Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1863-11-20

nant victory OF our corps, on the 18th INST,
at Rappahamock Station, but lest it should
he forgotten that Vermont =" had hand in
it, | will give you brief account OF the
battle.
While our brigade has no especial claim
To urge to the victory. which rightfully be-
longs to the LIST Division, we may be pardon
ed for feeling common pride 10 the order
of the Greek CrUss-
Our corps brckr camp at Warrenton ear
ly on the morning Of the 9TH At noon we
sat down line Of battle-arms stacked
and coOlly eat our dinners before the enemy 5
works The rebel pickets looked on in Won
der, evidently surprised. and not aware Of
our intentions.
The formation Of our corps was a. follows:
LIST division on the left; ID division on the
right; Sd division in reserve. Our brigade
formed the right Of the second line of battle,
the % and 5th Vermont regiment resting
near the river, the latter regiment partially
deplOyed as skirmishers. In our front was
the 81 brigade of our division, connecting,
on it, left, with the lst division.
In this order, at p NJ, our lines ad-
vanced. The rebel piekets exchanged only a
few shots and retreated toward their rifle
pits When our line OF battle reached the
high ground. distant about mile from the
fort, the rebels opened FIRE with shell from
several heavy guns. Our own batteries,
which. % tins time. had kept concealed in
the edge Of the woods in our rear, now adj
yanced u the front, and the firing became
rapid, spirited and exciting. As our lines
contracted the 9TH Vermont advanced to the
I front and toward the Ford. In doing so
they came in sight Of the enemy, who sent
: bis compliments in several well-almed shots,
wounding, either with shell or by stones
thrown up BY them, two or three men IN the
regiment
While this duel was going on between the
artillery forces, most OF our brigade lay down
behind the ridge Of ground where our bat
teries were stationed. Shot and shell came
Kissing, bounding, screaming and bursting
all about u, several ugly pieces calling loud
I " for certain individuals. bat not more than
two or three casualties occurred in the brig
ade, none fatal.
The enemy was said to have 10 guns in bis
works, several of them 20-pOunders. He evil
IDENTIFY intended to hold bis position until dark.
and then Withdraw at his leisure, as he had
bridge, partially treesle-work and partislly
Of pOnJoOns, in the rear Of bis works IN
this be miscalculated on bis man. Gen.
Sedgwick had other uses for his gun- and
garrison.
~ soon a. it became dark the infantry Of
our l,t Division advanced nearer the enemv's
work. The artillery fired les rapidly. and.
Of course, with not much precision. At this
time J was standing near cur batteries.
where ! could overlook the whole position
A. our infantry advanced nearer the riie-pits
our artillery ceased firing. for it was now -
dark that e. could not h. distinguished from
friends az = distance Of 20 PAGES. Musketry
continued, however, much al random. and
the quick flashes Of the guns marked out the
line Of FIRE upon the thick blackness OF the /
night. The enemy kept firing from several f.
pieces Of artillery. for he knew our forces
were nearing hls works Finally our forces .
charged upon the f1rt- The cannon below. .
lng hercer than before, shell screamed; grape .
and canister and minnie balls whistLed strange
tunes-aud over and above all rose the fierce
shouts Of battle. Now W. could hear the
clear, heavy swelling cheer II our own men
then came the sharp, yelpinz shouts Of the
enemy. ten minutes passed IN this manner.
and We were Vet in doubt A. 10 how far our
brave boys had succeeded. Squads Of prison
ers came 10 the rear occasionally. but an was
firing Quoted down until scarcely a gun was
heard " blaze seen. This vas the D.. hull
before the storm" All at once sheet Of
deadly FIRE shot over the riAe-pits, and ran
along the lines then there came shout.
and It was Of uiotory-every thing was ours.
And then the lines in the rear took IN the
shout, and there went up cheer which made
the night ring ike huge hell struck with
a slcdge-hammer
In the morning visited the scene Of con-
iict; the victory had been complete Manva
battle viii 70 into history with more sound
ng name. but venture 10 say that, consid-
arng the forces engaged, this is one OF the
most brilliant victories on record
Over 400 prisoners Including two brig
.dler generals and over l25 commissioned 7
'thcersl. seven pieces Of artillery. seven stand
4 colors, or battle-hags, three caissons. one
iag-stah from which the colors had been :
orn and all the small arms Of those captured. A.,
Tiled and wounded, fell into our hands.
Inc hattle-hsgs were covered with the :
ames Of every bloody field, from Manassas 0
Gettysburg. One flag noticed had eight
attle-names upon it.
The final and successful assault WAS made 4
= the 9TH and 9th Maine, 9Th Wisconsin. r,
2lst New York, 49th and 10th PENINSULA
~ Reglments-all Of the lst Division. The
5th New York. and perhaps some portion Of u
lother regiment had been previously Skin :,
fishing on cur right, but without loss.
The regiments captured were the 5th. 9th.
n and Sth la, 9th. i5th, and 57th Y. 4
be battery captured lie said to have been NJ
e celebrated " Washington artillerv-the
i of New Orleans. o.
IL Will thus be seen that the greater por- Of
m OF sersH regiments and battery were eli
Ptured behind strong defensive works. bv =,
4y sT Of our regiments. II NAV also be >
nembered that four Of these regiments IN
tn and oth la, and 54th and 57th n. CA III
the same that fell into the hands of the :.
D Vermont IN our charge at the battle of
NIX Ford, on the 18th Of May last. They In
onged u HAY and Staffordfs brirades If III
rly : division, Ewell's corps. -
lhe e1emys works were carried at the =
mt OF the hayonet, some Of our regiments
wing been ordered 70 un-ap their pieces
ore the assault, IN order TO make quick no
sure work. The assaulting column was fan
med as follows on the Ieft 9Th T..
Inc and 9th Wisconsin, supported by the s
IL ana lIsth Penn. On the right. 5th oh'
Inc and l2lst Y Y. The last named rr,- Ian
'nts carried the works in frunt of the en- s,-,
bridge, thus cutting off retreat. and
lering escape impossible The bridge one
INTO our hands, the enemy only succeed Ag
IN breaking down the west end of it.
he scene Of uprOar and confusion which
'eeded the assault cannot be described
thick darkness made il almost inrossi- OF
to distinguish friends from foes. Manv ave
: were thrown into the river; one Colonel -.
several men were caught in a nude state =
he edge OF the water, having stripped % bes
or swim. cur,
ol. Edwards, of the 4th Ne, told me- nor
he received the swords of five Command
officers OF different regiments that he :,
at one time seventeen swords in his
), but finding himself overloaded was
yed 70 stop receiving. the