Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-04-24
Letter from the vt. Cavalry.
ANNAPOLIS, MD, April s, 1856

i"t YOU hnoW tuat All yet awe ana IN
good health. No doubt but you have
head of the sad misfortune that we met
with on the LIST inst AT 2 o'clock, A. NJ.
the orderly came around and awoke us.
and told every man TO rise and saddle
bis horse and get into ranks in five min
utes, which we did. We had fallen back
from Evansville, the day before, some s
miles, and we heard that Mosby's men
had come to that place expecting to find
us there. We went round SO AS to come
in their rear, and we were somewhat dis
appointed in no; finding them there
Our captain said that he supposed that
they had gone down the pike to bait, and
we went down the road about two miles.
where there was road that turned to
the right, and we could see their tracks.
We took this road, and came to large,
nice farm house, and we saw them in the
barn yard. We were pleased when we
saw them, for we thought we had got
them in tight place for we had been
there before, and knew there was no
other place for them to come out only
in front of us, which they did, but not
without some loss.
When Capt. Flint saw them he said
Forward Company /; forward ! with
those carbines p
Poor fellow, he seemed to think that
Company | and those carbines could not
be defeated. We had to 60 through
gate before we came to the yard, and
when we got in, it was not a very good
place to come out.
Lieut.. Woodbury., of Co. B, came up
at the same time, and exclaimed Here
they are ANY quantity of them, boys"
and dismounting, he tore down the fence
10 order to take his company round to
the right, so that the rebels could not get
round us. When we bad discharged our
carbines and reyolvers we went around
TO the left, where we had to jump overa
fence. Part of the rebels followed us
and part Of them charged on Co. B.
and they were afraid to stand their
ground, because the rebels were dressed
in our uniform, and when they got in
among them, they could not distinguish
fri end from foe. We had, also, a COM
pany IN the rear for a reserve but when
they saw US running, they ran too-and
so it was every man for himself, and the
devil for US all as some OF the boys said.
but / think the Lord was for US all for
if be had not been, there would have
been more Of US killed than there were.
Although we have TO mourn the loss OF
our brave and noble Captain and Lieut.,
and some others, yet think we have
reason to be thankful that there were
not more Of US killed. We do not vet
know how many were killed, but we
have written TO the boys, and trust we
shall soon hear. There were rs Of us
Is out of our company-cousin George,
Seargent Perry, VIM. Chamberlin, (son
Of the late Rev. Schuyler Chamberliu,
Of Craftsbury that is all you know
Well, will now give you brief his
DRY of my journey to Richmond, and of
he accommodations at the Libbey hotel,
II Libbey Prison. We were taken as
prisoners about o'clock in the morning
and we had to ride all day hard without
anything to eat We lay out Of doors at
light, and at IL O'Clock we each got a
'iece of corn cake, about half as big as
your hand, and a small piece of meat
md the next morning the same. Then
We had to so aloot TO Culpepper, about
u miles. We were two days on the
Dad, during part of which time we 60!
omething to eat, and during the balance
We got nothing. The second night our
ebel captors got bushel of corn meal,
ONE bacon and dishes, and told us we
must cook our own cake; and we were
lad to get it so, for we Jared as well as
hey did, must say that they used Us
'ell. They let US have their horse-blan-
cts to sleep on, for we had none. Itel
on, there is an awful scarcity through
ut Virginia. Men, women and children
re almost in a state of starvation.
We took the cars at Culpepper at Z
clock in the morning, and got to Rich
ond at 2 o'clock the next morning
Te remained there three nights and two
lys. Our fare consisted of piece Of
read each, half as large asa pint cup,in
lie morning, and small slice of meal
/ night we had the same quantityol
'ead and some soup--or rather dish
it was no better than that ar
Gle, in any respect.
We took the cars at Richmond and
ent to City Point, seven hours ride
ur boat came up here on the james
and hrouUhs Iou-r ASO rabal mis-