Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1863-05-14
From the Burlington Free Press.
FROM THE sTH REGIMENT.
NEAR OpELoUsAs, La, IN THE FIELr,
April 22d, 1868.

NEAR OPELoUsAs, La, IN THE FIELT, !
April 22d, 1868.
EDITORS FREE PRESS The last time
wrote you the Sth Vermont was comfort
ably situated in tents, at Berwick Bay
resting upon the laurels won at the battle
of Corney's bridge. Since that time they
have done themselves a credit and imper-
ishable honor. Gen. Banks finding it
impracticable to make land attack on
Port Hudson from below, turned his at
tention westward, and brought his entire
army, save enough to hold Baton Rouge
and New Orleans to Berwick's Bay; SO
that instead of a single brigade. where
each officer was acquainted with every
other one, the mind became bewildered
and the eye confused, in contemplating
the masses. of troops poured in upon that
point-but after much delay, order seem
ed to be restored, and the advance move
ment commenced upon a powerful and
strongly entrenched enemy on the 18th
day of April. Gen. Weitzel's brigade of
which the Sth is the right, led the way.
Before we had marched two hours the en-
emy's artillery commenced playing upon
us and the Sth was again under fire. The
rebels made stand at every sugar-house
and were only driven out by our skirmish-
ers and artillery. Their artillery'consist-
ed of Simms Battery, the Valverds and
Pelican Batteries, strongly supported by
cavalry. AT every stand made by the
enemy the 9Th was drawn up in line of
battle to support our artillery. Some
times the 10Th N. Y. and 18th Conn. of
Weitzels brigade took our places. For
three days this state of things continued
ron Sunday morning the enemy reached
their Fort, and long line of entertainments,
extending to the swamps. so that they
could not be fanked-this was the same
point to which we drove them in our for
mer expedition. 1t was now much
strengthened and was commanded by Gen:
Taylor, Gen. Monitor, Gen. Sibley.
About 2 o'clock in the afternoon our heavy
artillery was got in position and Balm
bridges Regular Battery of IL Founders
was ordered in close range Of the enemy's
works, with the 9Th Vermont as support
cambridge got his splendid Battery into
position under cover Of the fire of siege
guns, manned by the q st Indiana. The
enemy we're sheltered in their entrench-
ments by huge brick sugar-house, by
live oaks, and the natural conformation of
the ground-and The 9th had to march
under the concentrated fire of the enemy's
batteries to Bainbridge's position. The
fire was terrific and the steady advance of
the 9th under it, was one of the most
creditable actsi the whole expedition.
On arriving at the proper point they were
ordered to lie down and protect them
selves, and here for three hours were these
brave sons Of Vermont exposed to an ar
tillery fire which for Gerceness Gen. Banks
says has not been exceeded in this war.
The shot and shell from our own gunboats
aud heavy guns went over the 9Th into
the enemy. While from the enemy, shell,
spherical case and solid shot burst every
moment over their devoted heads. The
most vivid accounts of the vibration of the
earth the deafning roar occasioned by these
artillery fights fail to convey an AIDE.
quatc idea to the mind Of person who
has not "been there" The men we're as
well protected as possible, and the only
! officer wounded was Lieut. Col. Dilling
, ham, who with Col. Thomas, was in his
place ready for any emergency. Clever
! Of the men were wounded and killed, while
the miraculous escapes were numerous
cambridge used up all his ammunition
and Duryea's Battery relieved him. Al
dark we were Withdrawn out Of range O
) the fire. Early next morning the artille
ry commenced booming again---Bainbridg,
being in the advance, according to custom
and military usage, another Regiment wal
} ordered to support him that day SO thai
the 9Th might rest.
r Capt. cambridge, West Pointer ani
, a regularly army officer Of great ability