd before them, large
numbers disputing the ford in heroic man
uor. Gaining the opposite side, the riAe-pits
opened murderous fire on them. In good
order they repassed the stream, fighting as
calamity as when they advanced. This was
about 6 o'clock.
As our men with cheers emerged from the
wood on the right and crossed to the left, in |
the face of blaze of musketry, our artillery,
with the view of covering them, opened a ter
rible fire from twenty guns. A ceaseless
shower Of shell was thrown into the enemy's
position, who, as they rose from the rife-pts, |
disclosed themselves to our aim. 1t cannot
be otherwise than that the enemy sustained
great loss while this firing was going on
There was not an instants cessation while our |
men were so heroically pressing to the charge. |
The 18th Vermont, as well as the Sd and |
9th, CALAMITY made the perilous endcavor to
;
ana though the Sd and 9th suffered the most,
it would be difficult to discriminate. Drawer
regiments never entered the field, and though
not successful against odds of ten to one, they
covered themselves with glory.
Thursday, april l7.-Last night sunken
batteries were constructed on the right and
left Of our advanced position yesterday, in
front Of the enemy, by Lieuts. Cusseron and
Bowen, and this morning we have eight guns
in embrasure.
During the day there were many acts Of
true heroism of which it is impossible to
make a suitable record. Among those who
were seriously wounded early in the day was
Leo Rheims, gunner at piece number one Of
Motifs battery. He was taken from the field,
and rested for while in the edge of the
woods. Borrowing pencil and paper, he rap
idly penned in French the following note to
comrade at a gun:
Old Top Thank God not dangerously wounded
The piece Of shell did not remain IN my head. Amer
what the Doctor tells me- greye that poor Lambert is
dad. Wait for me before you write to his wife As
so2n as car will write you. am going to the hospital
Take care Of my clothing Tell the captain | glad
70 be wounded in the cause. Good bye. pray to God
that you may not be hurt. Your old friend.
L. RHEIMS.
1t is believed that the gallant fellow, though
seriously is not fatally wounded.
The crossing by Col Stoughton, of the
4th Vermonters from the right to the left,
directly in front of the enemy, most
gallant action, as was the subsequent conduct
Of himself and men in the movements after
ward below the dam.
Capt. Peguin of the Sd Vermont, was the
first TO cross, and was wounded while gallant
ly pushing forward.
Col. Lord Of the 9th Vermont Regiment
was in the thickest of the fight, and had his
sword-sheath bent and clothes ventilated free
ly by the bullets of the enemy. His escape
seems less than miraculous. Tho colors of
the regiment had eleven shots through them.
Col. Stoughton, who CALAMITY led his regi-
ment where the fight was fercest, won new
honors. The sharpshooters of Col Smalley
we're terror to the Rebels. The dauntless
Sd Of whom Col. Hyde may well be proud,
passed through a terrible ordeal, as the list of
casualties shows. Officers and men of all the
regiments engaged proved themselves worthy
the confidence reposed in them. Lieut.. Mer-
rill of the Engineers was slightly wounded.
The wounded are doing as we'll as could be
expected They receive the best attention