The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-05-23
Green Mountain Soldiers.


engaged in a skirmsh al Yorktown, in
which they won unlading laurels.
-Four companies of the gallant regiment
were ordered forward early in the morn
ing, on reconnaissance as skirmishers,
supported by Motifs battery. Their ap-
pearaEce was greeted by the insolent
rebels with taunts OF cowardice, and shouts
of braggartism dancing on their ramparts
in defiance, and welcoming our forces in
true Southern style. They soon, however,
had occasion to repent their ;emerity. for
these children Of the mountains had not
handled the rifle from be yhood to no pur-
pose, and the corpses Of several Of the ex
ulting traitors atteSled 10 the deadly aim
of the practiced riflemen. This skirmish-
ing consumed the greater part of the
morning, and from noon ill four in the
| afternoon, these four companies rested
from the fatigue of their previous labors.
They were then drawn up into line, and
addressed by their colonel, who told them
;hey were ordered TO cross the creek and
take the enemy's entertainments. Ayers
battery OF twenty-five guns, commanded
by that accomplished officer, covered their
advance. The order is given 20 march.
They rush forward at the double quick,
and soon reach the stream twelve rods in
width and bre ast deep. In they plunge,
with muskets and cartridge. boxes held
above their heads. From the rifle. pits on
the bank storm of lead is hurled furi-
ously upon them as they struggle through
the water. The sub.aqueous warriors
return the fire, loading as they wade sIowy
to the shore. On every side some one OF
them is being hit by the shower Of bullets,
and the stream is choked with the dead
and wounded, some of the latter being
dragged to the land by their uninjured
comrades. At length the noble fellows
gain ioothold on the oank, but half
drowned as they are, with a wild and
hearty hurrah which their native hills
would have rejoiced to echo, they rush
forward towards the foes deiences as the
word "charge" is passed along the line
whole regiment of rebels, who doubtless
thought that the river had brought forth
marine monsters for their destruction, fled
before this handful OF dripping soldiers,
and the Vermonters held possession Of the
rit. Before them was the rebel redouot,
iormidably strong behind which the reb-
els, exceeding them by many hundreds
10 numbers, kept up continuous fire.
Notwithstanding these disadvantages,
they fought for over an hour, in the mean
time receiving reinforcemVhts Of four com
panies of the Vernon. 9th, and four Of
the Vermont 4lh. Most Of the foe were
shot through the head, and not until two
additional rebel regiments came up and
poured a calling fire upon their flank did
these sturdy mountaineers abate their re-
sistance or their fatal aim. Then sullenly
they retired towards the stream which
they had crossed, fighting as they re-
treated, the rebels being totally unable
TO force them into rout. They arrived
at what was, to some of them, indeed a
River OF Death and again plunged in, bear
ing back their wounded, still replying to
the hailstor4 of bullets. Many were
shot and drowned. They formed again
on the opposite bank and renewed the
conflict, recklessly jumping back into the
creek TO pull from watery grave q
wounded companion, displaying instances
OF individual bravery and glorious devo-
ton to their helpless friends which honor
our common human nature. ...
AS soon as the rebels swarmed into the
vacated rifle pits and were preparing to
charge upon the retiring Vermonlers, al
the word of command from Capt. Ayres,
his twenty-five pieces of artillery thun'
dered forth q noost accnrota vollav " bicI
silenced every rebel gun behind their en-
lrenchments, and swept the rebel forces
away by the score. 1t was scientifically
done. and the precision with which the
discharge Of these cannon was managed
saved the remainder of the heroes who Sc
gallantly had sustained the old-timec
aurels OF the Green Mountain State.