Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-06-02

length, which rose from the sandy road
We had not proceeded far before Wade
Hamptons legion began to annoy our
right flank, SO much so that one OF our
batteries halted and gave the astonished
rebels few shell which quoted them
down for awhile. The gallant Gen.
Gustav with his brigade was in advance.
He crossed the North Anna River but
short time before shutdown, and soon fell
in with train loaded with guns and
ammunition which was captured easily.
A short distance beyond he recaptured
between three and four hundred of our
men who were made prisoners near
Spottsylvania. When nearing Beaver
Dam station, Gen. Custar sent one part
Of his brigade to the right and the other
to the left of the Station for the pur-
pose of cutting the road then at the
head Of his men he charged upon the
trains and the depot guards, capturing
four engines, forty-seven cars loaded
with rations for Lees army, and a pile
of bacon twenty rods long and six or
seven feet high, all Of which he burnt,
then fell back to where the whole corps
was bivouacked for the night, near the
bank of the North Anna. .'''-
About sunrise next morning we We're
politelely saluted by rebel shells that
came whizzing through our camps in
lively style, but doing only slight dam
age before some of our cavalry drove
them back on the charge. Immediately
Gen. Sheridan set the column in motion
towards the South Anna River. When
the column had nearly all crossed the
North Anna, five hundred nearly drunk
en- rebel cavalrymen charged our boys;
but only to their own destruction, for
our men were prepared for them with
ambushed cannon and with men behind
temporary breastworks. Out of the five
hundred about one hundred got away.
The column was not disturbed again
during that day At night we bivou-
acked south Of the South Anna.
Wednesday morning found us quietly
eating our scanty breakfast when the
| rebels again gave us our morning salute,
and when the column had passed on
towards Ashland they charged with a
brigade upon the First Massachusetts
and Third Indiana regiments, cutting
them up pretty badly. They continued
to annoy our rear until we reached Ash
land, when Gen. Stuart opened on us in
front. t' ...
At first our men were driven back, for
the rebels were in position and prepared,
but soon the scales dipped the other way
by hard fighting. We captured quite a
squad of prisoners before they reached
the cover of their artillery. Now COM
menced the fight in hot earnest, and as
regiment after regiment of our men were
formed in the open field, the enemy
threw shell at us without mercy Gen.
Custar could not stand this very long,
but called to Lieut.. Col. Preston for the
First Vermont-although our regiment
is not now in his brigade-ard at the
headsof the First Michigan and First
Vermont, followed by number of other
regiments, he led the most daring charge
of the war, and with brilliant. success,
for the result was the capture of three
pieces of artillery two of which could
be brought away, one caisson, and a
number of prisoners, besides driving the
rebels from two strong positions, and
killing their cavalry chieftain Gen. Stu
art, and colonel, who was commanding
a brigade. So say the Richmond papers.
The colonel, we well know was killed,
for his body was left at house near by.
Our loss was heavy. After the fight,
Gen. Wilson took the advance, and
moved toward Richmond with secesh
citizen to guide us to Bottoms Bridge.
But instead of leading us to the Bridge,
he led us inside the Notifications. 1t
was very dark and rainy. When we left
the main road we were near the CITY, so
near that hazy light was given us by
the city lamps, as the light reflected on
the clouds. About IL o'clock at night
we were startled by the explosion of a
torpedo. The sound reverberated on the
midnight air ominously, and aroused
the sleepy in the rebel Capital. At one
O'Clock another torpedo exploded. Just
before daylight the column halted, near
ly opposite Meadow Bridge, and was
forming in close column, when suddenly
shower Of bullets and grape shot came
moving through our tired and sleepy
ranks. We were then within twenty
rods Of the inside Notifications, and be-
fore the men could be got into position
for fighting, the rebels had fired a num-
Der of rounds. The hardest days fight
ing that we had, now commenced. At
the same time, the first division began
to cross to the north side of the Chick
ahominy at Meadow Bridge, where Gen.
Gregg found the rebel cavalry ready to
dispute the way Gen. Merritt was or
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