Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1863-11-11

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with the whole division, On the second
King George county expedition, that has
given General Fitzpatrick and his division
such notority. from the novelty of can.
turing the Two gunboats By reason of
a mistake Of staff officer in making the
assignment of the order of march. nv
regiment was thrown in the rear of the
column, until we arrived in the presence
of the enemy. near the scene of the Skin
mish OIL the q of August. Here | was
given the post Of honor My duty was
to ascertain if there was any enemy in
"those' woods in our front, and if SO to
drive them out if could. | detached
company as advance guard, and closely
supported them with the entire regiment.
We did not have to proceed far in doubt.
We soon encountered their pickvts, who,
after exchanging few shots, retired under
cover of the woods. The road from King
George Court House to Port Conway was
narrow road, running through dense
woods for distance of five miles; and
through these woods, with less than fifty
dismounted carbineers, we drove the rebel
infantry skirmishers, and passing the
woods into the open fields, drove them the
other side of the Rappahannock. Here
| found the TWO gun boats and the rebels
busy in getting out the machinery. My
sharp-shooters soon drove them from the
boats, though they we're anchored we'll
under the south shore of the river. Next
morning occurred that famous "bombard-
ment' of the gunboats of which the coun-
try has heard so much. There was how
ever no further fighting.
The regiment returned to its old camp
near HARDWOOD on the Sd of September
and Immediately resumed the line of pick
ct duty on the Rappahannock, and contin-
ued in the discharge of this duty until
the commencement Of the campaign south
of the Rappahannock on the II Of Sept.
1t having been made known to me by
Brigadier Gen. Custer, that was to as
sumo the command of the brigade on the
next Monday, during his twenty days
leave, and every appearance indicating
long quiet, | accepted three VS. leave
to visit Washington on cmportant bust
ness. private and official Saturday eve
ming heard vague rumor of some move
ment of the cavalry corps at the Kappa
hammock. took the first train for the
front-fortunately found my horses at
Warrenton Junction, and following the
trail overlook my brigade at Racoon Ford,
on the Rapidan. Culpepper had been
passed, but one had no need to spoil for
want of fight The comWand of the
second brigade now devolved upon me,
and being required to send one regiment
to picket north of the Rappahannock, |
was obliged to send my own. Its history
for the next twenty days is more properly
reported to you(as indeed believe it has
been in part) by the officers in immediate
command . .
| have this, however, to say have
always exacted from it, its full share of
the burdens of this arduous campaign,
and have ever found it prompt to respond
to my call; and have always felt safe
when it was on guard. Having had the
fortune to command other good cavalry
troops, during the late exciting campaign
south of the Rapidan, am proud to say
that our own we'll tried regiment, at
least, does not suffer by comparison
with any.
d | shall reserve an account OF its partlc-
ipation in the campaign since the 9Th
inst, for subsequent report, promising
that it has added new laurels to its be-
fore well earned fame,
am, Sir, very respectfully,
a#4 Your obi servt, M
i.b Il. B. SAWYER,
iti7i .l o Col. First ". Cavat'y.
CAPTURED. -Quartermaster L. l.. stone,