Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1862-04-25

10 the battery ana was received with en-.
thusiasm. He congratulated the Captain
upon his accurate 6ring and complimented
the battery as " one that could be relied
upon.
Two or three men had been wounded
among our skirmishers, and the battery
had lost in killed and wounded 7 men
When our guns took their iiIss position
the enemy had the exact range, and in
shots cleared gun No. l of all but ser.
geant and corporal. Three men were
killed and four wounded at this piece.
Though the two rebel batteries, which
had thus far been active, were now virtu.
ally silenced," no one, as we have sur.
gested, deemed that they were permanent.
ly So and it appeared to be well enough
understood that the enemy's game was to,
play "possum" and draw US on. Yet it:
was now deemed necessary to know With
some degree of certainty the enemy's force
at this point and his disposition to fight.
Upon consultation between Gen. McClel.
Ian and two division commanders it was
therefore, determined to make more de-
cided demonstration of attack, and accord.
ingly, between three and four ?. NJ, three
batteries we're ordered forward into the
open field, and opened fire at about five
hundred yards. This again woke the en-.
envy up, and he responded warmly for
twenty minutes, and then once more lapsed
into silence. Not deceived by this our
three batteries continued to play upon his
position for some minutes longer when
word was brought to the General of the
Vermont brigade that the creek was easily
fordable at some distance to the right of
our batteries, and Col. Hyde in command
of four companies of the Vermont third
who had skirmishcd in advance of all
others, was ordered to send two of his
companies across the creek at the point
where it was said to be only knee-deep,
to advance them to the enemy's left and
charge the work in rear He accordingly
sent across companies ID and T, and sup
ported them very closely with companies
E and X. Meanwhile our batteries Lc-
came silent. Companies D and + were
led by Lieut.. Whittcmorc. No sooner
were they in the stream than the water
was found to be much deeper than had
been stated the men went in to their
arm-pits, and every charge of their anu
milton was, of course thoroughly soaked.
This attempt was made below the dam,
and it is possible that the enemy, when
he saw the intention to cross let in more
water by food gate than had been in the
stream.
While the men were in the stream. a
largo body of the enemy, estimated at 3
regiments, opened fire upon them from
rife pit on the very bank, and this terri
bic fire cut down nearly half their num-
Der. Never, however, was fire received
with greater stcadiness or more glorious
intrepidity. Except those hit, not u man
of the magnificent Vermonters wavercd,
but all finally pushed on. and with one
shout arose upon the bank, and rushed
upon the enemy with the bayonet, and fairly
drove them out in utter route and confusion but
the contest was too unequal. No support were
within proper distance and though the enemy
was driven away from the first line Of pits, and
the other two companies of the third were in the
water to cross, those on the other side were or
dered to retreat, and did so, very reluctantly
however, and fighting tenaciously at every step.
Once more our batteries opened, and kept up
! their fire with great vigor until dark. Meantime
the blood of the Green Mountain Boys was up,
and at dusk the Vermont 4th, Col. Stoughton,
and the Vermont 9Th, Col Lord made brave
but Intellectual attempt to pass the stream on the
dam ; but the enemy had the gun in his one gun
battery trained particularly upon this point, and
they were swept back by the combined fire ofthat
gun and the enemy's rifles. There was consd-
cradle loss in the 9th, which was in advance.
The division General at this time ordered the
fire to cease, and our men slept upon their arms
in the position they respectfully held and beyond
doubt the fight will be renewed today.
Our loss cannot yet be positively known but
it is not far short Of one hundred in killed. woun-
ded and missing. -
All agree that the loss of the enemy has been
severe. Many were seen to fall, and they were
observed to be very busy in the removal OF the
men on stretchers.
Where every man exhibited the qualities of the
soldier in such splendid manner 1t is difficult to
particuarize yet the names Of Lieut., White
more, who led the two companies of the third
Vermont and of Coils, Lord and Stoughton' OF
the 9Th, and 4th, are in oil mouths as the specia'
heroes of the day.
Thus it has been found rather extensively
that the enemy's position is very strong one
and that he means to defend it.