The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-05-20
A Soldiers Letter-No %.
CAMP NEAR WHITE OAK CHURCH, Va,
MAY IL, 1868.

we had our second days fight with the enemy,
which is almost long enough ago for news to spoil,
but as never aspired to be a newsletter, and
only write when have nothing else to do, just to
keep myself out Of mischief, will venture to give
al account of that fight as it looked to me, with
cut comment Or apology. The task would be
much more agreeable if it related to a glorious
victory instead Of another repuse and another
hopeless retreat We really think we ought to
have one general victory after SO much hard fight
ing, and SO many times driving the enemy, but we
will try and not be unreasonable.
When we had finished the fight of Sunday we
sacks, and strapping them to our backs once more
started in pursuit of the flying foe." We march
ed up through the city of Fred ericksburg which
looked sullen and gloomy as though it brooded
revenge for the mutilated buildings pierced by the
shells in the former battle. A few grinning dar-
kes were seen at the doorways and at the corners
OF the streets, gazing in childish curiosity at the
men as they passed along by. We asked them
where all the white folks were, they said they were
in the house out Of sight. / could not exactly
divine the meaning of their answer.
Passing Oh through the city we marched west
ward to where Gen. Brooks with his division was
fighting, that we might render him assistance if
necessary. Before we reached the battle field,
however, we met large squads of straglers, some
wounded, but the majority we'll as ever, which
told us plainly enough that some regiment had
got broken or scared to pieces. AS the fighting
to the left of the road through the woods and
brush, and took up our position for the night
Tired almost to death, and hungry enough to eat
our hard tack without coffee and not grumbIe. for
no FIRE to cook was allowed, we finished our plain
repaSt, and was sooa wrapt in blankets quietly
sleeping in the dense pine thicket, totally unmind-
full of the dread excitement we had gone through.
or the bloody task which to-morrow's duties
might require of US. We were not aroused till
We had had plenty of sleep, and ample time was
gwen Us to prepare and eat our breakfast. Every
thing seemed to be as we'll as heart could wish,
aud our antcipations rose high of an easy and
glorious victory. But our hopes were quickly
annihilated when volley of rebel shells fired
from the very hill we had taken Sunday, came
kissing over our heads and bursting in our midst.
This sounded in our ears as the death knell OF all
we had been toiling and hoping for, and we knew
enough to know that instead of marching tri-
,Gmphaatly on to Richmond, the prospect of hav-
ing to skedaddle for our very lives was much more
Eminent We packed up instanter, faced about
and marched back to take up position for de-
&nse. We marched from place to place, taking
position in one spot, and then moving to another
so that to the enemy it might appear that we had
a considerable force. At last we halted in an
open field sheltered by slight swell in the
ground while a strong line of battle was posted
in front of US. Pickets were thrown on. and
everything was quiet till about five o'clock in the
afternoon when attack on us commenced.
Our line was in the shape of an OK bow, with
both ends resting on the Rappahannock, and Gov
ering Banks Ford, some four or five miles above
Fredericksburg. We were on the eastern side
of the arc facing the city where the heaviest attach
was made Gen. Brooks division was on ou
right and Gen. Newton's on our left, while an
other brigade guarded the bridge at Banks Ford
Our line was far from being strong enough to re
sst such bold attack as the rebels brought agans
US, outnlmberng our forces three to one.
The attack was made in regular Jackson style
and for while we supposed that that intrep
General had brought large reinforcements agains