Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-06-18

THE VERMONT SOLDIERS AT PORT
HUpsoN.-A private letter from one of
the lst Vermont Battery, dated Baton
Rouge, May 10Th, says:
awe have been in three engagements,
one of which lasted from sunrise till after
dark. We have been under hard firing
for Sc hours, and lost only one n an killed
Andrew Ward from Middlesex--and
thee wounded-J Joseph Sanders and Geo.
Small of SALISBURY, and Thomas Arm
strong of Montpelier. Marcus Wright
of Colchester had his horse hilled under
him. All the Winooski boys are safe and
well.
Our battery fought well. Gen. Sher
man said if they had all fought as well
as the LIST Vermont he would have taken
the works. Our troops lost very severely
in the last fight all the colonies in our
brigade. Three regiments Of nine months
men broke and ran on the battle field,
which caused the reverse, but think the
works will be carried to-day or to morrow.
The rebels have over three miles of para
pets with heavy guns mounted
can hear firing now, and want to get
back to have in it. | came here to get
my gun carriage repaired, having had
two sixty four pound rifed shell through
it.
The Sth Vermont forms part of Gen.
Banks force now besieging Port Hudson.
A letter in the Freeman, dated May 30th,
saws Colonel Thomas had the skin taken
off his forehead by ballet in the engage
ment of the 9th of May, The writer
says:
The fight is severe and contested inch
by inch. In front of the works where
we are now fighting, and at the foot of the
eminence on which their earthwork is
:hrowh up, is deep ravine or gully filled
with bushes, and in this gully, behind logs
and stumps, the reserve brigade have sue
ceeded in getting a position. = reach 1t,
they had to march down hill in plain
sight and easy range of the enemy's can
non and rifles, hut they reached it amid a
heavy FIRE, and soon made comparatively
secure place by throwing up dirt and logs.
Here they lie TOO low to be reached by
cannon, watching each other and every
head that comes up from behind our earth
works or the rebels is sure to have hole
/ in it,, as the two front lines of Yankees
and rebels are but a few rods apart. In
this position they have lain for twenty
hours, while our cannon are trying TO
drive the rebels back and let our men in
ever their byeastworks. 1Ve are sure to
setch them.
TIE New York Times correspondent,
writing from Port Hudson, Nav 3lst in
speaking of the assault on the 9th says !:
Among the many individual acts of
bravery on this day one is especially worth
recording. Captain B. g. Halsted. the
brave and interchangeable Assistant Adm
tand General of Gen. An ur, thinking
that the enemy could have their attention
drawn to another quarter, got Captain z.
O. Holcosab of tie I'd Vermont battery TO
bring him one gun rs soon as he could.
With this oae little field piece, aceompa-
med only by Capt Haisted and eight men,
Captain Holcamb kept aashing about the
groand, firing upon the enemy, shifting
his position the moment the enemy began
TO play upon bin, and thus managed
throughout the Eight to keep one or two Of
the enemv's guns eonrtantly wasting fire,
that would otherwise have been playing
with deadly EFFECT among our men.
Captain Holcomb is the same who
played so conspicuous part III the battle
of Plains Store. He is a brave and de-
serving old MEXICAN soldier. whose merits
should not pass nnnoticed. His highest
ambition. have been told, is TO have the
command of a negro regiment OF cavalry,
and it is to be hoped his wishes NAV he
granted, for IN such earnest hands success
is a matter OF certainty.