Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1864-06-08

ed of home, and wished ourselves there.
Home was not our destination. At four
A. NJ. the bugle sounded to fall in. and
SO we did, but not to march as we expect
ed. We we're ordered to pitch our tents,
and arrange our camps for halt. We
arranged our camp near the railroad. and
every appearance was that we were going
to remain here to guard the road Many
copjecturcs and camp rumors were flying
as to what our duty was to be; however
1t proved to be that we were to remain
and do picket duty on this road few
days, till Grant could rendezvous his for
ces at Culpepper, and prepare them for a
campaign in Virginia. We did picket
duty until May 4th, when at o'clock,
A. NJ, we resumed our march toward the
Rappahanuock. Twenty miles we were
destined to make this day, which we did
at 8 p, NJ. when we went into camp at
Bealton Station. The next day was to
take US beyond the Rappahannock, and
within hearing of the enemy's guns. At
4 o'clock, May 9th, we fell in and started
on the turnpike running almost directly
south, and at seven, we came up to the
Rappahannock. We crossed this beauti-
ful stream on pontoon bridges-a new
kind of bridge to most of US. After we
had crossed we were halted for rest,
and refreshments. Here at 7 o'clock, A..
NJ, of the 9Th of May, we, regiment of
Green Mountain boys, kindled our fires
on the Rappahannock shore, and made
our coffee and ate a few hard tacks,-a
morning of day that will always be re-
membered by us. At 8, we took up our
journey, and moved on without much
halting till we reached the Rapidan at
P. NJ. Here we halted for a short rest,
and here was the first time that we heard
the euemy's guns. After resting few
minutes we pushed across the River in
the direction of the firing We marched
until 8 O'Clock before we we're halted, and
by this time we had reached point near
the enemy we had reached the ground
that the rebels held that morning. We
halted and stacked our arms; while we
were resting we heard the scverest volley
of musketry that has probably been fred
during the campaign. This was in the
evening-the time the rebels made that
desperate charge on the 9th Corps, and
received such a withering fire. This
made the boys think they had got to
fight, and that soon We were returned
to take our guns out of the stacks and
get our things ready, and lie down, and
be ready to march at minutes notice.
AT |, A. N. of the following morning
the horn sounded for us to fall in, and
the order came for us to get into the
ranks in close order and to march still
without any loud talking in the ranks.
This made us feel rather green, but on
we went. still and wistful, and att A. NJ
we were on the battlefield of the wilder.
ness. We took our position on the centre
of the left wing of Grants victorious
army. SkirmishiDg had already com
menced on the right wing and in few
minutes they had general engagement.
We formed in line of battle, loaded our
muskets and commenced our march to the
front, in the forest of course, for the reb-
els were bound to fight US in that dense
wilderness. We advanced through to a
small clearing without finding any of the
gray backs. We then wheeled to the
left, and took the wilderness on our left,
formed line of battle, and commenced
to move in this new direction, as skirmish-
ers, and had not gone far when they found
the enemy in force, and exchanged few
shots and, fell back on our line. We
were supported by the sixth, and ninth
N. H, Regiments. We had three lines of
battle and the l7th were in the first line.
4 We moved on steadily, but had not gone
far when the rebels having learned of
our approach, commenced a terrific shell
1 ling from their batteries in front Our
boys moved on steadily up to clearing,
where near the edge was small growth
of trees and heavy rail fence. We ad-