Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-03-06
FROM FIRST VERMONT CAVALRY.
HEADoUARrFRs Detachment,

Mr.. Editor 1t has been some time since |
you have heard from me, but as now have /
an hours leisure | will improve part OF Il |
by writing few lines for your paper. We
are in comfortable quarters and do very well
only when we arc worked to hard, and that
is about all the time. We have to 90 on
picket once in three days, when we are not
scouting and that is so often that the men and
horses are nearly played out.
On the och inst. we started on reoonno-
sance to the Blue Ridge, aud arrived in camp
the 18th, our horses having been under the
saddle four days and three nights We vis-
tied Ashbys Gap, and the battle-ground
where Capt. erkins was killed last Septem-
Der, going by way Of Aide, Middlebury and
Upperyille, and returning by way Of Smoker
willie and Leesburg. On the afternoon of the
18th, a heavy detail was made to accompany
couple of detectives TO arrest some citizens
near Leesburg. IL had been showing since
the morning Of the l7th, and melting about
half as fast as it fell, and about the time we
started the snow storm turned to rain, and
when we got to Goose Creek it was badly
swollen, but we succeeded in fording it, one
man only getting into the Creek +. Scott
Of Co. G was thrown into the water by his
horse making a misstep and falling in such
a way that he was obliged to let 60 of the
horse The water was not so deep but he
would have got out if the current had not
.been so swift. and he bundled up in his over
coat and rubber coat and with sword and
pistol to load him down and impede his
movements. Lieut. Pixley Of Co. b was the
i FIRST to roach him. and to him belongs tho
credit of saving mans life. Scott was left
at house near by ia my care, and by morn
ing his clothes were dried and he was ready
10 work or fight as the case might require.
The ladies at the house where we stopped
we're the rankest kind Of secesh, and in fact
had a child named Secessid, but as they
treated us so well we could have no hard
feelings towards them.
At half-past two in the morning part OF
the column came back to the ford, the other
part, which was Cos f and c. went to Point
Of Rocks The creek was so high it was i'm
possible to cross at this point, and in the
morning the detachment went back to Lees
burg, and then moved up the creek to ford
at Balls Mills, seven miles from Lees burg
and FIVE from the ford we had Just left
{ making us ten miles travel when five woulC
have done Just as well il the officer in com
mand had known where be was going A
, Balls Mills the water was so deep that thu
! smaller horses had to swim, but we all go
! safely over and stopped at the houses by th'
road and emptied the water out Of our boot
and warmed our feet, for it was quite colo
day. Seven miles from Goose Creek WI
came to Broad Run, ordinarily small STREAM
running parallel with the Creek, but nov
O overlooking its banks, and so swift was tn
=. current it was impossible to cross. It wa
% here that Lieut. pixley was drowned. To
> brave and generous to permit man to g
- into danger ahead of him, he told the boys t
! wait until he got across and if he come ou
n all right then to follow, but he did not com
out He persisted within sight Of his me
but beyond their reach. Second Lieu
Charles H. Pixley Of Co. b was from Eno'
r burgh Falls. He filled the office of Co. Sci
, geant until a short time since, when he r'
: ceived his commission A kind friend,
brave and true soldier, generous, noble
~ hearted man, his company feel severely h
y loss, while all who knew him mourn the los
" OF so noble man. He was about % yeai
~ of age His body has been recovered an
~ will be sent to Vermont Unwilling to sa
~ rifce any more lives, we went down tt
W. stream to the pike and then on to cam
-, where hope we shall stay for the present.
- D. w