Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-05-22


were to die or conquer; every nerv
was strained for the coming contest, til
columns of that rebel horde poured OF
the skirmishers were continually firing
Our batteries opened with shot and can
lister, and it was terrible to see the fear
full havoc it made among them
They were cut down like grass, still the.
poured on. / cannot say too much il
praise of Capt. Martins battery, ever,
man stood at bis post, and they name,
the guns till the rebels were SO har,
on to them that they hit them with thei
rods while loading the guns. The com
handing officer then came to our Colo
mel, and told him he could do no more
and left his battery Tor us to save or lose
(our regiment being its support.) VI
to this time we had not fired gun, bu
lay concealed from the enemy till they
were upon us /; now the regiment rose
poured volley Of death among them
and then charged. The air was rent
with the shouts of the conquerers and
the cries of the conquered. We broke
their line and drove them in dismay
took greater number of prisoners than
our regiment itself, together with four
Colonels, four Majors, and about twenty
Captains and Lieuts. We charged more
than 100 rods, and the ground over which
we passed was literally covered with the
dead and wounded OF both sides. If we
had support at that time of one corps,
we could, | believe, have annihilated the
rebel army in our front, but as we were,
with our whole force on the line, and no
reserve, we had to fall back for had we
remained there ten minutes longer, they
would have came on with heavy force
and captured US all. We were obliged
to leave all our dead, and most of our
wounded upon the field. The force we
net was North Carolina brigade, and
also that Legion, known as the louisa
ma Tigers. Prisoners, that we took of the
latter, said they were never whipped be-
fore, and that they had rather fight SO
many devils than the Vermonters, &C.,
but this is of no account, and must has
en- on for | am already writing more
han one will wish to read. Gen. Brooks,
Howe, and all who witnessed the charge
made by cur regiment, pronounced it tot
re the most daring thing they ever saw,
II heard Of; that history fails to record
more hazardous and fearful. !
an scarce believe my own senses. The
oss in our regiment was about 70 killed |
md wounded. Capt. Ainsworth was
killed, and Capt. Hutchinson, and Lieut..
Crane, were wounded. In the Orleans
company, (D) Corporal VIM. Livingston
IT Albany, was wounded in the arm,
corporal Hobert Bliss of Glover, was
wounded in the shoulder seriously, and
AIKEN prisoner. My company had seven
and one we fear MORALLY.
ome regiments behaved shamefully,
the goth N. Y, which broke
nd run; many of them threw down
Ieir arms and run into the rebel lines.
he 29th New York, which is in our
rigade, did little better, though the
Ulcers were more to blame than the I
zen. III may be allowed to say it, and /
is allowed by all, the Vermont brigade !
as the saving Of the 9th corps. If :
e had broke, our fate was sealed, and
know it, and the struggle was there
re desperate. Our brigade held the
lemy at bay, while The troops and ar
lery was removed to this side of the (
yer. They expected to gobble us up, i
It they missed of their game, and our g
tteries were got off without losing |
IN. They pressed US hard from three b
les, still we held them by strong b
irmish line, and they did not advance IT
1t, not knowing what they might run
to. Our regiment and the End, was
, very last that crossed the bridge.
icy had already began to take I'D the
moons before three companies of our
giment reached the river. We got
S side about daylight May 9Th; on the fo
rmish line all night. The rebels she'll d,
the bridge, yet little damage was done, th
recrossed the river at Banks Ford, W
ne miles above Fredericksburg, and ar
" here we are of
will not speak of what Gen. Hooker en-
for you already know more than /, Sc
lough the chief plan was a failure, til
| do not consider it as wholly de- W
!, we punished the enemy severely Gil
they suffered a much heavier loss Sc
n our side. l never saw the army in mi
ter spirits than it is even now. We di'
TX we may move again soon. no
will give, before closing, some reso- i'