Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-03-11

was by no means trivial encounter; 1t
was a battle holly contested, fought at
close range, face to face, foot to foot. At
8 n. m. the fire slackened on both sides (;
on ours, in consequence of the ammuni-
ton giving out, and on the enemy's be-
cause we did not press him. A demon
stration by the rebels TO capture Lang
don's battery, at about the middle stage
Of the fight, was prevented by Langdon,
who poured into their line quick and
deadly fire. But in coming from the
field he was obliged to leave TO the enc
my three of his pieces, not because the
enemy charged upon them, but for the
reason that he did not have horses to
draw them of. At 8 1-2 o'clock the
heavy firing had ceased. The cessation
was simultaneous on both sides. We
held our ground till o'clock, and then
the order came from Gen. Seymour to
gradually retire. The retreat was con-
Quoted leisurely also orderly. There
was no confusion, no panic, nothing that
indicated hurry. Col Henry, with his
cavalry, brought up the rear. At 3
o'clock Sunday morning, our troops were
at Barber's. The enemy followed closes
Iy but did not press. A few of their
cavalry only kept well up to the rear of
llenry's column. AT BARRIERS, our men
rested till a. M, and then again took
up the line Of retreat, reaching Baldwin
at about 3 p. m. They halted here a
short time, and then went on toward
Jacksonville, arriving at the camping
ground, six miles out, Monday afternoon.
On the way down many of the poor fell
lows could hardly drag one foot after the
other.
All our killed and the severely wound
ed, that is, those who were unable to
walk from the field unassisted, fell into
the hands of the enemy. We also left
on the field five guns, and not small
number of small arms. The road from
BARRIERS to Baldwin was strewn with
guns, knapsacks and blankets. AT
station on the railroad between BARRIERS
and Baldwin we burnt a building con-
aiming 2000 barrels of turpentne. This
we might have got away several days
previous had transportation been accessi-
Die. We also burnt trestle bridge on
he railroad not far from BARRIERS. At
Baldwin we burnt a large supply off
ommissary stores, knapsacks and off
ers' baggage. The wagons used to
these things to the army we're
He'd on the retreat with the wounded.
When we consider that the enemy had
ut four or five, and we sixteen pieces OF
rtillery, in position, it is not difficult to
elieve we inflicted upon him quite as
uch injury as he upon US. The fact
lat he did not follow rapidly is signif-
ant of the immense damage he sustained.
Our troops are now in the vicinity of
jacksonville. They were at work forti-
wing the place, and no apprehension is
that the enemy will attack
hem there, Three or four gunboats lie .
n the stream ready to do service when
occasion offers. Gen. Seymour is at
Jacksonville, Gen. Gilmore was at Hill
on Head when the fight occurred. No
me was more surprised than he to learn
hat an advance movement in the direc-
ion Of Lake City was contemplated
He took measures to prevent the Sight,
but the party empowered with authority
did not, in consequence of the heavy sea
and high wind, reach Jacksonville in
time.
The colored regiments lost heavily in
officers.
But few names are reported. The
total killed, wounded and missing of the
54th was sc.
A correspondent Of the Boston Jour.
nal says: Our artillery fired handsome
ly but uselessly, owing to the character
Of the attack, 1t could not, however,
done much service owing to one of those
unaccountable blunders that so frequent
ly occur in this war. At the most crit
cal juncture in affairs, a supply of am
munition sent from the rear for the bat.
teries was discovered to be of the wrong
size, and the retreat had to be more
preciptate one than it otherwise might
have been, while but for such blunder
il could have been so deliberate after
leaving the swamp, as to have saved
many lives, prevented the wounded from
falling into the enemy'S hands, and have
given to the movement the name of re-
pulse instead of a disaster. The colored
troops did nobIy. Col. Halowell in an
address to his regiment told them be
could not find fault with a single officer
or man. And | could but admire their