The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-05-02
The Charge of the Forlorn Hope.

The more We learn of the engagement at
Warwick Creek, in which four companies of
the Vermont Third took leading part, the
more are we satisfied that for real courage
and daring deeds nothing has surpassed, or
perhaps equaled it, in the history Of this or
any other var. The bravery and devotion
there exhibited makes the Green Mountain
State proud of her sons.
But what shall We say Of the generalshipo
We last week stated that from the informa-
ton we then had the move appeared rash,
and as it proved, quite unfortunate and dis
astrors. Notwithstanding the attempt of the
n. Y. Tribune to prove that the federal for
ces have gained an important position" by
tits charge, we don't see it. All the ground
gained when the loss to life and limb occur
red had to be almost Immediately abandon
ed and ali our brave boys gained in that ia
tai charge was more intimate and certain
knowledge Of the enemy's strength and posi-
ton. We presume there is no doubt but
that the ground up to the creek, occupied BY
our forces on Wednesday morning, and gain.
cd too withou, any loss Of life, is important
to the carrying out Of the plans of the siege:
but the great loss Of life occurred in attempt-
ing to dislodge the enemy on the other side
Of the creek, and this simply failed because
the enemy outnumbered us three or four to
one.
Our readers no doubt all noticed that Mr.
Morrill, introduced resolution into the
House requesting the president to strike
from the rolls the name OF any officer of the
army known to be habitually ntoxicated
and he further stated that he had been as
sured that the commanding general who fail
ed to reinforce the Vermont companies who
suffered so severely at Yorktown was drunk
at the time and had fallen off his horse. This
officer was Gen VIM. +. Smith. Gen Smiths
friends deny the charge, and say that he rode
high spirited horse which threw him. This
denial would have more effect were not Gen
Smiths Incorporate habits confirmed by pri-
vate letters from reliable and intelligent men
in the Vermont brigade. And we notice
that the Senate military committee, to whom
was referred the resolution Of inquiry into
the alleged drunkenness of this officer, have
determined to pursue the investigation not
outstanding the denial Of the charge against
him. This is right. Mr. Morril's resolution
was right whether there is an opportunity to
apply it in this instance or not. If there is
one crime in our army besides treason tina,
deserves capital punishment, that crime is
drunkenness. An intoxicated man is either
mailman or fool and though our soldiers
are willing to pour out tier blood like water
in putting down this accursed rebellion, they
do ask to have competent officers, and those
too whose brains are neither fired nor mud
died by Intoxicating liquor. Thousands Of
valuable lives have already been sacrificed
through the incompetency of officers; and
who knows how frequently that Incompetent
cy has been caused by strong drink
For the credit of the state We hope that
the charge against Gen Smith is not true
He is Nermonter, from St Alhans, and it is
painful even to suspect that he is guilty of
such crime.
u We have received from DIR Edward
Mattocks an official list of the killed, wound
ed, prisoners and missing of the Sd Vermont
in the action at Warwick Creek. 1t varies a
little from the one printed on our first page.
Among the killed we notice Samuel Thomp-
son OF Co. f. while in the list Of those NOR.
tally wounded who have since died appear
the names of Alonzo Hutchinson and Samp-
q Sweetland OF Co. ID, and Andrew A. Bail
ey Of Co. A. Among the prisoners of war
the rebels have John Roe Of Co. E, James
Eldredge of Co. +, and Patrick Devine Of
Co. k-the two latter given on our outside
among the killed. Among the missing are
VIM. Hurd and George Kibbie of Co. F, the
former previously given among the killed.
With these few corrections the probabilities
are that the report on the first page is nearly
correct. The record now stands: killed. a
died of wounds, 3; missing 3; prisoners, 3;
wounded, A.; making total of 50 in the
Sd regiment.
The paper which the doctor sent us con-
tanning description of the engagement, We
are sorry to say has not arrived.