Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1863-06-25
From the Free Press. .
FROM THE sTH REGIMENT.
In THE TRENCHES before Port |
Hudson. June 2, 1868. I

FROM THE sTH REGIMENT.
In THE TRENCHES before Port
Hudson, June 2, 1868. !
Editors Free Press ON the o4th of
May, COL Thomas brigade embarked
at Simsport for this place. The brig.
ade had acted as rear guard for Banks
army in their evacuation of West Louis
lana, and were the last troops to leave.
Some anxiety was felt by us, for fear Port
Hudson would be taken before we arrived
and we be deprived of any part in its cap
ture--but these fears have been most thor
oughly dispelled. We landed at Bayou
Sara IL miles above Port Hudson, on the
morning of the Goth, marched from thence
to within two miles of the enemy's outer
pickets, remained there through the 26th,
on which day general advance splan-
ned and ordered for the next day. Gen.
Banks whole army had encompassed and
surrounded the place. New Orleans was
cleared of troops. as we'll as Baton Rouge,
and every other post in the Department
except just enough to do guard duty. At
5 o'clock on the 9th, everything was or
dered to 60 forward aud not stop until the
place was ours.
confne myself to short account of
the doings of Weitzel's division. This
was formed in the almost impenetrable
woods and broken hills that seem to sur
round the place First was Col. Van
Zant's brigade the 9th New York on the
right; next was Col. Thomas brigade, on
the right; next Gen. Paine's brigade, 4th
Wisconsin on the right The whole di-
vision was put in motion-the lst Louis
lana thrown forward as skirmishers in
front of Van Zant's brigade, e,--and so ad.
vanced the brigades, being half mile
apart, for about mile, when the skir-
mishers came upon the enemy, who open
ed sharp FIRE. Van Zants brigade soon
closed upon the skirmishers, but we're met
with such terrific fire that their progress
was arrested and some of the regiments
thrown into confusion. This was the
state of things when Thomas brigade
came up; not wishing to state anything
outside of my personal knowledge, l will
only tell what the 9Th Vt. did. Stopping
just moment apparently to take in the
situation, forward they sprang, with a
deafening shout, at double-quick, dash
ing through the 9lst and through the
skirmishers, they were for moment in
close and fierce contest with the rebels,
and though the rebels broke and fed back
to their entrenchlnents, 81 gallant Yer
monters lay bleeding on that hin side
the fearful price of victory and glory.
The rebels were chased at dead run
through and over their first line of en-
trenchments (uot 6nished) and up a steep
j hillside where we were ordered to halt.
The brink of this hill was about 20 rods
from the enemy's works. The Sth imme.
diately commenced throwing up rude for
tifcations, from behind which they picked
off every rebel who dared to show his
head, and it is no more than fair to say
that the rebels returned the compliment.
This is still the situation of the regiment.
Heavy artillery firing is going on almost
constantly, and there is hardly moment
but that we are under heavy FIRE of shell
and grape, solid shot and musketry. The
hillside however, is thickly covered with
and various modes Of protection have been
adopted, 50 that ten have been killed and
wounded here making total of 81 men.
From the best can learn, the attempt
was, as whole, sad failure Gen Sher-
man. (or N. o. lost leg. Gen. Dow
was killed, and large number of federal
officers, and 400 men killed and wounded.
The lst and I'd Vermont Batteries were
engaged. but with what result or what
loss, | cannot learn. Gen. Banks has at.
tempted, alone. what he expected to have
great reinforcements to accomplish. Let
! us hope that be will be. as successful as be