Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-05-21

them terrible lire. Still on they went
gaining the ravlne in front of the 4th, and
at the same time force further to the left
came up, driving in our front lines, threat
ening to cut US of flom the river Col.
Stoughton now changed front forward to
his original position, and poured in fresh
volleys, holding the enemy's lines in check.
In the meantime the 5th Vt. had arrived
from the right and posted behind crest
to support the I'd, Seeing that Coils, Wal
bridge and Seaver were able to hold their
front, and that the enemy were pressing
to turn our left, | ordered the 9th further
to the left and to position completely
commanding the ravine should the enemy
succeed IN tianking the 4th.
AT this time the roar of battle was ter
rlble, the roar of cannon and rattle of
musketry surpassed all description. The
enemy had three times our number in front
but the Vermont Regiments stood firm
and unbrokeu, huggng closely to the
crest, and literally presenting a wall of
fire.
Baiiled IN their efforts to break through
our lines, and perceiving that the battery
on our right had left its position, the en-
envy rallied and made an attempt to turn
our right, but the Oh Vermont was there.
The rebels not knowing what awaited
them, rushed desperately forward, and
nearly gained the crest, when the 9th rose
and poured a terrible volley into their
quivering ranks, and then immediately
charged upon them down the slope through
the ravlne, on TO the crest in front from
which our front line had been driven. In
the mean time Lieut.. Col Martindale had
rallied the 10Th and charged down with
the 9th. The enemy were utterly routed;
they gave away in great confusion, and
many of them Were taken prisoners The
ground in front of the Cd, Sd and 9th was
literally covered with the rebel dead and
wounded So far as this point was con-
cerned a complete victory was gained, but
on the left the enemy was still pressing to
cut us off from the river. ordered the
I'd, Sd aud 9th Vermont and the Goth n.
j. from the positions they held and the .
ground they had so nobly won, to form a
new line to the left and nearer the river.
Not knowing what the danger was on the
left, and being conscious of having gained
a SPLENDID victory, the Colonies command
ing these Regiments at first questioned the
authenticity of the order, but upon being
informed that the order was imperative,
they quickly changed position as directed.
At this point of time the enemy was max
ing desperate attempt to force our left
He had gained the left OF the 4th and 5th,
| and fearing for the safety Of the 4th,
which was now almost unsupported,
withdrew that Regiment, and it was plac-
ed in support of Buffers battery, from
Newton's division, whose timely arrival
and deadly fire assisted in checking the
enemy's advance at that point. Dark
ness now came on and the battle ceased
the enemy having been completely foiled
in his attempt, by the remarkable cool
ness ana brilliant conduct Of the Vermont
troops.
Not knowing the strength of the force
between our left and the river, | formed
new line in strong position, prepared
to repel any attack. The regiments in
( this new line We're formed from left to
right IN the following order, to wit: the
9th, 9th, 10Th, Sd, ID, and 18th. The 5th
was deployed as skirmishers, its left rest
ing on the river In this position the
! brigade held the front while the balance
of the corps fell back to Banks Ford.
where bridges had been constructed across
the river. The brigade then slowly
retired, It's skirmishers following in the
rear.
Upon arriving near the Ford the brig
ade formed new line of battle, and sent
sklrmlshers far to the front (Which had
| now become our rear.) The skirmish
line being attacked, the I'd, Sd, and 9Th
Regiments We're sent out to support the
sklrmish line. The balance of the corps
! crossed the river, then these three regi-
| ments and the skirmish line followed. To
Col. I. q. Seaver, Sd Vermont Volun-
teers, acting as General Officer of the
day, Is due the credit of bringing off these
three regiments. To Major c. p. bud
ley, 9Th Vermont Volunteers. under the
direction of Col. Seaver, is due the credit
of safely bringing off the skirmsh line
the last squads crossing the river in
boats after the bridges were partially
removed.
So far as space will admit, this is a
faithful account of the part taken by the
Vermont troops in the battle of Banks
Ford 1t was terrible struggle. If we
believe what intelligent prisoners informed
us, the rebel General Lee was present di-
rectlng the attack. He skillfullv massed
and hurled against us a terrible force full
ly expecting to annihilate or capture the
whole corps. No less than three corps of |
the rebel army We're engaged; and no
less than three brigades fought the "Green
Mountain Boys" to wit, Louisiana a
North Carolina, and Mississippi brig
ade, each consisting of four Regiments.
The Louisiana and North Carolina brig
AIDES must have been nearly annhilated. |
The Colonel commanding the Louisiana
brigade, whom we captured, admitted that
we had taken and killed and wounded the
most of his brigade. The number of
prisoners actually captured must have
been over one thousand, but owing to the
imperative order Withdrawing the ID. Sd.
and 9th Vermont, and Goth New JERSEY.