Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-12-04
REPORT FROM THE FIRST YER
MONT CAVALRY.

GHS. 7. I. wAsHRuhg
Adj and lns. General, &c.
sR - have the honor to transmit the following sd.
the recent campaign.
During the engagement at Brandy Station on the ii,h
lhst' MAJ HAL, not yet fully recovered from recent ILL
nesh' was compelled 70 turn his command Mai
Bennett who, in the absence Of his own battalion had
been lately acting my aid rendering valuable
distance on various occasions I heard nothing from
Maj Hall after he lef field until about noon Of he
l2th when learned that he had crossed the
mock the night before, in advance Of the column, and
noettNning that the regiment had gone 70 HARDWOOD
Church. had started with small detaohmeu' to rejon
~ Near Motrisve, being enormously informed by an
infantry solder-pethaps spy guerrills in Disguise
,hs, had camped mile farther on he left 1t Grant to
prog up the column, and rode forward with single
Derby report TO me Neither himself nor orderly ar
rived and II Is feared he captured by the guerrias
Who had lately lurked about that neghborhood
About three o'clock on the morning Of the 18th re,
ceiVed orders 20 have my cOmmand-lst Vermont and
oh Michigan resiments-at Morrisgie by daylight and
moved out as could assemble the various de-
tachmtnts joining the division at BeAon Station AZ a,
bout eleven o'clock a. From this point we marched
by crcutous route through woods aud fields. toward
WaHeuon, covering tie ett aank Of tue ID Army Corps
and Al about ten p m. hvouaoked about three miles
from Bucksnds Mills. Rarly next morning were
aroused by the noise Of sftilery and musketry and
the whole division marched back in the direction Of the
hrnR but finding assistance not required IN tepel
ling the attack resumed the march via Bucksnds MILLS
10 Ganssiemy regiment having the post Of honor I'M
Il We passed the lat Brigade At the former place. AZ
ins,lle the division in order Of battle ot sewers
hours Awaiting and expecting attack, but not receiv
the Bun hun battle ground where we were reinforced
BY Gen MERITS brigade u REGULAR troops and covered
the flank Of our army during this day and the next The
division rtmsined on and about ths field until the 18TH
inst. doing guard duty and having iona kfmishes
with the enemy, who VA in force at Gainsye and
bed thrown forward his grand guards far as Gtoveton
near the southern border VI he field.
A. about four clock y, ~. Of Sunday 18th was OF
dered advance rapidly possible towards Gains
vile by the New Market road which DIVORCES from tho
direct turnpike towards the LEFT and convergnp, unitc'
with 1t again near Gans,iile Immediately threw for
cd b Hfus..t -. 10. .a
countered the enemy The whole Of The lst battalion
soon became engaged, Maj Bennett and II Cot Pres
ton pressing the enemy vigorously and Maj Wells keep
ing his reserve battalion well up to The skrmish line In
few moments the rebels broke aud fed ptecpitatclv
pursuing them hoty that Gen. Custer said be lost
Us Al ne Junction Of the roads We were joined by ID,
% New York which had advanced by the turnpike and
drove the enemy upon his resttye at 0ansvilie 1t was
now datk aud, as he prcscnted very formidable line
fire, ordered 70 attempt farther advance but
to hold the woods until further orders This kept tho
regiment on dut, through The entire nighta cold and
rainy one and mex morning IN the hope II relieving
the men, sent word ~ Gen. Gust that would dtvt
The enemJ hom Gausyilc in ten minutes il permitted
His reny was, o. drive him out Al you please
mg Bennett Immediately depoyed his battalion Maj
ellis supporting. The enemy threw forward strong
skruish line as il he had at ess brigade in reserve
but suspectiuR rusc pushed forward The batNlions
rapidly. Company H. having officer with hem,
At first To hesitate, but upon nay sending thtm Lieut.
CLARK Of Co 7, they rallied and sdvanced CALAMITY 80
With This tiihng exception the CALLING FIRE 10 viii We
we're eNpnseL cid not for moment check but the
10 with hearty cheers and nobly redeemed my
promise. he enemy. who had thrown his Whole
strength into his skrmsh line fed too rapid, to be
thken lost no men aud but few horses extract tht
following from Gen tustis official report % this affair
The Fsi Vermont Cavalry under Col Sawyer deserve.
great c. colt for the rapidly with which they forced 'h'
enemy to retire
Bur GU success did not bring MS The rest had hoped
mot even time to make coffee The road being row
clear an imnnda ad arce of the dVison was ordered
with the purpose of occupying Warcuton. Near Buck
lands Mills however It was found that the enemy occu
pied strong position before u.s. aud prepared with
artillery TO dispute further progress J or
fon hVui " ey
tdent we would be attacked upon left flank. Capt
Pennington advanced n that direction and opened
brisk aud as We then thought. aud the proved
destructive IRE. | formes my reg mcnt in column O
squAdfons uwon his ef. pushing il we'll forward and de-
poying two companies Of dsmounted ca'bneers. who
skfmSheu WIN me enemy unul some time ater the
guns were wiibdrawD We were exposed here to very
heavy he from the large force which brought against
me guns but from It's too great elevation, escaped with
slight loss. seeing the battery safely withdrawn. and
that was opposed by roth ipfanrg and cavalry, in
pefior force, and rapidly advancing u front and upon
both fauks ordered the regiment TO be Withdrawn
cross Broad Run. which done IN excellent order.
Toward night was dered To watch the e. envy upon
our right and Immediately engaged him with skirmsh
until the brigade had reached the turnpike and in
full retreat. While coming OF the enemy pur-
sued US with great Wig charging orr and Smelling
the column
My loss during the VII le series Of engagements and
skirmishes since the l0lh inst has been provden,av
small My field and staff Ulcers have uniformly shown
their usual eooluess and CALAMITY would particularly
mention Majors Well and Bennett fqr good behaviour
upon the l6th-he latter remaining in rear under heavy
hTe until all the skirmishers safely the bridge
the former displaying great energy and GOODNESS IN
keeping perfect der in the column during the
Captains Ray and HszeItou, Lieut. Williamson. com
handing skitmishcrs, and Lieut.. and Acting Adjuian
NJ A. stone, also entitled To my warm thanks.
ought to say TINT in mention ny tee mean dispa-
agenent others. All behaved we'll, and indeed have
always been prompt to obey my every order upon the
htld
The following Il list NJ casualtes
MAN Mout tsv LIE Oct 18Th.
Missing-Maj. Josiah Halli rthate Norman A. Nor
BccKt,,p, NIrl, ocr I9rm
FO'm6cG-Srryt. Horace A Tide, d. in shoulder
| Private Deuui, q. faah7. Go G. slightly.
Missing-Corp, Henry j Hicks, Co. NJ; Alex Bio,
/ Co NJ
| Very respectfully.
| Your obedent servant,
Il Is. SAWYER
| Col. Con'g 3 u Cavalry