Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-06-13

FRoN The CAvALRY.-We copy below the
principal portion Of an interesting letter, re
ccived Thursday evening by Col. L. B. Platt,
from his son, Capt.Frank \. Plato Co. 4.
After describing the carliev events Of the
retreat from Strasburgh, he says:
We Companies 4 and c } finally took up cur
position on a by road running parallel with the
pike and about ten rods from it, 70 await the arri-
val Of Gen. Hatch with the balance Of the cavalry
lthis vas N aiddiet0Wn). very soon the enemy
opened on Us with their battery, some half mile
distant. We were obliged 10 stand there and re-
ceiye their FIRE for nearly 30 minutes 1t was here
that poor Thomas nall fell mortally wounded by
piece Of a shell. He was taken into house and had
his wound dressed by a surgeon, and there we were
obliged to leave him, for We had no ambulance to
carry him on, and do not think he lived long after
we left him His brother Alexander refused 10 leave
him and was probably taken prisoner. Here also
the brave Capt Cilley Of the lst Maine, fell, with
his arm shot Of near the shoulder by a she'll
We we're then ordered to take our position on the
pike, and there were compelled TO wait for the
wagons to pass, until the enemy had cut US of
from the main body. Msj.Lollins was commanding
US at the time. The order then given by
Gen. Hatch to "draw sabre and move forward
He Immediately turned the head Of the column to
the left and avoiding the pike, saved nearly If
not all Of his command, but Major Collins, not
hearing or misunderstanding the order, gave the
order TO "chArge." The roads were so dusty, we
could not see what was ahead Of US. could not
even see the man aherd Of me This accounts for
not seeing where the General had gone with his
command.
Well. we charged three separate times down
that pike and three times were brought to a halt
by the baggage wagons. The two FIRST blockades
We managed to pass by fling to the right and left,
but the last time there were four wagons Joined
together completely blocking up the road. 1t
was here that very many of the poor boys
were killed. Many more were thrown from
their horses, and killed by the horses
running over them. Here, for the hrst
time, the dust cleared away so that could sec
about me. In front was the blockade Of wagons
on the right a stone wall, and behind it one full
regiment Of rebel infantry not ten rods distant,
ana to the right of the infantry Eve companies Of
the infantry five companies of rebel cavalry, and
the three brass six Founders l spoke OF be-
fore. In the rear the road was blocked up
with our cavalry, SO there was no retreating. On
the left was n high stone wall, and behind it about
forty rebel cavalry, but no infantry. l had just
time 10 discover our position when rebel caval-
ryman saw me- and saw that was an officer. lie
Immediately jumped his horse over the wall into
the pike and raised his carbine t0snoot me; but
fortunately there was baggage wagon between
us. leaned forward on my horse, dropped my
sabre, and snatched my pistol from my holster,
cooked it, and raising myself suddenly, fred. The
ball struck him in the breast, he dropped his car
binc, threw up his hands exclaiming my God,'
and rolled from his saddle. l rode around the
wagon to assure myself that be was dead. do
not think he moved after he struck the ground.
In the mean time the enemy were firing volleys
Of musketry upon US, and their battery opened
upon us with shell and grape shot. / then gave
the order to take the stone wall to the left, turned
my horse that way, and he took the wall without
touching it. In the field met Lieut.. Edwards,
and together with men, we took to the woods.
Lieut.. Edwards showed great courage and coolness
throughout this panic. My own and many Of the
were spattered with blood, but strange TO say,
we were none of Us injured.
We kept in the woods and on by roads, out Of
sight Of the enemy, and arrived at Winchester
about o'clock, P. NJ, and there l found few
more Of my men, so that 1 could muster eleven
men all told. l expected to find many os my men
With the regiment the next morning, but in this.
| was disappointed. They had not seen them -
This think was the saddest morning Of my life
to think thBt l had led into hattie but the day
before about eighty as good and brave men as ever
entered the field, and they had all been sacrificed
save eleven. This Sunday. On Tuesday
| learned that Colonel De Forest Of the Ira Har-
ris cavalry, was coming over the mountain with
twenty-five or thirty Of my men. ssure you,
this day of rejoicing in camp. The Colonel
brought in between 200 and 800 OF our Regiment
most of whom we had given up as lost.
I have now ffty-two men in my company
There are still good many missing. l am in
hopes there will be msre in, but it looks rather
gloomy as the days pass without any more addi-
tions toour little band.
May so.
have just heard from L. l.. Shonyo from South
Hero. lie is safe but wounded in the thigh. 1
think not seriously.
Colonel Tompkins has gone to Washington to
get arms, camp eqipage &c, for the regiment, and
| am left in command.
Our Regiment lost everything but its good
name.
A letter from Adjt. Pitkin, dated May 81
says that Corporal Wheeler was unirjured ;
and that Shonyo has come in, wounded in
the thigh, but doing well. No more Of the
missing men had come in.