Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-05-29
Our arntp Correspondence.
FROM THE .REGIMENT
CAMr CARUsI, May 70, 1868.

Mr.. Editor There was little guerrilla
raid on one Of our wagon trains, day before
yesterday, which for the want Of more inter-
estng matter | will briefly describe to you.
Take your map and you will see that the
river along which our pickets are stationed
runs in an espterly direction, Opposite the
Occoquan and little more than one mile
north our camp is situated on what is called
the COX Road This road runs in n north
westerly direction to Fairfax Station, orr base
Of supplies, which is about eight miles dis
tant. The country along this road and be-
tween it and the river is one almost unbro-
ken wilderness. There are few little
clearings, to be sure, in which you will find
little log houses occupied by a few poor, lean
lousy, long haired virginians pretending to
be neutrals but believed to be secesh and
the whole country is cut up by little roads
and by-paths that run in as many different di-
rcctions as the quilts Of porcupine point.
Having given this outline Of the country,
] will relate what occurred. Day before yes
terday morning about o'clock. as three Of
our wagons drawn by twelve mules and four
horses had got as far as Mount Carmel Chap
ell, about five miles from camp, they were set
upon by eight armed horsemen, and with pis-
tolls presented az their heads. were made to
surrender. OF course all resistance would
have been useless, for they we're uuarmcd.
They Embarrassed, left the wagons in the
road and our boys being obliged to get upon
the bare backs Of The animate were soon hur-
ried away 30 The left through the woods
towards the river, distant about Eve miles
There were three teamsters--Cave of Co.
l. Austin Of Go. II, and Griffith of co. b,
together with three men who were with The
teams and on their way TO the Station on bus-
mess. These were Sergts Boyce and Silsby
Of Co. b, and Private Guy Woodard of Go.
G.
Corp raj Thomas T. Smell Of Co. was
on his way 20 the Station, not more than ten
minutes behind The others, and coming up
with the wagons and cut harnesses he knew
at once that there had been a capture, and
With the utmost speed he ran back to camp
and gave the information Col. Randall was
sick and confined to his bed but 1t. Col.
Munson, quick as thought. dispatched one
company up the river on this side sent an
other across the river to 20 up on the other
side and try to head them off, and took three
others along with him up to the wagons and
thence along the trail Of the escaping thieves
Here was a time when we needed cavalry.
few good cavalry men could have overtaken
them and spoiled their fun; but the cavalry
that We had had here had been gone some
days, and we were left to our own rcsour-
ces but these such as they were, we used
There are three mounted orderlies here. and
they were in the saddle and dsshing along
with jingling sabres beside of Col. Muuson,
in an instant. On followed the infantry with
flying feet. In trice the commssary and
quarlermaster sofgeants, accompanied by Mr.
w. b. Burbank, of Montpelier. all mounted,
Iu gbqd aef b,
cd great assistance in following it through
the dense and tangled Wilderness The chase
was very rapid and highly exciting. The
weather was very warm, but who cared for
that when we knew that there were rebels
ahead.
There was one amusing feature of the chase
which ] must describe. When the quarter
master heard that his mules were gone. he
seized his pistols aud stretched his long legs
in pursuit Picture him, Mr. Editor, with
his long hair streaming in the wind, flying
through the forest, leading alike horse and
foot, and refusing 20 turn back when all were
exhausted till he saw that the chase must be
frutless. | would give money for ii in Frank
Leslie's
We pursued them TO the river and there
learned that they had crossed an hour ahead
of MS. They were lhcnin the onemys coun-
try and in good TOAD OF course it was
vain to follow Them One company did, how
ever, a short distance, hut finally gave up the
chase and we all came back 10 camp. The rob
els kept on, and ,hreo us four miles from the
river, on the Prince William side, they en-
countered Sergeant Geo. II Fuller. of Go @.
who was on scout and captured him. They
went on keeping only four OF five miles from
the line of this department, crossed the rail-
road It Manassas Junction, kept up 20 Gans-
vile, and there released their prisoners on
parole. They then took their course towards
Thoroughfare Gap. The boys came up on
the Bull Run battlefield and staid at a house
over night, and came back to camp Yesterday
somewhat sore after their ride and ceiling,
like all the rest Of us, a little sore because
we are obliged to stay here, suffering now
and then raid, &c, without being allowed
to 90 out and meet the enemy
This guerrilla force consisted e Lieut.
VIM. r. Smith, 4th Va. cavalry and two
other cavalry men, together with five mount
ed and armed citizens They came in d
went out of lines, at ford Of the river which
had been barricaded, and was pronounced i'm
passable. Some sympathizng citizen had the
night before cut away the barrieade, and early
in the morning, they had crossed. 1t was
eoht hArhanCt huuNe tue PICKET OF the loth
and only about eighty rods below the pckets
OF the l4th but the foliage was so thick
think the pickets could not see them. No one
was at fault aPprehend in the whole affair.
The course Of our trains is so far in the rear
Of our lines that it has always been considered
perfectly safe and certainly could not have
been troubled without the aid Of citizens. We
have not force enough to guard the road, and
as for sending guard with the teams, why
should about soon think of sending one
with the stage from Montpelier to Barre.
On the other side Of the river the prisoners
reported demonstrations Of sympathy and
cheers for the rebels on the part of one OF two
citizens, and as we regard citizens responsible
for the affair we have held them So We have
been over and captured a number Of good hor-
ses, more than compensating for our loss. And
they may understand that when they under.
take to play the game Of stealing or fighting
we are ready for them. Yours truly, C.
FROM THE TENTH REGIMENT.
CAMP HEINTzLEMAE, NEAR PooLsyILLE,
Md, May 18th, 1868.