Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-04-10

the 18th Vermont. instead of Connecticut.
SATURDAY, April 4.
The Vermont Cavalry Fight.
am able now to give an authentic account
Of the late lamentable affair Of our cavalry
with Mosbys Company On the Slst ut
Maj Toggart learned that Mosby was at
Drainsvie, and ordered Capt. Flint, with de-
tachments from Companies A, B, and ID,
to 20 out and capture him. Accordingly,
Capt. Flint proceeded to execute the order
He struck Mosby's trail above Drainsvile,
and followed it to Broad Run, coming up
with the enemy in that vicinity. Our men
charged, when part Of the enemy reserved
their fire until the two parties came to close
quarters. when they poured in deadly fire,
which broke our ranks, and at the same time
the balance Of the enemy charged, before our
men could rally. Il is true that the reserve
failed to give support, although that fact is
not stated in the report, which have seen.
Our loss was as follows:
Kaied-Capt. Flint, Lieut.. Woodbury., and
private John Reed, 3
Womded-Lieut Grout (it is feared NOR
tally,) Lieut. Holden and II privates, 10
Missiag-Lieut. Sawyer and SO privases, 81
Total, lO6
Among the privates wounded are Ephraim
Paddock Supposed MORALLY and Mr.. Brews-
ter (seyerely.) both Of Craftsbury.
OF those reported wounded, two have since
died, and two more are supposed to be NOR
tally wounded. have not the names Prob
ably Mr.. Paddock is one Of the four.
ltis remarkable fact that the heaviest loss
except in officers, was in Capt Beans reserve
Of one hundred men, who in their retreat ran
into party Of Mosby's men, and we're badly
used 1t would have been safer had Bean
advanced to the support Of Flint's attack, in
stead of retreatng. The enemy pursued our
retroating forces, but were fought at every
good opportunity by Lieut. Woodbury., with
such men as he could rally, distance Of
about eight miles, and to point within two
miles Of our camp at Vienna, at which point
Woodbury. was killed. OF course il was
Lieut.. Woodbury. body mot Grout's) which
was embalmed yesterday, The report adds
that several Of the enemy were killed and
many wounded
Our force was 1855, and that Of the enemy
80. Capt. Flint attacked with 35 men against
the whole rebel force, and his men fought
brayely hand to hand as long as it was posi-
Bile for a force so unequal TO do so, and at
last retreated sullenly. The reserve under
Capt. Bean numbered 100 men---a force am
ply sufficient to rescue Flint and capture the
enemy, il Bean had attempted it. When the
fight commenced a stout Virginia rail fence
divided the parties, but the rebels threw
down one length Of fence to charge on Flint,
and some of our own men had commenced to
remove another, 90 as to get in the rear Of
Mosby so that the way would have been
thoroughly prepared for Bean to attack Mos
by both in front and rear, had he attempted
to do his duty. BY HE miserable failure,
Mosby escaped and our force was almost en-
tirely cut up. OF 1875 men, LOG arc reported
lost--leaving only 29 However, it is prob
able that some of the 81 reported missing,
have come in since the report was made.
cannot conceive any possible defence for Cap
tain Bean, though would be glad to do so.
as every loyal Nermonter would also be-
Military men here condemn him: Of course
upon the report Of the affair as it has come
here and as l have stated it. This report is
so direct and authoritative that l cannot
doubt it. In fact, part Of this statement is
from an official report, and the remainder from
a sergeant who was in Flint's attacking party.
feel perfectly justified, therefore, in sending
it for publication.
april Fool
have no compunctions for suspecting that
the foregoing affair was an "April Fool" in