Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1863-07-17

Ntlt On.ND lt0ls Inc -lle WIZ fNtIHtl- NA1Ht-
cd round and passed to the rear. and pressing
on. the boys of the 18th took two more guns,
rebel pieces Just brought forward. with some 50
odd Of the "grey-hscks" who were supporting
them. This ended the fighting for the night
The 18th fell hack to the original line. which
thus restored by the Vermonters was held by
our brigade to the close Of the battle, and hell
too. in spite Of two desperate charges Of the
enemy
With the darkness the firing ceased. and we
heard then from our front that sound which,
once heard, viii not be forgotten by any one
q low. steady Undesirable moan-the groans Of
the wounded, lying by hundreds on the battle
the field IN front Of our lines. Ny horse started
aside at every rod from the bodies Of dead men
or horses, and wounded men. Z. s soldiers and
rebels, in about equal proportions, were making
their way slowly within our lines. Some Of the
latter said that Gen. Barksdale, Of MIS-, Lay
MORALLY wounded out beyond, and begged to be
brought in party from the l4th was sent TO
search for him. but be Wa not found TIL near
morning I saw his body soon after the life
had left IT. in the morning, and, having
seen him on the floor Of Congress. reco-niz-
ed It at once He was dressed in
suit Of the light bluisb-grey mixture Of cotton
and wool, worn commonly by the rebel officers.
with gold lace upon the coat sleeves and down the
seams Of the trousers His vest thrown cQsn
disclosed hall hole through the breast. and his
legs were bandage1 and bloody from gunsho5s
through both Of them. He fought apparently
without the Wig which Speaker Grow once
knocked of in the Hall Of Representatives, and
his bald head and broad face were uncovered in
the sunshine.
Our troops dropped in their places and slept
again upon their arms obtained IN hour OF
two Of grateful rest, and then was rousei 20 g
in search Of m ammunition train No one
knew It's exact whereabouts. and for the remain
der Of the night rode To and fro through The
region Ii the rear Of our army IN o frutless
search. The ride however gave me an idea Of
the extent Of the blooishei thus fay Of the fight.
which as the evidences Of It accumula;ed became
absolutely appalling. Every BARNARD the
barns are unusually large and expensive in this
region-was a hospital, It's floors covered will
mutilated soldiers, piles Of auputatei arms and
legs lying outside, and the fields around strewei
with uIfortunates. awaiting their turn under
the operating knife Trains Of ambulances
filed with grooming inmates. covered the reals
The wounded men whom met. sometimes ass.s-
ted by q comrade. but quite IS of-cn wandering
alone. who would ask me IN flint tones 60 dire.t
I them 70 the hospital Of their corps OF division.
were an sure hundreds n number. aui af
+ course met hut a fraction ri those who we've
thus searching ny night for relief lt seemed
10 me that every square yard ou d stretch nt
many miles must have rs hl1ad stain
+ returned 70 tine hrlcaie 20 davtr,aa. and
was salutei as came ur with o sba1 which es-
+ ploied few feet of It- successor ua.mei rhe
horse q enc ,fihe Generals orIlrhe.. another
. s;iu took of the hoaf Of another horse. das. by
us. when We took the hunt and removed the
horses below the ridge The artillery fre wa
quite SHARP fr while from the rate' batteries
/ opposite u.s. hun died away imam hour or se r.
was only feiutto attract attention while tbe
enemy was preparing desperate attack urar
the extreme right Ahout SIX O'Clock tire mus
I kerry firing became Tremendous about mile 90
/ our right Wec,uld SEQ nothing nj IT tut Tire
white smoke rising above the.trec-tor- tut the
volieys rollei in one continuous crash of thuuler
f0r soreH hour. The sound did not re-cle NJ
all. and We knew therefore that our -iie brI
its ground
While tins Vas gong o.. a, u turnci out The
enemy was collecting ms hartcries below the
crest Of the ridge over against MS The BATH.
ground here was bread open stretch Of meadow
land, the gr1unl slopn- away from the low
rounded ridge on which cur batteries were rla,cl
and Just below tho brow Of which our mflntv
lay IL a double line Ct battle. perhaps SO ylrI.
apart, and rising % q similar rounded ridge
over against Us, from half To three 15urths ola
---- f--A--- v az -ltAA rs A--E tl-LlN guy
men improved the lu1 TO make Little protection
by collecting the rails from the fence. and ril-
ing them III q low breastwork perhaps two feel
high. This would Of course be a very slight
protection for men standing erect but for men
lying PROSTATE they proved a valuable covcr.aud
We found We needed every such assstanoe before
night
About two O'Clock couple Of guns from the
enemy gave the signal. from seventv-fve 70 a
hundred guns we're run out upon the ridge over
against us, and for an hour and half. what OLD
veterans pronounced 70 10 the severes- canpors5,
Of the war in the East was opened directly uron
US The air seemed TO be literally f1ei with fv-
Ing missiles. Shells vhizzed and popped on every
side Spherical case shot exploded over our heads
and rained iron bullets upon US the Whitwortb
solid slot. easily distinguished by their clear
musical ring, few singing by, grape hurtled
around Us or ratified IN an iron storm acainsl
the low projections Of rails. and round shot
ploughed up the ground before aud behind u.s.
The men needed no caution 10 hug the ground
closely Al lay motionless, heads to the front
and faces 70 the ground. Occasionally man
would be struck but saw none killed outright.
and the loss from the artillery was on the whole
wonderfully snail The wounded men invari-
by received their injuries without cutlery. ard
lay and bled quietly in their places They W.
derstood that for Their. comrades o. atternrt 20
remove them would be almost certain death. and
waited patiently til the close Of the fight should
allow them 70 be cared for. The general and
his staff alone when orders were 20 Dc airen and
carried. stood erect or passed NJ and down The
lines, and kept close watch 70 the front for the
first indication Of the expected charge. OF course
Cur batteries were not silent. They fired rapid
y and well. suddenly with a loud explosion
caisson Of the battery Just on our left blew M.
struck by a round shot The smoke rolleI M
IL.