The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1864-05-10


ONE OF THE SEVEN DAYS"
We watched, from The south side q ihe
chiekahominy, the progress u Che dgat on
The other side. between Porter and ic en-
emy. FoF two days lihs 26,a and 27,h Junel
tie contest went ca. often We could sec
tie rebels a. ,ley rushed cut of The woods.
Our batteries voald open upon them with
good effect, % near Bere they & us, but the
sluggish stream between compelled Us 70
look o.. Thursday night came eircaiar
stating thal pqrtu had shipped the enemy.
What cheers rang cat that dark night r
The re1eis heard, but didn't utmHo. III
they khew ,ho sr0jk Fe we're badly ttalen.
An eitempt Vas aadc on oar freat that
night, bat was Fepulsed. Before Saturday
morning, Porter hal reucated to the scutlt
side Of the chickahaminy That morning
We were sheiled out ct camp, SO closely had
the rebels erected batteries 10 Us. Then we
commenced the retreat TO tie James River
We belonged 10 smiths Division, aud
held the rear The Division slaid near the
Trent House Saturday night, aul al day
break Sunday mo rning lJuue 29tb} started
for sayage's Station Hot and suliry ii
was, aud VIC had hard march Up 70
Friday night We bad understood that we
were driving the enemy, aud we're exuhant
ever The news. Suddenly we learned the
truth. Then followed depression Of spirits
among the men, such as have never Wit
messed since. From success 10 disaster is a
great way with soldier "We are re-
treating" went FROM man to man. This,
with the extreme heat, made our march
weary one. Yet but few fell out, aud ali
showed determination TO fight, and fight
they did that night at Sayage's Station
About noon We came within a mile Of the
Station, aud halted fer rest,
Rumors were circulating, Of all kinds
among the rest that the rebels are com
ing down tie railroad" Our company
was ordered out 10 skirmish up the road to
find tkem, After an hours cautious march
1--WE ran into a rebel regiment. but prevented
skirmish ~ falling back. We we're two
miles from any Of our forces concluded il
was dangerous place and took the road
to the Station
1t three 7 NJ our whole Division was
crowded into tie clearing on the south side
o. the railroad Horses wagons, artillery,
and ambuances, with wounded. and wound
ed On foot, made scene Of confusion sell
dom eqnalled Regia.nt after regiment
vent hhng into ihe woods towards the river.
Cars with large quantates Of ammunition
were fired aud blown up, and hard bread
burned. Every thing showed q hurried and
forced retreat. Up to this time our Division
had not been engaged About four o'clock
wc started for the river The road was
crowded, aud but little progress was made.
In less than an hour, the rebels attacked
our forces at The Station for the purpose Of
cutting on the retreat Of our trains. The
frirg was heavy and quick. about face, .
came quick and shaIp. Then the looks Of
tie men frightened. And with firmer and
quicker step we showed that we could hqht.
just as we turned back Gen. Smith
(Baldly) rode along and said to US, never
mind, We will show them how 10 do it when
we get there" lie spoke in an ordinary
tone, but We all heard, and his quiet way
and cool manner assured the men. Back we
went and formed in line. Gen. b rode
up to Col. c. Of the 9TH -, and saii
:" Colonel, ycu win take your regiment thro'
ihe woods" Away We weEt, the General
following in our rear.
The wounded were already coming hack
ard the rebels were pressing back our lines.
On we vent bullets began to wLiz past us
--sbell cut ofi The trees around US. sud-
dehly we came up 70 and passed one Of our
regiments that was slowly falling back IN
der heavy FIRE. We entered 4 clearing
and then commenced the first fight Of the
9Th - as a regiment.
We numbered about FIVE hundred and
twenty men. Our company bad City nine,
81 told. We did not ERE, but pressed on at
double quick" {" Charge" raii up
ana d1sn the iine-.daBn came the bayouets.
aud on we went Tie rebels opened heavy
fire Of musketfy, hut dill lot % Us much
harm. We pressed them 80 hard thar they
fell back. suddenly they opened en- Us with
battery. Our lines ,rembled Ike reed.
Almost every man threw down his head and
turned away ike man struck ID Tie face
with q sudden storm Of hail Il was a ter
rible moment 70 us. Woald the men run
The storm e grape was awful Qua men
seemed swept away. 20 4 man, ne officers
sprang in front and yelled, come on.
aud on we went, driving back the rebels.
By this time We we're generally engaged
We advanced sntil We found feg sheltering
trees, halted, and commenced firing. Grape.
canister, ard bullets, few ell around Us.
the men sought a liitle shelter behind .
couple q trees IL short iime We had
driven The battery away, and ihe rebels
siapPed hring Then VIC ehecrej. Shout
afler shout rang out for cur little victory
Ba, d cost Us dear The fgh, lasted per
LAPS forty minutes. less i anything. Tie
regiment lost twohundrei and seven raen
Killed ara wounded ia that time. Oar com
pany u aly-piqs had iweuiy killed AID
tWeniy-six wounded Fire Of the wounded
lof ihe ecmPauy) aie4 in three Or far days,
making twenty fge dead. and tEenty-