The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-08-21
The Vermont Cavalry.
BooNsBORo, Nd, July 10

bO'-'SDONO: -'iu.s ~.
p. 7. Washbun, Adjt and ms Gen. of ".
SIR Il beg leave to moke the following
report of engagements Of the lst Vermont
cavalry with the enemy in Maryland and
Pennsy ylvania, from June 80, to July s, 1868.
At Hanover, Penn, June 80, aided in repell-
ing an attack by Gen Stewards forces. Cos
NJ and d, under Capt's Woodward and Cum
mings charged through the town, repulsing
the enemy and capturing many prisoners.
The rest of the regiment, supported by
battery until the enemy were driven from the
field.
At Huntersville, Penn, July ., in an attack
upon the left of Gen Lees army, this regi-
ment was deployed as skirmishers, and sub
jected to severe fire from the enemy's bat
teries.
July 3, in the attack made by Gen Kilpat-
rick on the right flank of the enemy at Get
! tysburg, this cavalry led the advance. Co.'S
A, d, E and dismounted, were deployed as
skirmishers and soon drove the enemy's skir-
mshers back of their main lines. The con-
test was continued by the opposing batteries
and dismounted carbineers until ) o'clock P.
NJ, when Gen Farnsworth, commanding the
brigade, was ordered to charge the enemy,
strongly posted behind stone walls, and in
woods, and which proved TO be Mai Gen
Hoods division of infan'ry-with the 1st
Va cavalry on the left and the ID battalion
Of the lst VI under Maj We!lts on the rig'.,
Gen Farnsworth dashed forward, closely fol
lowed by his men, leaping one stone wall un-
der severe fire. Oar force drove the enemy
In all directions, over still another stone wall
and through a field, swept by the r-be. bat
teries and succeeded in piercing the enemys
% line, wh-r mary of cur dead were fo1nd.
| mored to the support Of the ID battalion.
with the lst urd der Capt Parsons, and part
of the Sd under Capt Grover on the Lii be-
tween the ,wo walls we encountered fresh
regiment Of the enemy. sent in On ne
right to intercept the retreat of or first col
lmn, and TO re-establish their lines. The
struggle for this hill became mos, desperate;
but was at length carried by our BOYS with
severe loss, the greater part of the enemy
being captured Our loss this day, killed
wounded ard missing, - men.
Juty 4, We marched 30 miles to the rear Of
the enemy, and on The morning OF the 5th.
at Lightersville, Nd captured 100 prisoners,
drove of cattle and several wagons. and
marched 70 HagerStown the same night -
hours in advance of Lees armv
July E, our division attacked the retreating
enemy at Hagerstown. Cos d and dis
mounted here, drove the enemy from a
strong position and occupied it; Cos A and
ID held portion Of the town agains: supe-
rior force until ordered to retire in the sfter-
noon, when portion being cut of. were Sc
creted by the Union citizens until our forces
reoccupied It on the 10Th.
In the retiring Of this division a: night on
the Williamsport road in the face Of Lees
army, this regiment formed part Of the
rear guard, and suffered severely from as
sau!ts made upon il by superior numbers of
the enemy Twice we were nearly surrosnd-
I'd. Capt Beauman, with the Sd squadron,
whom | ordered to hold strong position.
being Gu. off was ordered TO surrender He
cooIly replied, Il don't see II, and lsaplng
fence by flank movement escaped with near
ly his entire force. Capt Woodward, of Co
VI, brave officer, was killed at the head of
his men, while stubbornly resisting the ad-
vancing foe. a charge was nov made by Co
X, under Capt Grover, upon the main col
umn of the enemy, which aided materially in
checking their progress. 4 battery being
now opened upon us by the enemy in the di-
rectiod of Wiliamsport, and being thcs at
tackled in the front and rear we drew of, un-
der the cover of night, TO the Sharpsturg
road to the left.
( July 5, Gen Stewart, with large force, az
tackled our cavalry OF Boonsboro early in
the morning. The lst Vermont was held N
reserve until the afternoon, when il was sent
by detachmentS to various parts OF the field
to strengthen our lines. At sundown a spr-
tied charge was made ~ the second battai-
ion, under Major Wells upon the retreatin,
enemy. and the sabres were freely uSei IN
both sides-were TO give you list of the
lheritori"us it would compose the LANES of
every officer and enlisted man engaged.
. remain your vely ob't servant,
A. ". PRESTON,
Lt-Col CONG lst VI Cavalry.
List Of Killed and Wounted i'm thp Isi
VI. cavalry. IN Maryland ard P.nnsy'-
wanna between June Goth, and IIY sIh,
1863.
5 KILLED.
! At Hagers,own, Capt John ". Woodward.
Go VI, Burlington.
AT Gettysburg, Sergt Geo L. Ducan, CO L.
Colchester
At Gettysburg, Sergt Geo ID Bucklin. Co
H. WaIlingford.
AT Hagerstown. Sergt Geo w Everest, Co
f.
At Boonsboro, Corp Hiram L. Walker, Co
l., Georgia.
At Gettysburg, Sylranus Lund, Co d.
Groton.
At Gettysburg, Franklin Gould, Co E,
Springfield