The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-01-09

but sombre the picture with sad forebodings
of scenes to come. Through that day nothing
further seemed to be done. Occasionally the
rebels would throw shell crashing through
the buildings-but few casualties occurred,
and the wonder was that they did not make
the city too hot for US. At nightfall most of
the troops found shelter in the houses. Our
division was quartered in Caroline St. Col
Bendix selected fine corner house as his
headquarters, himself and staff occupying the
best parlor and the line officers the rest of
the honse. This house like all the rest had
beer riddled by shot and pillased by the men.
Here was evidently the home of wealth, refine
ment, and taste. What wreck will the reb-
ell DIR Henderson finG when he returns to his
ruined home. But the reflections suggested
by looking at the work of war in one house
hold are not worth writing, when the whole
world is suffering from the same cause. After
exploring the dwelling, four of US took posses
sion of feather bed each, and dragged them
down to parlor which we took for our quar-
ters. Here we built nice fire in the stove,
and might hrve been seen taking supper from
off handicapped retable, drinking
our coffee from china cups, and making our
selves at home generally. How disguised
would Miss Henderson have been to have
seen our familiarity with her excellent toilet
arrangements,as we fixed our hair and nous
taches by her bouIoir mirror. | shall nev.r
forget that night Two Of lily companions
were soon enjoying their feather beds, so
novel to them but Capt Winchester and my
self were not inclined to sleep, but spent con-
siderable time in examining a library of choice
books-fnding volume of Poilok's Course
Of lime, the hours till midnight We're spent
by the Capt reading from it, while listened
to his rch finely moduated voice. die was
the best reader | ever heard.) Poor Win
chester! A perfect hero, my ideal of so!
dier. Alas. we shall not look upon his like
again-his wife will never again "Set the Ia
BILE in a roar" There is cloud of sorrow
over all his old comrades, since he died. But
the circumstances of that night before he
fell,makes one feel nearer to him than would
otherwise be. But am breaking the thread
of my story.
Morning came.and the hustle in the streets
indicated that this would be no play-day
Every one who thought at all felt it was no
easy task to capture the long line of rebel
works which with great natural advantages
to start with they had had a month to strength
en-. 1t looked like folly to attack :hem in
front,but l supposed there must be vulnera-
bic point somewhere which could be forced
while our corps did its duty in front.
cannot give an Ineligible description of
the battlefield. Imagine gradual rise of
ground running back from the town dis
tance of three-fourths of mile. but little
broken, but intersected by several stone walls
and board fences Here at the summit, the
rebel batteries are built in great numbers, SO
as to completely command the whole field.
They could turn 40 guns on any given point.
and the distance over which troops would
have to pass before reaching the enemies
works made it impossible for any troops to
live under the consuming fire.
Orders soon came 70: US. Kimball's brig
ade is to lead.and ours is to follow 100 yards
in the rear, to support them when necessary.
But | can't describe the slaughter-I don I
| call it battle-sufticient to say, We went in
as ordered, and in the course of an hour and
a half went up within close rifle range of the
enemies sharpshooters in their rifle pits which
were dug in front Of their works We staid
there till If brgades had come up to our sup
port. All this time, the rebel shells were
bursting in quick succession, and our mer
were falling fast. One Irish regiment charg
ed over us and went short distance beyond
! hev were in advance about three minutes
and came back in disorder with less than hal
their men. Their breaking over US created ;
panic. and the whole mass turned and fled
followed by he!l:sh fire. Many poor fel
! low fell in that fight. tumbled into ditcl
before reaching cover, and the mud adled f
the blood and brains with which vas be
smeared, made me frightful picture.
On picking up the scattered fragments Q
our regiment, it proved that out OF 900 mel
taken into the field 60 were killed and wound
ed-of the officers Capt Hopper and mysPl
were the only ones uninjured. Capt Win
chester and Lient Touly were mortal
wounded Capt W. was relative of NJ
Winchester of Corinth.) Part Of the mex
day found myself in command of the Regi
ment. After day We were detailed to he'll
remove the wounded from the hospitals, anc
during the next night the whole force move
back to the northern side of the river. W
are now back in camp. l wish could Sc
the papers, and learn what the world know
and thinks of this affair. have been abl
TO learn but little of what was done on ou
, left. What is to be attempted next is no.
the question.
1t is getting to be uncomfortably cold il
deed there is no comfort in camp my finger
are numb with cold as l write. A fire
, front of our tent is all we have to warm by
,,oros oro MT to hp had H, V VI,