Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-01-08
18th Regiment in Camp near
Fairfax Court House, Va,
January ID. 1902.


Mr.. EDITOR Although but few days
have elapsed since ] wrote you, they have
been exciting ones for Our regiment, and an
account of the ''almost a battle" in which we
were engaged, may be of interest te yourread-
ers.
Sabbath evening, just as we had eaten oaR
suppers, the order to 'Efall in," was suddenly
given. Orders were given to hold our
selves IN readiness, IN light marching
order, with two days rations in our knapsacks.
Various rumors were of course inGulged in as
whereabouts we Were going. All was excite
ment about camp; blankets we're quickly
rolel and haversacks well lined with pork
and hard tack--soldiers best rations when on
a march. Soon the regmenta line was form
ed, and at a quick pace-almost a "doube-
quick we started, where No one seemed
TO know, but the impression prevailed that a
long march was before us aud many anurmAir-
Ell at the rapid pace we were taking As we
filed along through Fairfax, and turned down
the Alexandria road, it was said ''we were on
a rapid retreat" then that ''the rebels were
between us and Washington" This painful
uncertainty W 5, however, in a measure. soon
reheveds for as we passed beyond the East
ern limits of Fairfax village. sudden turn
brought us into the field behind a long range
OF rifle pits, when the command shalt" was
gwen, and our line of battle formed A pros
pect of immediate action was before ns. for
scouts reported that force of several thous-
and rebels We're only few miles off. Compa-
mes and q were detached as skirmishers.
and occupied position in the woods on the
hill, some one hundred rods farther down the
road. The 18th were ON the left of us. and
the l4th on the right; while the I'd Massachu-
setts battery, of 4 pieces, held the road. Po-
sltions being taken and the lines having been
formed, then was time to inquire what was the
cause OF this sudden movement On INQUIRY.
| learned that a detachment of Stuart's caval-
ry had crossed the river at Dumfries, and
were reported to be moving this way. The
force was estimated al 5000, and as we had
no cavalry force here to oppose them, it was
left to the infantry to take care of them. Ex-
| actly where they We're was not known. nor
whether there was force of infantry with
! them.
! We soon found out, however, where they
| We're, for an aid of the General came gallop-
ing down the road with the report that they
were directly behind him, and he had only es-
capped by fast riding. The order to load was
| promptly given and quickly executed, aad we
lay upon our arms waiting the tack. A mo-
ment more, and the clatter of hoofs accompan-
led by a fierce shout, or rather a yell, told us
that our skirmishers had been discovered AL
most simultaneously volley of hundred
muskets told us that they been well received.
| Every one expected to see their column rising
| over the hill, but messenger soon reported
that they had been repulsed and fallen
| back
Large fires were soon seen some distance off
and Gen. Stoughton rode down the road to as
certain what they were. AS he came back
the battery was brought into position, and at
his order, several shells were thrown in range
Of the fires. They quickly disappeared, and