Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1863-01-09

| into the field with loud huZzas, and went al
the work in hand with great bravery. 1t
took some little time to get into position
and place the batteries in the most COM
mandng locations, and it was fully 10
o'clock a. m. before the artillery duel was
lin full voice. As may be imagined 40 or
80 cannon, well manned and discharged as
rapidly as possible, make tremendous
racket. This was kept up until dark, when
by that time green troops who had never
seen a cannon before, laid down within a
yard of gun and slept throughout un-
disturbed. We did not lose single man
throughout the wholo day by artillery,
Though score or two OF horses were killed.
four gunners were much more skillful and
precise in their aim than those Of the reb
els, which was shown by the result.
Upon the bluff or ridge, occupied by the
secesh, were many fine farm houses which
had been erected upon the elevation to es-
cape the damps and vapors Of the plains
below. From the rear of two of these
bo-ses was kept up we'll directed fire Of
eight or nine guns. Gen. Heron ordered
the whole fire of our artillery to be direct
ed upon the one nearest to US, and sil-nced
it in ten minutes. The Goth Wisconsin In
fantry, led by Lieut.-Col. Bertram, then
charged up the hill and took the battery
upon double quick They had no sooner
gained possession of the well-earned prize
than the rebels arose in myriads from the
bushes in the rear of the garden containing
the battery in question, and poured fire
into the ranks of our boys that sent their
columns reeling back down the decIiyity
again, with great loss of life and limb.
Within twenty minutes afterward the 18th
Iowans, with the gallantry characteristic Of
the soldiery of that State, essayed the vain
feat with similar i'll success. They performed
deeds of valor almost incredible, and shed
their blood in torrents, but it was all use
less. They retook the battery, and were
apon the point of removing it within our
lines when the rebels poured in upon them
in endless numbers, and forced them back
with great slaughter. Lieut.-Col. MeFar.
f land, who led this glorious charge, lost hi:
life, and many privates also were left upor
/ the field. The color-bearer rallied the reg
iment twice, and led them up to the very
cannon'S mouth.
This battery was afterward entirely dis.
abled, he horses killed and gun-carriage:
broken in pieces by the fire of one of our
batteries, who hit their mark then precise
. ly at a distance of two miles with missiles
e dis charged from Parrot guns, and the four
: caissons filed with ammunition were subse-
d quently captured and brought away. The
d different rebel batteries were silenced one
d by one, until the booming Of cannon had
d nearly ceased. The enemy perceived that
c nothing could be accomplished at long range
f so they massed themselves upon our from
). and both fanks, and commenced advancing
!, to capture our batteries. Immense horde:
Y came cut of the woods on our left, anC
a spread upon the field, looking from dis
: tance like nest Of ants. Our infantry
e seemed mere handful in comparison to
I this multitude, but they held them in check
: while Coles battery ran up and stuck theiI
|. guns under their very noses, and fred can.
s ister into them with such deadly effect a:
/ to cause them first to pause in their career
and then lie down, and finally to retreat
d hastily back. Again they made their ap
i pearance still further on the left in a NUM-
S Der equal apparently TO our entire force
+ Their batteries again opened fire briskly
j. and for time the fortunes of the battle
:, whelming odds enabled them to barrass and
D approach us from three directions. The
: greatest diseouraging circumstance, howev.
/ er, was in the fact that a new battery had
I opened tremendous fire at our extreme
i right, nearly two miles from our center
J. This was at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. a
t, good portion of our infantry was fearfully
# cut up and nearly disheartened. Every.
5 thing nearly pointed toward a defeat of oul
; forces. Murphy's battery, a portion Of
Z Backof' S, and the Peoria battery, kept pour.
d ing galliag fire into the opposing forces
d The men were again rallied, and a. 81
i O'Clock the fippity whiz of the shells, the
booming of the cannon and the continuous
4 roll of the musketry, told US that our boys