Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-08-06
Report from the Second Vermont
Battery.
PoRr HUDSON, La, }
JnlY Il. 1863. (

July II, 1868,
PETER Y. WAsHBURN, Adiutant and
Inspector General:
SRI have the honor to report the
. art the ID Vt, Battery has taken in the
re cent active movements of the army in
thin : Department.
we left Baton Rogue on the 18th OF
MAY last. The following day went out
with Oudley's Brigade on the Bayou Sa-
ra roa, to the Plans, six miles from this
place: met a cavalry force of the enemy
which dl sappeared after We had fired a
few rounds.
On the Dist of May Chapin's Brigade
joined us, the whole belonging to Ma. Gen.
Augur's command. Met the enemy Al
the Plain Store, where they had a battery
posted, supported by three haadred m
fantry and two hundred cavalry. One
section of the 18th New York Battery
were ordered up, and after firing four
rounds retired, and four pieces of Go. G..
9TH Artillery L. 5. A. were then ordered
up, and after firing some gme, exhaustng
their ammunition, also retired, whea. the
I'd Vt. Battery was ordered up, and after
fifteen minutes sharp frIag the enemy
was completely routed.
Having succeeded in this we advanced
to the Plain Store, Ind found the enemy
posted about one thousand Yards distant
on the Bayou Sara road. We again
opened fire upon them and while engag-
ing battery in our front were also ex-
posed to flank fire from battery on our
left. After firing about one hour We sue
ceeded in dismounting one Of their pieces,
Gripping one, and killing one Lieutenant;
sixteen men and several horses, and silenc
ing their fire. After this their cavalry
formed within three hundred wards Of
us. when IA few rounds of canister soon
dispersed them. This done we then BIZ
vouacked for the night on the field of bat
tie.
On the morning of the oath of May
we took up our march for this place and
took our position about three-tourths of a
mile from the enemy's works, where we
remained until the morning Of the 9th.
On the morning of the 9th one section
was ordered forward to within about eight
hundred yards of the enemy's fortified
tons to shell their pickets and skirmishers
out of the woods. At 2 o'clock NJ,
the entire battery was ordered up to with
in seven hundred yards of the enemy's
batteries, and ordered to fire one hour,
when the infantry assaulted their works,
and were repulsed with heavy loss, upon
which our battery resumed It's former po-
| siton, where we remained until the 18th
Of June, when we took position within
three hundred yards of the enemy's works
i'll thk center of our line, on the Clinton
road, protected by earth works.
On the morning of the 18th, at a quar-
ter before o'clock we were ordered to
open fire and continued firing rapidly I'M
til six o'clock, and at intervals until noon,
when our attacking party was again re-
pulsed with great loss. From this time
to the time of surrender, we fired more or
less daily, keeping the enemy from
strengthening their Notifications and dam
aging them much
The men exhibited the utmost GOODNESS
and the traits OF the true soldier through
out.
We lost none killed. Appended is a
list of our wounded:
At Plain Store, May q, private Frank
Sebastian, New Orleans, slightly in heel.
Private David Sweenier Whiting, in
heel Slightly.
June IA, 'Artifcer James NJ. Plxley,
Rochester, slightly in head private Jo-
seph Shore, Brandon, slightly in face
June IS, Corp. Edwin Ayers, Goshen,
in leg, dangerous.
June q, Sergt, Charles Jacobs, NOR
tally through lung.
June %, Private George Schneider. N.
Orleans, slightly in breast.
July 2, Private VIM. Quinn, in knee,
leg amputated; private Joseph n. How
ard, slightly in side.
July 7, Private Jacob M. Myers, Hub
bardton, found dead near the feld-cause
/ unknown.
| wish to bear hearty testimony to the
gallantry, good conduct and steadiness un.
der fire of Lieutenants Chase and Dyer
Veterans could not have behaved better
in the Presence of an enemy.
| would respectfully recommend Ssrqt
Major Perry A Baker and Sergt. Geo. w
Daskane for promotion, for gaIlantry be
fore the enemy.
Among the commissioned officer!
and men it is difficult to discriminate, fol-
all are brave.
| am, Sir,
| Very Resnactfillu