Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-06-17
FROM FIRST VERMONT BATTERY


Leaving Franklin, la, March 18Th, with
the | 81 division 1871 army corps matched to
Alexandria, Ia 80 miles distant arriving
March 26th, having met wi b no opposition
from the enemy. Lett Altxandria March
2sth, marching TO Nafchitoches. 80 miles
distant arriving April "a. Left Natchitoches
Apul On. marching 20 Pleasa hill. 40 miles
distant arriving at 5 pm. April 7th. March
ed from Pleasant hill TO point called Wal
laces mills distance Of ! s miles. arriving
at 8 p. m, where, by order Of Brig. Gen.
Emory commanding lat division l9gh army
corps. my battery was to remain until further
orders At p. m my battery was ordered
to the front by Capt. II. w Closson, chief Of
artillery, 18th army corps, with orders to re-
port 10 Bug Gen Arnold, chief OF artillery,
department Of the Gulf which order / en-
deayored 70 obey, but the roads were so com
pletely blocked with cavalry and baggage
wagons that after working until after mid
night, and having arrived within one mile Of
the sceuce of action, | was, by order Of Gen.
Stone, halted and directed to await further
orders. At a. m. on the 9Th, by order of
Capt. Closson, ! reversed" my battery,
and with Gen. Cameron division OF the 18Th
army corps, retired to Pleasant hill, where
went into bivouack until p. m. at which
position on the left Of the Natchitoches road,
and on the right Of the Sd brigade, l 81 divis-
ion l9th army corps. At p. m, by order
Of Gen Arnold, | opened FIRE on the enemy's
artillery aud with good success, as my gun
ners succeeded in dsmounting a 10 pound
PArrott which the enemy had opened on us.
Shortly after dsmounted this gun, the
enemy charged in force upon my battery, but
opening q severe fire of canister upon them
at short range, | did very great execution.
and checked their advance NJ support (the
69th Indiana) advancing al the same time,
the enemy were repulsed and driven back
Lieut.. Rice. with the right section Of my bat
terry. was now ordered TO reinforce battery
L., lst United States artillery, on the right,
near the Mansfield road, bat owing to the
nature Of the ground an the position Of our
own forces. it could not be used TO advantage.
The remainder Of the battery advanced at
the same time towards the righ' and center,
aud opened the enemy at different points
during the remainder OF the action The
battery remained in position on the field until
2 A. m. the 10Th, when. by order Of General
Emory. | reioined the 1T division and relir-
ed with the army to Grand Ecore.
The casualties Of the battery during this
engagement we're but slight.-one man, pri-
v.te Jesse Laundry Of Montpelier, being
righty wounded ia the leg, and i've horses
killed and wounded. During the engagement
the officers and men behaved with great c1ur-
age even when the enemy were within fifty
yards, and within speaking distance, not an
officer or man left his post
After the action the battery retired to
Grand Ecore, a distance Of 40 miles, arriving
April l2th. While at Grand Ecore. my bat
terry was. by order Of Capt. Closson, trans
ierIed f. m the lst division to the reserve ar
tillery Of the corps. and my guns were sent
away on detached service. guards on board
Transports during u cir uips to Alexandria
and doSn the river.
received orders to fall back to Alexandria
April 22d, but had but two guns, as my 9TH
ers had not yet rejoined the battery from de-
tached service.
On arriving At Cane River, April 23d the
enemy YVES found posted on bluff at the
crossing, and with seven pieces Of artillery in
position commanding it, with large force Of
mounted infantry as support.
In connection with the forces Of Gen. Birge
who crossed the river above their position to
flank them, was ordered to take one section
of my battery, under Lieut. Rice, and three
pieces Of heavier calibre 20 FOUNDER PARROTS }
=
and engage the enemy. The action com
menced with Gen. Birge engaging the enemy,
when at once opened tue artillery in my
front. The action was severe, lasting about
two hours, when the enemy retreated from
their position, leaving as trophy to the l't
Vermont a battery wagon filled with supplies,
which was brought off the field by Sergeant
John Howland. Several prisoners were also
taken. crossed the river with the section
OF my battery and one gun each from the 25th
n. Y. and lsl Del batteries, and with them,
in connection with the % New York Veteran
Cavalry, pursued the enemy until midnight,
with but little success, it eiug in dense
pine forest The remainder of the division
coming up early on the morning OF the 24th,
the march was continued to Alexandra, ar
irving there the 25th at p. m. having met
with no further opposition from the enemy.
The Casualties OF the battery during the ae-
tion at Cane river we're very slighi-but two
or three horses wounded.
BY order of Capt. Closson, April 2Sth. |
was placed on detached service and went to
New Orleans on duty, leaving my battery in
command of Lieu, Rice, and did not reio'n
the battery agaia until May 22d. Al Alex
andria two guns in charge OF Sergts NilmiTe
and Rice, rejoined their command from de-
tached service, and reported having had few
slight sklrmishes with gu, rrillas, but no Cas-
uaties Sergeant Emory, IN charge of one
gun. on board transport " Laurel Hill had
very severe ergsgement, Of about two hours
duration, tn ID of May, about 25 miles be-
low Alexandra. with about 500 mounted in
fantty and one piece of artillery, but succeed
ed in driving them off, with great loss, and
dlsmouuting their guns, with no oasualues to
the battery.
Marched from Alexandria May l2'h. Oui
forces met the enemy at Mark,ville the 10th
but my battery took no active part. AiteT
the engagement Was over my battery was or
dered to report TO Col. Lucas, commanding
she advance guard of cavalry. Marched with
the advance guard, arriving at Semmespor'
and iuing the reserve artillery the l7tt
May The 18th day of May Lieut.. Rice re-
ceiyed uiders from Capt. Closson to repor
with four guns TO Brig Gen. Mower. OF l6 /
army corps, commanding rear guard, at Vel
low Bayou, and was by him ordered into po
siuon near Bayou De Glaze, and on left o
the lst Deleware battery.
Lieut.. Rice having been ordered to TepOI