Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-07-08
THE 3D. 4rn AND 1lrn VERMONT

THE 30, 4rH AND 1lrH VERMONT.
An army correspondent gives the following
account Of the part borne by the Sd, 4th and
! lth W Regiments, in the advance on the
Petersburg & Weldon Railroad on Thursday
June 23d
The principal event Of was the cutting Of
the Weldon railroad, and dght by the 5th
corps. which has the left Of our line Capt.
Beatty and eight men Of the Sd W., with
pioneers, started for the railroad at 10 o'clock
a. m, reached it without much opposition
and Immediately commenced the work Of de-
molition. The rebels we're not long in rally
ing and making it too hot for him to remain.
In the meantime, quarter Of a mile Of track
had been torn up and a culvert destroyed. -
Capt. Beatty and his command retreated to
the brow Of a hill, where our main line was
afterward formed, and held the enemy in
check I'LL the 4th and llth VI. came up
Here a sharp conflict ensued till the rebels,
finding they could not force our line, passed
to the left and got in our rear. At the same
time another body passed TO the right aud
aanked Us, making escape almost impossible.
Fortunately. the movement was discovered
before the Vermont boys were entirely sur
rounded, and they escaped, but with the loss
Of large number taken prisoners.
On the 10th inst. Gen Hooker attacked the
rebel position on Lost Mountain and after a
severe struggle carried three lines Of intrench-
ment5. capturing 1000 prisoners and twelve
cannons, together with 2O00 small arms. 49,
None Of our men we're captured, but the loss
in killed and wounded was 1900 Although
unable 20 drive the rebels from the mountain
which is an exceodinly strong position aud a
great obstacle to a Il ink movement by Gen.
sherman, the ground gained was held. At
the same time Gen. Schofeld attacked and
forced the enemy from Pine Mountain, which
he held for several hours, but was obliged
finally to relinquish in consequence of being
exposed TO CALLING fire from other rebel po-
sitious. He took 800 prisoners aud two
guns.
June 20, the I'd and 9th corps endeavored
to take possession OF the Weldon and Lynch
burg railroad south Of Petersburg.
Capt. Beatty, with 100 pioneers and sharp
shooters, was sent out to reconnoiter. He
reached the railroad unopposed, and found it
without the pretense of a guard, and with his
report sent couple Of feet of telegraph wire
he had cut from the Raleigh line. The 3d.,
4th and lth Vermont we're instantly des-
patCueu 10 tdhe pOsotHelOus anu pIepefhtlOnh
were made to extend the corps to that point.
But by this time the rebels were fully awake
to the situation. 1t was as vital to them to
regain the railroad as it was to us to retain it,.
Their interior, therefore shorter, lines gave
them every advantage.
It is not less than ten miles from our right
on the river to the point in question on the
railroad. The rebel communication between
the two is not over four. And so they pushed
down in overwhelming numbers, all of Hills
corps. and attacked. We had not completed
line, had had no time to intrench, and
there was nothing but to fall back. Even
that was matter of some difficulty. The Sd
81 4th Vermont lost prisoners, and it was for
tunate that the order, As you were,' was
issued so promptly. The rebels follwed close
| ly, attacking at the right of the corps and
then to the left, and further to the left till
they found cavalry, and knew they had deter
mined our limit in that direction. 1t appear
ed to be his purpose to make general as
sault and it were better to sustain that COW
cred by some sort of works. Hence, in the
edge Of the evening all the divisions of the
corps retired to the positions Of the morning
/ A private letter from the llth Vermont
Regiment, dated June 25th. states that Cos.
and H were among those detailed, and
tha; nearly all Of the former (some 70 men,,
and portion of the latter, we're taken pris.
oners.