The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-11-24


have long before this time read every particular
OF the fight near Rappahannock Station, where
the 9th army corps surprised and captured up
wards Of thousand prisoners, aud where the
9Th Wisconsin and 9th Maine covered themselves
with glory, and the battlefield with their dead.
shall not attempt to give you any particulars of
that interesting, though bloo'y affair, beyond
what has already heen given. only wish to be
allowed to tell my story of the events as they
appeared to me, and tell it in my own homely
way.
We LEFT our camp at Warrenton Saturday
morning, little after sunrise, with knapsacks
packed, and with six days ratons The move
ment took US by surprise, although we knew
that such an event was liable to occur at any time.
AS usual we we're preparing our tents for COM
fort, not exactly as we used to in summer, but
exactly as we are obliged to in winter or freeze,
OF which hope may have occasion to speak
more particularly in some future letter. The
bows, of course, dislike to labor patiently on
their house " for several days, and then leave
the house and lose their labor but on this occa-
sion the offc 9rs were as much the losers we in
that matter, for nearly every one of them had
made fire places to their tents and chimneys to
their fire places, and apparently were as ignorant
OF any intention to move as the least OF US
Friday, the day previous, an old-fashioned
brigade drill had been ordered, which was
to take place at two o'clock, the usual hour,
but lust before that time arrived, we were not-
fed of the impending march, and toll that the
drill was TO be postponed, and we could devote
our time to our own benefit as each man chose
The principal military business that we had to at
tend to was to draw six days rations, and the
principal private business was perhaps to write
letter or so, when we were ready for any event
that might be called for. Long before morning
the orderly came to each and every tent to be
sure We we're all of US awake, and by the time
appointed, early daylight, we had shouldered our
knapsacks and our six days rations, and little
later we were on the road once more TO Dixie's
capital in as high spirits if we had never tray
eed that way before. We made remarkably
good time on DIR march, the weather was cool
and we kept our ranks closed 10 a manner as graf
flying to the officers as to ourselves. We &C
mplished twelve miles or more before noon.
By that time we began to feel that to halt and
rest for a short time would be an agreeable ex
change for so much marching, and tina! few
moments attention to the contents of our haver-
sacks would be by no means unpleasant. We
noticed in an open field in front of us that the
troops were budding 10 together in various
shapes, and we hardly knew whether they were
forming en- masse to give us our customary hours
incoming" or what disposal they were going TO
make of US. We had line Of skirmishsrs
marching on our right flank, who were deployed
a few rods in front of the troops, and these were
haltpg and moving as if in doubt of what they
really ought to do. Still further ahead as we
faced to the right, away to the top of the hill
could be zen another line of men, and there wss
quite discussion in the ranks whether they were
friends or foes. Before we halted to rest, our
regiment was swung round into line on the right
of the afternoon. Whether the line of men al
.lpded TO were rebels or not, it was now pretty
evident that we were in the near vicinity of the
enemy for the positions that the different com
inalds were assuming were almost exactly lik.
blfosb we always assumed when we approach the
enemy, or are actually on the battlefield.
During our halt here important preliminary
operations are going on elsewhere, aud when The
bNhle came for US to act our part we were ordered
'sfSf *4ta.I, 1iSkirmsh firing had commenced with
ssSfgpte,l and the object o: our mission was nc
e9hohger p matter of copjecturus. We marched
Siiaroloss column by division through piece o
Wspds where we halted OF the foot Of the hill, or
the top of which we had seen the rebel line o
,skRaishsrs. Aastrong line of battle now occu
pied the crest OF the hill, of an identity unmis
a3akaPle, with their faces leeward, while the rebe
,sshSlB ssts bursting over their heads in name
that might pqye popeyed any but the bravsst G
troopsy Sharp musketry firing was heard jls
over theSihTfias 9t the hill This hill,'
might syy liiaa ~ not at all like Vernon
tilA ebppt end stsssps but long continue
swell, rising barely high enough to hide thos
on one side sgHa RsaAs lsssH by those on the or
spoatsI AIcahAen- bAihfredson onsnside woul
Il L n