Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1864-07-06
WAR INCIDENT.

that have to send this morning is the
terrible artillery attack which Was made
yesterday upon the right flank of the
Army Of the Potomac. Smiths corps
(the lSth) is in position here. his lines
extending from the Appomatox eastward.
". At about z o'clock A. NJ. several reb.
Ell batteries on the Bermuda Hundred
side of the river simultaneously opened
FIRE from the heights upon the troops in
tho level land Immediately in front of
,Petersburgh. Shells Of immense size
were thrown at the rate Of one every two
seconds all along our works, shrieking aw.
fully through the air aud bursting with
noise like thunder everywhere. Seldom
has such an angry fire been heard. Hav-
ing but few pieces of artillery which could
cope with those used by the enemy. there
was no alternative for Gen. Smith but to
set these at work and quietly wait until
the fury of the rebels should exhaust it.
self Directing his infantry to remain
we'll covered in their intrenchments, which
are strong and we'll protected by traverses
against an enflading attack, as this main
ly was, he got about twelve lopg-range
pieces in position. and for an hour and
half the battle went on. The enemy had
at least 40 pieces in operation against
our IL. Singularly, however, in spite of
the rapidity and terribleness Of the firing
very little injury was done to our men.
Several shells burst plumply in the midst
Of the tents at Gen. Smiths headquarters,
and fragments in one or two instances
came disagreeably near the staff officers
One of these missiles upset stack Of
muskets which were behind breastwork.
scattering and breaking and bending them
sending one piece high into the air. where
it turned end for end and came down
with such force that the sbayonet was
driven its full length into the soil. Pres
emily the rebels tire Of this exhaustive
work and essay an infantry charge upon
our advanced line of rifs-pits, supposing,
doubtless, that our troops must be dread.
fully cut up and demoralized by their fir
ing. They reckoned without the host.
Our men have escaped injury, aud feel
splendidly at the IMMUNITY with which
they have received the shower of iron.
Therefore. they are ready to meet any
thing that comes, and feel insulted al
most at the paltry numbers that are now
rushing over the oat-6cld in front ofthem.
loudly cheering, or rather bowling as is
the rebel custom. while with charged bay.
onets they make the onset. The thin line
Of skirmishers in advance Of the breast-
works raise themselves from thei9 rude
pits and deliver a feeble and scattering
fire. which stops the progress of few of
the rebels The rest advance steadily. re-.
CARELESS of their fallen comrades, passing
the pits, and leaving many Of our skirm-
ishers prisoners behind them. They do
not know the fate which is to meet them
in an instant more. Behind the high
wall Of earth which they are rushing up
on 80 bravely and with confident yells,
there are thousands of stout hearted I'm
ion soldiers who have determined not to
throw away a single shot. The rebels are
within 20 yards Of the breastwofk. A
second more and the gallant men of Col.
Henry's and Col. Cnllen's brigades Of
STANDARDS division fringe the inner side
of the parapet, and a sheet Of FIRE and
and smoke. covering entirely the rebel line,
burst out with single crash, whitening
the graybacks like leaves withered by
fire. The survivors crouched at full
length among the thick growth of oats.
Not u man Of them attempted to return,
but lay as still as he could among his
bleeding dead and wounded comrads. 1t
was an easy matter now to take the liv-
ing. Our men crowded upon the parapet
and called upon them to surrender. point.
ing tho demand with leveled muskets. In
this way 100 prisoners were captured un-
wounded, and at the same time, much to
their joy, our skirmishers who had con.
sidcred themselves captivcs, found them
selves elea sod nd cnstod;,.o of yr;sor