The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-05-02
rHE BATTLE AT WARWICK
CREEK.
seen by one Of the Vermont Third.
CAMP NEAR WARWICK CREEK, Va. }
April Is, 1862,

CAMP NEAR W ARNlCk CREEk, VA.
April Is, 1862.
=. ElIoy Of The Caledonian:
Long before this reaches you the people
Vermont will have received the intelli-
..cr Of a hard fought battle near this place
which the Sd regiment were the principal
.a.s Twill give as correct an account Of
;, can from what saw and learned from
-rrs, although it will be difficult task, as
.:.y every man has different story from
uJmradeS.
Wednesday, the l6th-a day that will never
Jrgotten by ermonters-contrarv to our
-reca,ions, we had orders to march. AS
rebel works are only mile and half in
r4isht line from our camp, we were not
: il reaching it. In clearing just north
U camp the Vermont Brigade were form
il line. The Sd occupied the left and
- to protect the flank. With Capt West
ne engineer corps as guide, We filed across
-e.d into the woods. Soon we came in
~; u another clearing or opening, which
.0.owed along on the left or west side
Aerplng iii the woods. About this time
~ catering shots We're heard ahead
1e still kept ON until we came to an arm of
woods that seemed to extend out into
@ed. The timber was mostly pine and
t thick. and seemed to be ridge border
; on creek. Here We halted, when seve-
L. eompan.es were deployed as skirmishers
o.g front and on our tlanks. As soon as
y reached the creek, which was but few
IS in front of where We halted, the firing
me quite brisk. The creek is a small
-lM, but had been damned up SO as to
tAe ground some twenty rods in width
rom three to six feet in depth. This
'el ground was very thickly wooded with
~. wood, and, as We afterwards learned,
.y.--IeI away beyond the rebel works. Just
.,e opposite side of the creek. and par
-.' WIKI It, were the rebel rifle pits. Here
'a> that our skirmishers received their fire
.. acEe It was where many a brave fellow
's4iAed his last. | forgot to state that our
'-~yTy had commenced an active firing a
..,r 10 the right of our rear, and on the op.
''f SIDE Of the clearing from the rebeI
is.
LIS 'jrlns, with the firing Of our skirmish.
'.>"ao kept hid from view by secreting
7&SeivtS behind trees and logs, continued
--~' about two o'clock p. m. During the
It, Major Mott lost three men killed anC
! wounded from one gun. None of the
''.'nlsAeFs were killed and but few wound
Lieut. Moves Of Gen Brooks staff made
''econnoi>ance on his own hook. 1t was 4;
'''y daring feat, but think he was not a
ware ct The rebels strength, for it seems ht
.~' very much in favor Of a charge.
Al two O'Clock companies d, +, F and
'.'e ordered to charge. Their course wa
''1c''y through the line of skirmishers, an(
~ A~d scarcely passed when the firing com
-...-sl by the rebels, and our men began t
'~" VI they went through water so dee]
ID, 4ey only kept their cartridges dry b,
''''45 them Up. Several got them wet ant
''' c@aFse IN their guns, and were unable t.
-ao! they had drawn the charge, swabbe,
81 guns and got some dry cartridges Of
.''' c'mradeS. This those brave fellow
"Aen the balls were falling about ther
" nail. When they reached the middle c
creek the firing was truly terrific, as bal
'''''| after battalion poured their murderou
..',e> INTO them. The water foamed like
0''.A' cauldron SO thick did the lead fall ;
= them. On they went, and strange as
ed! seem, those four companies drove tie
.'~'' 'Aelr number from their pits! AS OF
) reached the works they gave tremel
- cheer and again charged. The rebe
Ike frightened sheep, and some ha
'.',aed as far as the fort, when the rebe
''celvlng the small number of their assai
u.s. rallied on their flank, and before III
y hardly knew they had an enemy O
~eir left, several regiments came nourin
N 'he woods and poured their murdero,
"'e opon those heroes! This was the tin
va. they met with their greatest loss. The
were taken by surprise and had not locke
'.E canger in that direction. Still they d
~'' quail, bat throwing themselves behil
"sy' Fetreated slowly disputing every in
ground By the time they had aga
'F''Aed the creek it had risen 50 much tn
'''''! actually s'ram back. The rebels ha
., p, 1ammed 81 that they can flow it at will.
'"9! came bringing their wounded wi
""''n' but were obliged to leave t,centy.ni
dead behind "