Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1863-05-15
-FOUR Army Correspondence
FROM THE 18TH REGIMENT.
UNION MINIS, Va, May 4. $50

UNION Nuts, Va, May 4. 1868.
Dear Free Pres;
On Friday morning last, the
Twelfth broke camp and moved towards the
front. The orders Of the General Commanding
the Division, called for regiment to go out to
Warrenton Junction, for the protection OF the
Railroad, which has lately been re-opened to the
| Rappahannock, and is likely soon to be an i'm
portant channel of supplies for the army; and
the Twelfth was selected for the duty. The reg
iment, oficers and men, were glad enough to
leave Wolf Run Shoals, and to 60 where there
was prospect Of more active service, and took
up the line Of march in high spirits. The sick
men we're, Of course, left behind, in the camp
hospital, and will be removed as soon az practi-
cable to the hospitals in Alexandra. The regi-
ment reached Union Mills at about eleven
O'Clock, and shortly after took cars for Warren-
ton Junction. The main portion Of it now lies
in camp about three miles beyond Warrenton
I Junction, two companies being stationed st Cat
let's Station, this side
am On detached service at present, and did
not accompany the regiment on the march but
was glad to improve the Opportunity to visit
them yesterday Taking a seat on the engine Of
supply train, in company with Col. Blunt and
several officers Of the Brigade, VIC whirled away.
We soon reached the historic ground Of Manas
sas Junction, It's plains scanned with rife-pits,
and its low hill, crowned with earth-works, Al
most by the score Thence to Catlett's our iron
horse picked his way more carefully over rails
which were torn up and bent on fires Of the
ties by the rebels last summer, and have since
been Strengthened after fashion and rclaid, and
along track which is strewed on each side for
miles with car trucks by the hundred and other
burnt and blackened remains Of the trains de
stroyed by Gen. Banks, and by the rebels in the
famous raid on Gen. Popc's headquarters before
the last Bull Run battles. The surrounding
country from Bristow's on toWarronton Junction
and beyond, is a fine, high, open and COMPARE
lively level region, in strong contrast with the
barren hills along the Occoquan. the scattered
planters houses showing evidences of more pros
perty, and the fields under cultivation to
greater extent than in any portion Of Vir-
GINA where we have hitherto been stationed.
Near Bristow's we were stopped by a frighten-
ed telegraph operator. on horseback, who said
he had Just escaped from Warrenton Junction,
which place he reported in the hands Of the re-
bel cavslry-who according to his account had
come in and captured the whole force Of Union
cavalry there. We heard his story and pushed
on to Catlett's where We learned different one,
and fastening on to Warrenton Junction we
soon had the evidence of our own eyes upon the
true state Of the case. force Of cavalry in the
| blue uniforms Of Uncle Sans boys held the
Junction. and the bodies Of a dozen dead horses
strewed around the solitary house ut the station
told Of a sharp skirnish on that spot. Springing
from the train, had taken hardly twenty steps
before came upon the body Of a dead rebel
stretched stark and cold, face upward, in coat Of
! rusty brown and pantaloons Of butternut. They
showed me papers taken from his pockets, show
| ing him to be one Tcmpleman, a well known
scout and spy Of the noted Moseby's command.
Passing on to the house found lying around it
seventeen wounded "butternuts," Of I'll ages,
/ from boys Of sixteen to shaggy and griz1led men
/ Of fifty years. They lay III their blood, with
wounds as yet undressed, for the skirmish ended
but a little while before we arrived, some with
( gaping sabre cuts, some with terrible bullet
/ wounds, through the face, body or limbs. 1t
was a rough sight -Four or five rebel prisoners,
unhur,. stood by, with d0wncast flces, but will
ing 10 answer readily all civil questions Close
/ by, covered decontly with a blanket, lay the
body Of a union cavalry man, shot in cold blood,
after he had SURRENDERED and given up his arms,
by young longhairei rebel, who had received
his reward for the dastardy act, and lay near his
victim, with severe bullet wound in his stomach.
The floor Of the house was strewel with wound
ed union cavalry men, among them Maj. Steele
Of the lsi Virginia, MORALLY wounded, and two
of Moseby's officers. Their wounds had just
been dressed, and the surgeons began to give at
tention to the wounded rebels outside.
From men engaged on both sides, soon
learned that Moseby, who has recently been
made Major for his activity IN the rebel service,
with 125 men, made dash upon the outpost Of
the lst Virginia Union Cavalry, at the Junction,
about nine o'clock that morning The men Of
the lst Virginia were taken by surprise, dis
mounted and with their horses unsaddled, and
after short fight surrendered They account
for their surprise by averring that the front rank
of the rebels were clothed in L. S. uniform,
and they supposed them to be friendly force.
Moseby was, however. little too fast for once.
He was not aware Of the presence Of a portion
Of the 9th y. Y. Cavalry, in camp in piece of
wood near by, squadron or two Of which made
their appearance on the scene, while the rebels
were securing their prisoners, and charged in on
them at once, hot foot. A running fight followed
in which the prisoners were all retaken, and
twenty-three Of their captors killed, wounded
and made prisoners. Moseby was chased for ten
miles, his force for the most part scattered him
self, as it lie reported. wounded in the shoulder,
and a number Of his men wounded who made
out to get into the woods and escape capture
The lst Virginia lost their Major mortally wound
ed, man killed and nine men wounded, and the
9Th Y. Y. Captain and two Lieuts wounded,
not very badly. The result of the operation was,
you see, altogether il our favor. Three men
Of the 18th Vt. were taken near the camp, BY
Moseby's men, but escaped in the skirmish, one
of them bringing in a rebel horse with him. The
pickets of the 18th took a straggler from Nose
by's force. A party Of the LIST Vt Cavalry,
which is in camp Just beyond the 18th, joined in
the pursuit of the rebels, but was not in at the
.kirmish
Going on to the camp of the 18th Vt. found
the regiment encamped on pleasant piece of