The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-06-12
The Cavalry Boys Fight.

1ue SdVdlfy boys F1SQt.
The following accounts of the late action
OF our Cavalry but corroborate the impression
that We have had all along, and have not
failed to make public, that all that regiment
needed was leader Now 1t. Coll Preston
has returned we shall have better reports from
them. This account will do much to re-
move the prejudice against our cavalry:
On Saturday, the Both ult., as the up train
at s A. NJ. had passed Bristow Station and
two miles beyond our cavalry canp at that
place, rail was suddenly removed from the
track, with a wire, by a " reb y in the woods.
Only when too close to halt the train was the
vacancy discovered. The locomotive " fell
out" and at about the same instant the boil
er was pierced by cannot shot. But few
trains are run over this road, and these at
stated hours. There are no guards at inter
walls, as in most railroads in this disputed
country, but instead a patrol accompanies
each train. 1t seems that Lieut.. Hartshorn,
with % or 80 men from the 10Th Vt. Vols,
was with the train on this occasion. When
the double accident happened, the party aban-
doned it with small loss, and left it in Mosby's
charge. OF course the effects, or such as
were of service to Mosby, were transferred
to his own use, and the balance consigned to
the flames, and he was away again.
AT the report of artillery in such close
proximity, the detachment, about 80 men
from the 9TH y. y. and LIST Vermont, were in
the saddle, under command of Lieut.. Colonel
Preston, and proceeded at gallop that way
to learn more of the particulars. Some little
time passed before the trail of the desper-
ADDE'S could be found. For miles it was
followed, nearly the whole distance in the
woods, the 9TH n. Y. at the head of the
column, when at length Mosby, with his
party of 200, were oyertaken and attacked
From place to place three furious charges had
been unsuccessfully made, in which the New
York boys alone suffered. Three were kill.
ed and a number wounded. At length. 1t
Haselton. with Co. II, (Rutland) and also
20. {. (Montpelier) commanded by Sergean,
Hill, was ordered forward-in all fifty men
The artillery was posted on knoll in mar
row lane, where no more than four could ride
abreast, and wss supported by the enemy
drawn up in battle-ine Immediately in the
rear. Four' discharges of the mountain
howltzer did not repulse them, nor shot-guns
pistols, and other Secesh weapons drive then
back. The howtzer was captured, together
with II or 10 prisoners. among them the 1t
who commanded the gun. Nearly all the
prisoners were wounded-some MORALLY.
| The regiment, as usual upon such occasions
has 10 mourn the loss of brave men, but il
this case our greatest wonder is that our los:
is SO few. Sergt. Job Corey, Co. H, killed
Stephen Corey, Co. H, wounded in arm; JOIN
Mcintyre. Co. Ii, wounded in foot with shell
George Gorton, Go. II, wounded slightly
Sergt. Ruggles, Co. {, wounded severely
and left Sergt. Hill Co. c, wounded slight
ly. Sergt. Clark, Co. q, who had fallen IL
with the charging party, was wounded
slightly.
| After the howitzer was captured the enem!
also captured, capsized near by, with be,
of oranges upon it, on which the Yankee cav
airy teasted Gen Stoneman mail was re
taken and forwarded to him. This gun trophy
of CUR cavalry has a. interesting history. /
| is a twel, FOUNDER brass piece. which Wa
taken from COL Baker at Balls Bluff, Oct. 81
1861. 1t is the first and only piece that Mos
by has practced with in this Department.
The captors presented it to Gen Stahel yes
) terday, and it may be seen at his headquar
ters hear here.
Al Thoroughfare Gap, few days ago. 1t
! Col. Preston. with his detachment, had an en-
gagement with the enemy and whipped then
severely, without loss save in horses, Of which
seven were killed and wounded.
| cannot close without expressing the ide;
that the Vermont Cavalry have wiped away
few by gone stains, and that Jeff Davis vii
be somewhat dissatisfied with Mosby's ord
nance returns for this quarter.
George Bliss of Georgia, Co. B, was acct
dentally shot dead in camp this morning, by
pistol in the hands of his comrade, Geors,
Austin Co. B. The ball passed through hi
brain.
One Capt. Bradford S. lIotchkiss, whc
owes allegiance 10 her Britannia Majesty, wa
one of three MORALLY wounded on the par
Of the rebels. ~ pocket memorandum fount
on his pei son sh,ws that he has been connect
ed with Nosby for some time; that he ha
sold quite number of horses to the rebe
army, for prices varying from three to fv
hundred dollars. The book shows that OF
one occasion he received five hundred dollar
Tor conveying contraband from Baitimor
INTO the rebel lines. He was shot in IT,
back, and thus ingloriousIy ends his career.